why are plastics so much worse than other non biodegradable things like concrete or rock?

Question

I understand that plastics are bad for the environment but why are they so much worse then any other rocks and sand that are always present. If plastics can’t biodegrade why can’t they be considered as a somthing like sand after a certain point.

In: 43

Answer 1

Concrete is basically an artificial rock. It comes in big chunks, which gradually break down into something like sand. Plastic, on the other hand, comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes including things that animals might mistake for food. It also can break down into tiny microscopic particles that animals can breath or drink. So plastic is a lot more likely to end up inside of animals than concrete is. Plastic can also leech out toxic chemicals as it slowly degrades.