海が抱えるプラスチック問題
The plastic problem facing the ocean
広大な海は、地球上の生命にとって欠かせない存在である。しかし今、その海が深刻な危機に瀕している。世界中で大量に消費されるプラスチック製品が、適切に処理されずに海へと流れ込み、海洋汚染を引き起こしているのだ。海を漂うプラスチックごみは、波や紫外線によって細かく砕かれ、「マイクロプラスチック」となって長期間海中に留まることになる。
この問題の恐ろしさは、それが食物連鎖を通じて私たちの食卓にまで戻ってくる点にある。魚が誤って飲み込んだプラスチックは、生態系に悪影響を及ぼすだけでなく、最終的には人間にも害を及ぼす可能性がある。私たちは今、利便性を追求する生活から脱却し、環境負荷を減らすための具体的な行動を起こさなければならない。海は単なる資源の宝庫ではなく、次世代へと受け継ぐべきかけがえのない財産なのだから。
Translation
The vast ocean is an indispensable existence for life on Earth. However, right now, that ocean is facing a serious crisis. Plastic products consumed in large quantities around the world are flowing into the sea without being properly processed, causing marine pollution. Plastic waste drifting in the sea is broken into small pieces by waves and ultraviolet rays, becoming 'microplastics' that remain in the sea for a long period. The terror of this problem lies in the fact that it returns to our dining tables through the food chain. The plastic accidentally swallowed by fish not only has a negative impact on the ecosystem, but it also has the potential to eventually harm humans as well. We must now break away from a lifestyle that pursues convenience and take concrete actions to reduce our environmental burden. The ocean is not just a treasure trove of resources, but an irreplaceable asset that should be passed on to the next generation.
Comprehension
Why does the author consider plastic pollution in the ocean to be a personal threat?
- Because it makes beaches less beautiful for tourism.
- Because it destroys the economy of fishing villages.
- ✓ Because it enters the food chain and can affect human health.
- Because it makes the ocean water unsafe for swimming.
The passage highlights that microplastics enter the food chain and can eventually harm humans.