Plastic Pollution in Brazil’s Amazon Spreads Deep into the Rainforest

Research reveals that plastic pollution has reached rivers, soil, and even species deep within the Amazon rainforest. After analyzing 52 scientific studies, researchers found that plastic waste originating from cities, ships, and local communities flows through rivers, creating transnational pollution. Plastics of macro, meso, micro, and nano sizes are now widely present throughout the ecosystem. Not only have manatees suffocated to death after ingesting plastic bags, but birds have been found building nests with plastic, and plastic fragments have been discovered in the digestive systems of fish. Most of these contaminated fish are consumed by local communities. More alarmingly, microplastics and nanoplastics have been detected in human tissues such as the brain and placenta, posing potential health risks.