Plastics Contribute to Global Warming, Scientists Say
We can now add plastics to the list of causes of global warming.
Researchers have recently found that plastics emit methane when exposed to sunlight. Methane is a greenhouse gas and a major cause of global warming. They published their findings in the journal PLOS One.
The researchers tested common plastic products such as water bottles, shopping bags and food containers.
David Karl is a researcher at the University of Hawaii and co-author of the study. He explains that the gases found in plastic harm the environment. He adds that these gases are expected to increase as more and more plastic is produced and enters the environment.
The manufacturing and use of plastics have been criticized in recent years after a massive island of floating garbage was discovered in the Pacific Ocean. This garbage threatens sea life and the global food supply.
Many countries have placed bans on some single use plastic products, such as plastic bags and straws.
A video of doctors pulling a plastic straw out of the bloody nose of a large sea turtle has prompted some U.S. cities and companies to phase out the straws. According to National Geographic, over one million sea creatures and other birds and animals are killed by plastic garbage each year.
