What is hiding in the sea water? Data that worries researchers
Microscopic plastic particles are already penetrating food, drinking water, and the human body. Experts are calling to reduce the use of single-use plastic before the damage becomes irreversible. "Even our babies are not immune - these substances are passed on to them in breast milk," experts warn.
Do you love going to the sea? Dipping and swimming in it? Well, you are exposing yourself to a real danger from the microplastic particles it contains. The one sounding the alarm about the situation and the heavy pollution today is Mor Gilboa, CEO of the Zalul organization.
Gilboa describes with sorrow the reality reflected on our beaches: "The 'sea of plastic' that Israeli citizens have been encountering in recent weeks on the country's beaches is the result of a cultural and social addiction to single-use plastic — utensils, packaging, bags, and products that are used for a few minutes but pollute the sea for hundreds of years."
"This is not a decree of fate. The Mediterranean Sea is considered one of the most polluted seas in the world with microplastics. Although it constitutes only about 1% of the world's sea and ocean area, it contains about 7% of all global marine plastic waste. The geographical structure of the Mediterranean Sea as an almost closed unit, with extremely slow water exchange, makes it a trap where huge amounts of waste accumulate, coming from a dense population and extensive industrial activity."
From the plate to the bloodstream: the deadly path of microplastics
The scientific danger lies not only in the existence of the plastic itself, but in its ability to penetrate the deepest tissues of the human body. Plastic particles have been found in seafood, salt, drinking water, and even in body tissues and biological fluids.
These particles trigger severe inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, and cell damage. Studies point to an alarming clinical link: among patients who were found to have plastic particles in their carotid arteries, a significantly higher risk of heart attacks, strokes, and death was observed compared to those who were not exposed.
In addition, plastic particles serve as a "substrate" for the accumulation of pathogenic bacteria, such as Vibrio, which causes cholera, and thereby assist in the spread of diseases in the marine environment and through it to humans.
Dr. Esti Winter, a biologist and ecotoxicologist, emphasizes the vulnerability of the next generation:
"Even our babies are not immune to microplastics, because these substances are passed on to them in breast milk."
Exposure to toxins begins already at the embryonic stage in the womb, when particles and accompanying chemicals penetrate the placenta.
Israel in focus: the most polluted coastline
In Israel, the situation is particularly severe due to population density and a culture of single-use plastic consumption. Over 90% of the waste on Israel's beaches is plastic, with about 60% of it originating directly from visitors who leave waste on the beach.
A study conducted at Tel Aviv University revealed that Israel's coastline is polluted with more than 2 tons of microplastics, with the most polluted beaches being Tel Aviv and Hadera. The researchers explain that the proximity to streams like the Yarkon and Nahal Alexander intensifies the pollution, as the stream waters carry with them accumulations of plastic from industrial centers directly into the sea.
The impact on wildlife in Israel is catastrophic: in 79% of the sea turtles examined, plastic waste was found in the digestive system, sometimes in quantities of thousands of particles per individual turtle. Prof. Noa Shenkar warns: "Our research turns on a red light for the entire public in Israel... The findings show that our beaches are polluted with microplastics and chemicals originating from plastic products... This can be dangerous for the environment and also for us."
Hormonal disruption and poisoning of ecosystems
Plastic in the sea is not just a passive material but a ticking "chemical bomb". In the production process, substances such as bisphenols, phthalates, and PFAS, known as endocrine disruptors, are added to it. These substances interfere with the hormonal system responsible for growth, fertility, and metabolism, and are linked in studies to a decrease in male fertility, diabetes, miscarriages, premature births, and an increase in the risk of hormonal cancers.
Moreover, plastic reshapes the marine system through the creation of the "plastisphere" — a new man-made ecosystem in which algae and microorganisms develop on the floating plastic. The plastic serves as a "Trojan horse" that carries pollutants and heavy metals up the food chain to the plate of Israeli citizens.
The solution is necessary to prevent an irreversible crisis
The scientific data proves that the plastic we throw away today returns to us as poison. The solution cannot be limited to recycling alone, as microplastic particles are too small to be collected after they have reached the sea. As Mor Gilboa summarizes: "The government and local authorities must lead a bold policy to reduce the use of single-use plastic through taxation, regulation, and incentives... The time has come for national legislation that will prohibit the sale and entry of single-use plastic to the beaches."
In addition, all coastal authorities must enact municipal bylaws to prevent single-use plastic on beaches and prohibit the sale of drinks and food on beaches in single-use plastic. Without a drastic change in consumption culture and legislation, the "sea of plastic" will continue to poison the most vital resource of the State of Israel.
