Why is plastic that doesn’t break down a problem? Plenty of rocks don’t break down either?

Question

I’m not talking about plastic with specific issues (i.e. plastics bags look like jellyfish to sea turtles so sea turtles eat them and die).

But the sand on the beach is still going to be sand on the beach in 10,000 years, so what specific issues are going to happen from X amount of sand grains being plastic?

Edit: Based on the first few replies: I’m talking about plastics that are said to still be there, unchanged, millions of years later. Like they’d show up on the geological record. “Forever plastics”

IF they don’t decay what’s the issue? Or is them not decaying and “forever plastics” a misconception?

In: 0

Answer 1

Plastic is toxic and can cause serious health issues. Rocks and sand are just indigestible. Just because they both down break down easily doesn’t mean they have the same effect on your body.