0:00
a cave that has remained closed to human
0:02
visitors for 30 years has been
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discovered to contain high level of
0:07
microplastics raising concerns about the
0:09
pervasive presence of these tiny plastic
0:13
environment two recent studies including
0:16
one published in the Journal sence of
0:18
the total environment have used the
0:21
secution of this cave to assess the
0:24
extent to which microplastics have
0:26
infiltrated the environment particularly
0:32
Systems Elizabeth Hassen mller a
0:35
geochemist and associate director of the
0:37
water Institute at St Louis University
0:41
who conducted both studies highlighted
0:43
the need to explore the impact of
0:45
microplastic contamination in subsurface
0:48
areas as previous research had mainly
0:50
focused on surface water
0:53
settings The Chosen location for the
0:55
studies was Cliff Cave in Missouri which
0:58
has been Clos to the public since 1993
1:01
but it's situated near a residential
1:03
area this made it a valuable case study
1:06
for examining how human settlements
1:11
ecosystems the research revealed that
1:13
microplastics were most concentrated at
1:16
the Cave's entrance and were
1:17
subsequently carried further into the
1:20
cave by flood water Additionally the
1:23
study found that microplastics were 100
1:25
times more concentrated in the cave
1:27
sediment than in the water notably 99%
1:32
of the microplastic debris was found in
1:34
the sediment indicating that water
1:36
deposits microplastics into the sediment
1:39
where they can persist for decades or
1:42
longer even after the water has
1:44
receded Airborne particles may also
1:47
settle into the caves
1:49
sediment this concerning Discovery
1:52
raises the possibility that these
1:54
plastic particles May seep into
1:56
groundwater which humans rely for
1:58
drinking additionally it possess a
2:01
threat to the habitats of bats and
2:03
amphibians inhabiting the
2:06
caves given the widespread pres of
2:08
plastics reversing this trend will be
2:11
challenging one proposed Solution by
2:14
Hassam Muller is for society to reduce
2:16
the use of synthetic clothing as much of
2:19
the debris found in the cave consists of
2:21
synthetic textile fibers
