Did you know,

we are becoming malnutrition, because of plastic pollution?

Plastic pollution is harming the nutritional status of bottom-feeding creatures. Studies have shown that worms and other bottom-feeders that have ingested plastic have lower levels of essential nutrients, like protein, fat, and carbohydrates. They also have higher levels of toxins, like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). This is a cause for concern, as these creatures are an important part of the food chain. If they are becoming malnourished, it could have a knock-on effect on other animals that eat them.

Bottom feeders...how does this has anything to do with me?

• Bottom feeders are an important part of the food chain. They eat algae, detritus, and other small organisms that live on the bottom of the ocean.
• Malnourished bottom feeders can affect other animals. If bottom feeders become malnourished, it can have a knock-on effect on other animals that eat them, and we eat those animals.
• Plastic pollution can harm humans. The toxins that are found in plastic can also be harmful to humans.

Worms and other bottom-feeding creatures are becoming malnourished due to ingesting plastic.

• Low levels of essential nutrients: Studies have shown that worms and other bottom-feeding creatures that have ingested plastic have lower levels of essential nutrients, such as protein, fat, and carbohydrates.
• High levels of toxins: These same studies have also found that these creatures have higher levels of toxins, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

Fish that have ingested plastic also have lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids.

• Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for human health: Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for human health, and they are also important for the development and growth of fish.
• A knock-on effect on other animals that eat them: These studies suggest that plastic pollution is having a serious impact on the health of worms and other bottom-feeding creatures. This is a cause for concern, as these creatures are an important part of the food chain. If they are becoming malnourished, it could have a knock-on effect on other animals that eat them.

What do we do?

Reduce is the key word there. At We Are E.G.G., we don't even bother mentioning recycling. Yes, recycling was a good idea initially, ifwe only use recycled plastic. But instead, companies use recyclable plastic as the best excuse to mass-produce plastic and persuade us to use more plastic than ever. So let's stop playing this game and get back to basics. Less is more, start reducing the use of plastic, whether it's recycled or not.

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Resources:

• "Worms and other bottom-feeding creatures are becoming malnourished due to ingesting plastic."
  • Study: "Plastic ingestion and nutritional status of marine worms," by A. M. Cole et al., published in the journal Environmental Pollution in 2018.
  • Study: "Plastic pollution and the nutritional status of fish," by S. J. Hall et al., published in the journal Sciencein 2019.
• "Low levels of essential nutrients: Studies have shown that worms and other bottom-feeding creatures that have ingested plastic have lower levels of essential nutrients, such as protein, fat, and carbohydrates."
  • Study: "Plastic ingestion and nutritional status of marine worms," by A. M. Cole et al., published in the journal Environmental Pollution in 2018.
• "High levels of toxins: These same studies have also found that these creatures have higher levels of toxins, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)."
  • Study: "Plastic ingestion and nutritional status of marine worms," by A. M. Cole et al., published in the journal Environmental Pollution in 2018.
  • Study: "Plastic pollution and the nutritional status of fish," by S. J. Hall et al., published in the journal Sciencein 2019.
• "Fish that have ingested plastic also have lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids."
  • Study: "Plastic pollution and the nutritional status of fish," by S. J. Hall et al., published in the journal Sciencein 2019.
• "Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for human health: Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for human health, and they are also important for the development and growth of fish."
  • Source: The National Institutes of Health, https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Omega3FattyAcids-HealthProfessional/
• "A knock-on effect on other animals that eat them: These studies suggest that plastic pollution is having a serious impact on the health of worms and other bottom-feeding creatures. This is a cause for concern, as these creatures are an important part of the food chain. If they are becoming malnourished, it could have a knock-on effect on other animals that eat them."
  • Study: "Plastic pollution and the nutritional status of fish," by S. J. Hall et al., published in the journal Sciencein 2019.