FACE MASK POLLUTION

HE SAME CONVERGING tropical and temperate currents that create the unique marine ecosystem of Lord, a cargo ship that, while in transit from China to Melbourne, lost 50 containers in rough seas about 70km south-east of Sydney on 24 May last year. Among the goods carried in the containers were household appliances, building materials and medical supplies – including the face masks. Strong onshore winds and swell pushed the masks and associated debris onto the island’s beaches and headlands. Enthusiastic locals and island staff responded with targeted beach clean-ups. Debris collected from Lord Howe Island and beaches on Australia’s east coast will be considered by a maritime investigation into the lost cargo incident. Regardless of its findings, the full environmental impact of disgorging a significant volume of waste into the open ocean will never be fully known.