The Mariana Trench Is Completely Filled With Toxic Pollutants

Pollutants that were outlawed in the 1970s have found their way into the deepest place on Earth. Find out more here!

Scarlet Olsen
Created by Scarlet Olsen
On Feb 14, 2017
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New research has shown that the Mariana Trench, the deepest place on earth, more than 10 kilometers below sea level, is filled with more than 50 times the amount of toxic chemicals that flood the most polluted rivers in China.

The discovery started when Alan Jamieson of Newcastle University in the UK captured some small crustaceans from the trench to find out more about them. What he found was that the crustaceans themselves were filled with toxic pollutants, indicating the same of their environment.

Jamieson's team identified two main types of toxic chemicals known as POPs, persistant organic pollutants, which do not break down in the environment and were outlawed in the 1970s. These pollutants seem to have reached the deepest parts of the ocean as plastics and dead animals killed by them fell downward, drawn ever deeper into the earth's depths. However, that is not surprising. What was surprising was the amount of POPs found there.

When it gets down into the trenches, there is nowhere else for it to go. The surprise was just how high the levels were – the contamination in the animals was sky high.

Alan Jamieson

The Guardian, February 13, 2017

cbsnews1.cbsistatic.com

Other scientists are alarmed at Jamieson's findings, as well. Marine ecologist Katherine Dafforn at the University of New South Wales in Australia commented on the study and its import for the world, saying:

Jamieson’s team has provided clear evidence that the deep ocean, rather than being remote, is highly connected to surface waters. Their findings are crucial for future monitoring and management of these unique environments.

Katherine Dafforn

The Guardian, February 13, 2017

blogs.discovermagazine.com

Jamieson echoed Dafforn's sentiment, saying:

We still think of the deep ocean as being this remote and pristine realm, safe from human impact, but our research shows that, sadly, this could not be further from the truth.

Alan Jamieson

The Guardian, February 13, 2017

img.washingtonpost.com

So, now, what we want to know is...

Do you think these findings should have an impact on how humans dispose of waste?

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Any other thoughts? Talk to us about them in the comments below, and share with your friends to see what they think.

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