The dramatic video of the death of a turtle after ingesting plastic (and it’s all our fault)

THE’plastic pollution It is one of the most serious environmental emergencies of our time. Every year, millions of tons of plastic waste end up in the oceans, endangering marine life and the balance of the ecosystem. The images of turtles, marine birds and other animals dead After ingesting plastic they are a tragic testimony of human neglect.

The last dramatic example in this sense is the widespread video on social networks of a turtle that has had no escape: he ingested plastic fragments by exchanging them for food and, unfortunately, is dead for suffocation or for intestinal obstruction. Unfortunately, however, this is not an isolated case. Scientists estimate that beyond the 50% of sea turtles has ingested plastic At least once in a lifetime. The same happens for dolphins, whales and marine birds, which end up trapped in waste or ingest them unconsciously.

But what is the origin of this problem? Plastic that pollutes the oceans largely comes from irresponsible disposal of waste. Bottles, bags, fishing networks and microplastic accumulate in the seas, forming real “plastic islands” such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patcha huge expanse of floating waste great three times France.

Microplastics are everywhere

Often, these waste derive from children Moments of convenience or fun: a balloon left to fly in the sky, a plastic glass abandoned on the beach, a bag thrown away without thinking about it. Gestures that seem insignificant but which, over time, generate destruction on a global scale.

Plastic pollution not only affects marine fauna, but also humanity itself. The microplastics, tiny fragments that derive from the degradation of plastic waste, enter the food chain through the fish and seafood that we consume. Studies have noted traces of microplastics in human blood, in breast milk and even in the placenta of babies. The consequences on health are not yet completely known, but it is suspected that they can have toxic effects on the endocrine and immune system.

It is essential to act now to reduce the use of disposable plastic, promote recycling and sensitize people on the importance of responsible disposal. Protecting oceans means protect the animals that populate it and ourselves too. Plastic that we throw into the sea today could return to our dishes tomorrow.