Plastics in oceans decompose, release hazardous chemicals, surprising new study says
Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - 18:42
in Earth & Climate
WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 2009 -- In the first study to look at what happens over the years to the billions of pounds of plastic waste floating in the world's oceans, scientists are reporting that plastics -- reputed to be virtually indestructible -- decompose with surprising speed and release potentially toxic substances into the water.