Plastics in Ocean Rapidly Leach Toxins, Study Says

The millions of tons of plastic bottles, bags, and garbage in the world’s oceans are breaking down and leaching toxins more rapidly than previously believed, posing a threat to marine life, according to a new study. Katsuhiko Saido of Nihon University in Japan, simulating ocean conditions in his laboratory, found that substances such as polystyrene began to decompose within a year, spreading chemicals proven to disrupt hormonal systems in animals. Among the substances being released in the world’s seas are bisphenol A, polystyrene-based oligomers, and styrene monomers and dymers, all of which can cause cancer or disrupt hormone production, according to Saido. “Plastics in daily use are generally assumed to be quite stable,” said Saido, who presented his findings at the American Chemical Society meeting in Washington, D.C. “We found that plastic in the ocean actually decomposes… giving rise to yet another source of global contamination that will continue into the future.”