Researchers are studying the impact of shipping containers lost in the ocean, as their contents pollute coastlines, poison marine life and create long-lasting damage to deep-sea ecosystems.
Christina Larson, Helen Wieffering and Manuel Valdes report for The Associated Press.
In short:
- More than 20,000 containers have fallen into the sea in the past 15 years, spilling hazardous chemicals and plastic debris.
- Beach cleanups and wildlife are affected, with animals like fish and seals harmed by the pollution.
- Most containers sink to the seafloor, impacting ecosystems for centuries.
Key quote:
“We are leaving time capsules on the bottom of the sea of everything we buy and sell — sitting down there for maybe hundreds of years.”
— Andrew DeVogelaere, marine biologist
Why this matters:
Shipping container spills damage coastal ecosystems, harm livelihoods and threaten marine life. Without stricter reporting and cleanup requirements, the long-term impacts of lost containers remain largely unknown.
