An analysis of the global scale of plastic pollution has identified that since 1950s when mass production of fossil derived plastics started that 8.3 billion tonnes have been produced, most of which has ended up polluting land and marine based ecosystems. There is a real danger that this contamination may become permanent, with plastic production expected to accelerate and that it will take hundreds or thousands of years to break down once produced.
For more information please read the full article: Plastic pollution risks ’near permanent contamination of natural environment‘