The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

  




The picture below shows the currents that move plastic to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.


What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? 
It is a colossal patch of garbage in the central-north Pacific Ocean.
In 2018, it was estimated to cover 1.6 million square kilometers. It is mostly made of microplastics.

How did it form?

`The garbage comes from human activities, including both fishing and agriculture. Ocean currents move it into the the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

How does it affect sea life?

Downsides: animals can eat the plastic and die. The chemicals in the plastic can harm sea life. Animals can use the plastic to move to other parts of the ocean where they might become invasive.


Upsides: it has become a new habitat for some creatures. 

Overall, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch has a bad impact on sea life.


How does it impact people? 
The fish eat the microplastics, the people eat the fish. The chemicals in the microplastics can harm the people. Microplastics are created to be part of things humans use. for example in cosmetics, and from the break-down of larger plastics.


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