Persistent Plastic
Plastic, the ubiquitous symbol of the modern age. Humans just love the stuff! They use it for everything from food packaging to vehicle parts. They shoot it into space and drop it in the ocean. They even eat it! You can't get away from the stuff.
It turns out, though, that eating it isn't so good. Humans are learning that
it is carcinogenic. It also is an endocrine disrupter, which can lead to birth defects and problems with the immune system. You'd think they would want to steer clear of it. But it's just SOOOOO convenient!
Plastic and the Oceans
The health problems that come from plastic may take several years to affect humans, but animals often experience them much more quickly. It's particularly a problem in the ocean, where many fish mistake small pieces of plastic for food. They may fill themselves with the useless plastic and starve to death with a full stomach!