Omar Khalid
Humans have produced an enormous amount of plastic—enough to wrap around the Earth several times—and it's now becoming part of the fossil record. This plastic waste is already fossilizing in landfills, the ocean, and even in Antarctic ice. It's also forming a new type of stone called plastiglomerate, which is a fusion of natural and manufactured materials. As a result, future archaeologists will not only be digging up old bones but also sifting through fossilized plastics, known as technofossils. These technofossils will provide a unique signature of human existence, indicating our impact on the planet.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic is a fossil | Plastic is a hydrocarbon that technically decomposes and degrades like organic matter |
| How plastic becomes a fossil | Plastic becomes a fossil when it gets covered with other kinds of sediment, like dirt and rocks |
| Plastic as a new type of stone | A substance called plastiglomerate is a fusion of natural and manufactured materials. Melted plastic binds together sand, shells, pebbles, basalt, coral and wood, or seeps into the cavities of larger rocks to form a rock-plastic hybrid |
| Plastic in landfills | Plastic in landfills may be expected to survive even longer because landfills are often closed-off facilities designed to dehydrate waste |
| Plastic in the ocean | Discarded plastics in the ocean can remain intact for so long that they can form garbage patches. Eventually, ocean plastics will reach the bottom of the ocean and become fossilized |
| Plastic in the fossil record | Deposits of plastic have increased exponentially since the end of World War II, doubling around every 15 years |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Plastic is a key geological indicator of human activity
The use of plastic has been widespread since the mid-20th century, and its presence in both the terrestrial and marine realms suggests that it is a key geological indicator of the Anthropocene, a distinctive stratal component. The Nobel-prize-winning atmospheric chemist Paul Crutzen coined the term "Anthropocene" in 2000 to mark the time when humans began putting an abundance of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere during the Industrial Revolution.
The geological cycle, or lifetime, of plastics suggests that they may be a key geological indicator of the Anthropocene. Plastics break down slowly if they are not recycled. They are often found in landfills, which are closed-off facilities designed to dehydrate waste. In these environments, plastics may be expected to survive even longer.
Plastics can also become integrated into the soil beneath our feet. Over time, these plastics become covered with other kinds of sediment, like dirt and rocks. Eventually, they have a good chance of becoming fossilized.
The impact of plastic on the planet is profound. As archaeologist Dr. Matt Edgeworth says, "It may seem odd to think of plastics as archaeological and geological materials because they are so new, but we increasingly find them as inclusions in recent strata. Plastics make excellent stratigraphic markers."
Lightlife Sausage: Plastic Casing or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Plastic is now part of the fossil record
The study, the first detailed analysis of the rise in plastic pollution in sediments, examined annual layers off the coast of California dating back to 1834. The researchers discovered that the plastic in the layers mirrors the exponential rise in plastic production over the past 70 years. The majority of the plastic particles were fibres from synthetic fabrics used in clothing, indicating that plastics are flowing freely into the ocean through wastewater.
The researchers also found plastic bag materials and plastic particles in addition to fibres. They suggested that the study results support the idea of using plastic accumulation as a defining signifier of the Anthropocene, a proposed new geological epoch marked by humanity's influence on Earth. The Nobel-prize-winning atmospheric chemist Paul Crutzen coined the term "Anthropocene" to mark the time when humans began putting an abundance of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere during the Industrial Revolution.
The increase in plastic in the fossil record is not limited to coastal areas. On land, untouched plastics can become integrated into the soil beneath our feet. In landfills, plastics may survive even longer because landfills are often closed-off facilities designed to dehydrate waste. Eventually, ocean plastics will also reach the bottom of the ocean, where they will be covered by other sediments.
The reviewers dubbed these future, preserved materials technofossils.
Airpods: Plastic-Sealed or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Plastic waste can become a new type of stone
The process by which this occurs is similar to the natural formation of sedimentary rocks, which are highly susceptible to influence by human activities. Sedimentary rocks are the dominant rock type found on the Earth's surface, and the introduction of plastic waste into the environment has led to the creation of new, human-made rocks.
Industrial designers have also figured out how to recycle plastic into stone-like sheets, which can be used in furniture design. This process involves creating sheets made from 100% recycled plastic, with no added glue, resin, or color, and no binders or surface treatments.
