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Great Barrier Reef

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The Great Barrier Reef is one of the world's most beautiful habitats, and is home to hundreds of marine life species. 

One resident of the reef is being negatively impacted by human pollution and chemicals.

The green sea turtle has been found to have been impacted by contamination, researchers found. 

Human medications, pesticides, herbicides and industrial chemicals have all been found in the blood streams of the sea creatures, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

'What you put down your sink, spray on your farms, or release from industries ends up in the marine environment and in turtles in the Great Barrier Reef,' said environmental chemist Amy Heffernan from the University of Queensland

'Humans are putting a lot of chemicals into the environment and we don't always know what they are and what effect they are having, we need to be conscious of that,' she said.

 

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'There is one new chemical registered for use every six seconds, so the libraries and the databases that we use to identify these chemicals just can't keep up.'

Turtles from multiple areas were tested by the researchers. 

Chemical exposure has been linked to stress and other negative side effects in marine wildlife.

The turtles tested were already showing indications of inflammation and liver dysfunction.

Moral of the story? Be careful what you pour down the sink. 

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Some of the world’s most amazing sights are on a fast track towards extinction so, before they disappear forever, you might want to book a trip.

Machu Picchu’s sister Choquequirao, Peru
The Peruvian government plan on building a 3-mile cable car to Choquequirao, which will see tourism spike from just five visitors a day to over 3,000, which will obviously have an effect on the area.

Great Barrier Reef, Australia
This beautiful reef is being corroded due to rising ocean temperatures, pollution and over-fishing. The 7,000-year-old reef is one of the world’s most beautiful diving sites but scientists say it could be gone in 40 years.

Dead Sea, Israel and Jordan
The famous sea has been evaporating and sinking about three feet a year for the past 50 years and could be completely dry by 2054.

Venice, Italy
Apparently this beautiful and romantic city has started sinking and with an increase in the number of floods it experiences, it may well go the way of Atlantis.

You better get exploring before they are gone forever.

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