Scientists are concerned after rocks made from plastic waste were discovered on the island of Trinidad, just over 1000 km off Brazil’s east coast.
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Molten plastic has tangled with rocks, posing a problem on this island known as a haven for green sea turtles, Portal reports.
Brazilian researchers believe this is significant evidence of the increasing human influence on the Earth’s geological cycles.
“It’s both new and frightening because the pollution is now reaching the geology,” says Avelar Santos, a geologist at the Federal University of Parana.
“We found that the pollution mainly comes from fishing nets, which are often found on the beaches of the island of Trinidad,” she continues.
Ms Santos and her team conducted tests to determine what types of plastics are found in rocks known as “plastilomerates” to reach this conclusion.
“The nets are carried away by the current and end their journey on the beaches,” explains the geologist. As the temperature rises, the plastic melts and becomes part of the natural materials of the beach.”
Thousands of green sea turtles choose this place to lay their eggs.
This discovery raises questions about the heritage of humans on Earth.
“Pollution, marine debris and plastic dumped into the oceans become geological material…preserved in Earth’s geological archives,” says the researcher.
According to the researcher, a new era has begun, namely the Anthropocene.
This term characterizes the arrival of man as the main force for change on earth, overriding geophysical forces.