In the depths of the Mariana Trench, scientists have discovered a plastic bag, now deemed the deepest known piece of plastic trash. This finding comes from a recent study using the Deep-Sea Debris Database, which contains photos and videos taken over the past 30 years. Plastic was found to be the most prevalent type of debris, with plastic bags being the greatest source of plastic trash. Surprisingly, 17 percent of the images showed interactions between the plastic and marine life. This study highlights the widespread issue of plastic pollution, with single-use plastics being found everywhere and taking hundreds of years to break down. Furthermore, the chemical pollutants in the trench may have come from the breakdown of plastic in the water column. Plastic pollution is a significant concern for the environmental movement, with discarded fishing gear also contributing to the problem. While a single plastic bag may not seem like much, its discovery showcases the profound impact humans can have on the planet, even in the darkest depths of the ocean.
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/plastic-bag-found-bottom-worlds-deepest-ocean-trench/