Scientists have discovered rock mixed with molten plastic on the volcanic island of Trindade in Brazil. They speak of a worrying discovery, because the amount of plastic waste on the island is increasing.
According to the scientists, the plastic pollution is mainly caused by fishing nets, which are found in large numbers on the beaches of Trindade.
“The fishing nets are swept away by the ocean currents and pile up on the beach,” says geologist Fernanda Avelar Santos. CNN. “As the temperature rises, this plastic melts and mixes with the rocks and other materials found on the beach.”
Santos and other scientists are conducting chemical tests to find out what kind of plastic is in the rocks.
Plastic was found in a nature reserve
The discovery is worrying because the plastic waste was found in a nature reserve, Santos explains. “We found the rocks with plastic near a place where green sea turtles lay their eggs.”
Trindade is one of the most important nature reserves in the world, home to green turtles. Thousands of animals lay their eggs there every year.