Learn English Lesson #21 (Read + Speak + Study Questions)

Plastic debris not increasing in ocean: study. Scientists have been tracking plastic debris in the ocean for years and their conclusions suggest there is no build up occurring. The plastic parts are either disintegrating, being eaten by fish or sinking under the weight of bacteria. Marty Thompson is a marine biologist. "We are finding dead fish with 20 or more pieces of plastic lodged in the stomach." Consumers of fish must now be careful of eating plastic pieces. The government has posted no official warnings. However, desperate, hungry Americans are receiving free plastic-killed fish. With no job, Tom Thompson Sr. survives on plastic fish and government welfare. "The plastic is hard but when you cook it, the polymers melt into the fish and it's quite delicious... like a creamy sauce. It's divine," noted Mr. Thompson. Restaurants are now serving plastic-killed fish as part of their new exotic menus. "When we grind the fish into a paste and form burgers, nobody can notice the plastic," noted restaurateur Susan Potters. "We get the fish for free and sell the burgers for $5 each. The profit margins are very high on all of our burgers." When asked if people are getting ill, "Actually, our burgers contain far less petroleum products than most fast food. French fries, for instance, contain silicone to prevent foaming while deep frying and petroleum preservatives are sprayed on to chicken strips." Questions: What are the problems associated with plastic in the ocean? How are the plastic-killed fish being used in the food industry?