Great Pacific Garbage Vortex

A vast area of the North Pacific Ocean, often referred to as the “Great Pacific Garbage Vortex” is an area heavily concentrated in marine debris such as plastic and various other chemicals leaching into marine ecosystems and creating detrimental environmental and health impacts. The garage patch is divided into an Eastern patch located off the coast of California and a Western patch found off the coast of Japan, that work collaboratively to spin the marine debris. The North Pacific Subtropical Convergence Zone, found between the two patches is where the warmer waters from the South Pacific meets the cooler water from the Arctic. This convergence zone creates a pathway for the debris to travel in a circular motion with the help of the circular ocean current system created by
This is a simple example of bioaccumulation and because fish are consumed by humans, there is a serious health risk. The adverse effects on human health include links to miscarriage and prenatal exposure resulting in low birth weight, increased obesity in adulthood, male genital abnormalities, respiratory problems such as asthma and impairment of brain development due to BPA’s ability to bind to the thyroid hormone receptor preventing its proper function which is essential in neurological development. The effects of plastic on humans has been widely researched in recent years and it’s threat to human health has been established. Action must be taken to put an end to the estimated 8 million metric tonnes of mostly plastic trash that contribute to this floating landfill each year. Human impacts on the environment resulting in severe environmental changes due to ongoing degradation such as this accumulation of manmade products that covers up to 15 000 000 square kilometers and has clear negative links to human health, must be brought to the attention of