The vast amount of plastic waste produced by humans is expected to persist on Earth for a very long time, and it is likely that future archaeologists will be digging up fossilized plastics alongside old bones. Plastic has already been found to have changed the surface of the planet, and it is estimated that if all the plastic made in recent decades was cling film, it would be enough to put a layer around the entire Earth. As such, it is not surprising that plastic waste can become a new type of stone, preserving traces of human activity for future generations to discover.
Plastic-Covered WiFi Antenna: Performance Impact?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Plastic is likely to be a signature 'technofossil'
Plastic is incredibly durable, and humans have produced an enormous amount of it since it became widespread in the mid-20th century. It is so pervasive that, according to Jan Zalasiewicz, a paleobiologist at the University of Leicester, "if all the plastic made in the last few decades was clingfilm, there would be enough to put a layer around the whole Earth." With current production trends, there will be several more such layers by the middle of this century.
As plastic is so durable and abundant, it is likely to be a key geological indicator of human activity on Earth, or the Anthropocene, as coined by the Nobel-prize winning atmospheric chemist Paul Crutzen. The Anthropocene marks the time when humans began putting an abundance of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere during the Industrial Revolution.
Plastics have a long geological cycle or lifetime, and they break down slowly if not recycled. On land, plastics can become integrated into the soil beneath us, and in landfills, they may survive even longer due to the closed-off, dehydrating nature of these facilities. Discarded plastics in the ocean can remain intact for long periods, forming garbage patches or sinking to the ocean floor, where they are covered by other sediments.
Over time, these plastics have "a good chance" of becoming fossilized, according to Zalasiewicz. This process has already been observed in the form of plastiglomerate, a rock-plastic hybrid found on Kamilo Beach in Hawaii, where melted plastic binds together with natural materials like sand, shells, and rocks.
Given the durability and abundance of plastic, its ability to integrate into the Earth's strata, and the potential for fossilization, it is highly likely that plastic will be a signature technofossil of the Anthropocene, serving as an eternal testament to humanity's impact on the planet.
Where Do Number 5 Plastics Go?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Plastic is durable and abundant, and will be fossilised
Plastic is so abundant that it has become a defining feature of our age, with some scientists calling it the "Age of Plastics". Humans have produced an enormous amount of plastic—enough to wrap around the Earth several times over. And with the continued increase in plastic production, this number will only grow.
Plastic is also incredibly durable. It is hard to degrade, often ending up in the soil or the ocean, where it can remain intact for long periods. Over time, plastic becomes covered in sediment, like dirt and rocks, and can even form garbage patches in the ocean. This process eventually leads to fossilization, with the plastic becoming integrated into the soil or ocean floor.
The fossilization of plastic has already been observed in the form of "technofossils". These technofossils are expected to persist on Earth for a long time, possibly forever, as long-lasting evidence of human activity.
One example of plastic fossilization is the formation of plastiglomerate, a substance discovered on Kamilo Beach in Hawaii. Plastiglomerate is a fusion of natural and manufactured materials, where melted plastic binds together with sand, shells, pebbles, basalt, coral, and wood, or fills the cavities in larger rocks, creating a rock-plastic hybrid.
With the abundance and durability of plastic, it is highly likely that it will continue to be fossilized, leaving an indelible mark on the planet's geologic record.
Tire Composition: Plastic Presence in Rubber Tires Explored
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Fossils are the remains of plants or animals from a previous geological age that have turned into stone.
Plastic is a synthetic material made from hydrocarbons that is used to create a wide range of products, from clothing to containers.
Fossils form when organic material is covered by sediment and undergoes a process of mineralization over millions of years.
Fossils are not turned into plastic. However, plastic has been found in fossil records, indicating that it has entered the sedimentary record and may become fossilized over time.
Plastic has a significant impact on the environment due to its durability and slow rate of decomposition. It can persist in the environment for long periods, leading to pollution and negative effects on wildlife and ecosystems.
![PLAY Eco-Friendly Garbage Truck, [USDA Certified] No BPA/Phthalate/PVC, Recycled Bioplastic Trash Truck Toys for Boys 1-4, Fine Motor Skills Car Toys Vehicle Gift for Kids](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71e6CnTggqL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
![PLAY Eco-Friendly 3 in 1 Emergency Vehicle Toy Set, [USDA Certified] No BPA/Phthalate/PVC, Recycled Bioplastic Rescue Vehicle with Fire Truck, Police Car & Ambulance Toy](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71HDrJph2zL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
