Ukungcoliswa Kwepulasitiki Olwandle i-Atlantic Kuphakeme Kakhulu Kunokuba Bekucatshangwa Ngaphambili

plastic ukungcoliswa kubeka engcupheni enkulu imvelo emhlabeni wonke ikakhulukazi imvelo yasolwandle njengoba iningi lezinto eziphilayo amapulasitiki esetshenziswa futhi ilahliwe ukufinyelela ekugcineni emifuleni nasezilwandle. Lokhu kuyimbangela yokungalingani kwezinto eziphilayo zasolwandle okubangela ukulimala empilweni yasolwandle¹ futhi ekugcineni kuthinte impilo yomuntu². Okukhathaza kakhulu ama-microplastics asolwandle (10-1000uM) angena olwandle esuka emithonjeni eyahlukene njengokuguguleka kwezindawo zokulahla imfucumfucu, ezokuthutha ezisuka ezindaweni ezisogwini nezimaphakathi nezwe, ukudoba, ukuthutha ngemikhumbi kanye nokulahlwa olwandle ngokungemthetho.

Ngokocwaningo lwakamuva³, kunesilinganiso esihlanganisiwe samathani aphakathi kwezigidi eziyi-11-21 zezinhlobo ezintathu ezinkulu zokulahlwa kukadoti. amapulasitiki (i-polyethylene, i-polypropylene, ne-polystyrene) yobukhulu obungama-32–651 µm imisiwe phezulu ku-200 m olwandle i-Atlantic Ocean okusho ukuthi kube amathani ayizigidi ezingu-200 uma ucabangela ukujula konke okungama-3000m olwandle i-Atlantic Ocean.

Ngokusobala, lokhu kwehluka kungenxa yokuthi ucwaningo olwenziwa ngaphambilini aluzange luhlanganise amanani ezinhlayiya ezincane zepulasitiki 'ezingabonakali' ngaphansi kolwandle. Eqinisweni, izinqubo zokugeleza ezithutha ama-microplastics ukuya emiseleni ye-hadal (indawo ejule kakhulu yolwandle) ziyadlalwa. Kunemibiko yokuhlushwa okuphezulu kakhulu ama-microplastics ezifundeni ezijulile ezaziwayo ku planet, amathafa alasha kanye nemisele ye-hadal etholakala oLwandlekazini i-Pacific (4900 m–10,890 m)^5.  

Ucwaningo lwamanje ³ ingeyokuqala yohlobo lwayo eyenziwa ngaphesheya kwe-Atlantic yonke, kusukela e-UK kuya e-Falklands. Lokhu kuhlolwe i ukungcoliswa kusuka ku-polyethylene (PE), i-polypropylene (PP) kanye ne-polystyrene (PS) kudoti ezindaweni eziyi-12 endaweni eyi-10,000 km ukusuka enyakatho-seNingizimu yoLwandlekazi i-Atlantic. Ucwaningo lubonise ukuthi ukugxilwa kwesisindo esiphezulu kakhulu kwakungokwe-PE elandelwa yi-PP ne-PS. Lokhu bekuhambisana nokwakheka kwe-polymer ye plastic udoti okhiqizwa emhlabeni jikelele ⁴ futhi yabanjwa phezu kolwandle nangaphansi kolwandle.  

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References: 

1. I-GESAMP, 2016. Imithombo, Isiphetho kanye Nemiphumela Yezinto Ezincane Zeplastiki Emvelweni Yasolwandle (Ingxenye 2). Inhlangano Yezolwandle Yamazwe Ngamazwe. Itholakala ku-inthanethi ngo http://www.gesamp.org/site/assets/files/1275/sources-fate-and-effects-of-microplastics-in-the-marine-environment-part-2-of-a-global-assessment-en.pdf  

2. U-Wright SL no-Kelly FJ. plastic kanye nempilo yomuntu: inkinga encane? Imvelo. Isayensi. Ubuchwepheshe.51, 6634–6647 (2017). I-DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b00423 

3. Pabortsava K, Lampitt RS. Ukugxiliswa okuphezulu kwepulasitiki efihliwe ngaphansi kolwandle i-Atlantic Ocean. Kushicilelwe: 18 Agasti 2020. Nat Commun 11, 4073 (2020). I-DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-17932-9  

4. I-Geyer, R., Jambeck, JR & Law, KL Production, ukusetshenziswa, kanye nesiphetho sawo wonke amapulasitiki ake enziwa. Isayensi. Adv.3, e1700782 (2017). I-DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1700782 

5. Penga G., Bellerby R., et al 2019. Umgqomo kadoti wokugcina wolwandle: Imisele ye-Hadal njengendawo enkulu yokugcina izinto yokungcoliswa kwepulasitiki. Ucwaningo lwamanzi. Umqulu 168, 1 Januwari 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2019.115121  

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