Plastic pollution affects practically all of the planet's seas and oceans. You don't have to go far to observe this sad reality. Furthermore, some specific cases demonstrate that waste from this type of synthetic polymers remains in the marine environment, contaminating and causing effects on fauna and flora, for decades.
The Living without Plastics association has now presented an example of the persistence of waste that pollutes seas and oceans. Among many other objects collected on the coast of Galicia, Living without plastics has found a plastic container. made to contain bleach, which was manufactured in July 1975, that is, 48 years ago.
Fernando Gómez Soria, Fer, co-founder of this entity, together with Patricia Reina Toresano, explains that every day they find containers and other plastic objects on Galician beaches that appear to be many years old, but in this case, the difference is that they can even be read. the brand of the producer (mar bleach) and the manufacturer (Pedramol), as well as the exact date of its manufacture (1-7-1975).
"It seems that the name [of the bleach, Mar] was given a bit of a joke," Fer states ironically in the video presenting this discovery that the entity has disseminated through YouTube (published on November 5). In its container it was located on Castelete beach, in Vilanova de Arousa (Pontevedra) on June 8, during a waste collection operation in celebration of Oceans Day.
Living without plastics has collected official data indicating that the use of this type of low-density polyethylene packaging (in this specific case, blue in color and with a capacity of 280 cubic milliliters) was authorized by a resolution published in the BOE in 1967. "Its discovery almost half a century later in good condition," according to the association, "should serve to rethink the use we are making of plastic."
In recent months, Patricia Reina and Fernando Gómez have made a tour from Irún to Vigo giving talks on the environmental and health risks of plastic pollution; also participating in various beach cleaning activities.
The Mar bleach bottle "is not an isolated case", "these findings must help us rethink the use we are making of plastic", "we are using a material that is characterized by its resistance and durability to manufacture products for use and throw away, this doesn't make any sense.
