‘Plasticrust’, new form of plastic pollution

LISBON: Researchers have identified a new form of plastic pollution named ‘Plasticrust’, which surfaced recently on shoreline rocks in Madeira, a volcanic Portuguese island. ‘Plasticrust’ is a mixture of plastic and rock and was discovered by a group of Portuguese researchers who have been surveying the shoreline after discovering the traces of an undiscovered translucent, blue substance found deposited onto wave-licked rock formations. The researchers have conducted a study on the new discovery and published a paper, “Plasticrusts: A new potential threat in the Anthropocene’s rocky shores.”

“The potential impact of these ‘plasticrusts’ needs to be further explored. The potential ingestion by intertidal organisms could suppose a new pathway for the entrance of plastics into marine food webs,” highlights the study.

Lab analysis revealed that the colored crusts were polyethylene, one of the most common types of plastic, often used in food and drink containers. The problem could grow in magnitude as this new substance could very well replace biological crusts that were supposed to feed marine creatures like sea snail and barnacles.