Firstly, welcome to my blog! I will be blogging about plastic pollution in our oceans and waterways, but with a more specific focus concerning on-land initatives to try and reduce the amounts of plastic reaching the ocean. In this first post, I'll give a quick introduction to why plastic pollution is a problem, and the next posts will be more involved in looking at changing attitudes and legislation towards plastics and waste. I was primarily inspired in this topic by the recent 5 pence charge on plastic bags rolled out (rather late) in England, and how this is one example of many worldwide to tackle the issues surrounding plastic pollution http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34346309 .
Before starting this, I had never heard of the term 'Plastic Soup'. But it's actually very fitting for the issues facing our oceans. http://www.plasticsoupfoundation.org/en/ - Here is the initial website which introduced me to the term, and from there I have been reading through more and more websites all about the impacts of plastic pollution in oceans and waterways.
Just to give a brief summary of the consequences of plastic debris in the oceans:
- Hazardous to animals and marine life: both in terms of eating/choking/getting stuck in plastic items (many of us will have seen the turtle whose shell was deformed by a plastic six pack ring), but more recent evidence suggests that the chemicals released when the plastic begins to decompose proves harmful to marine species too. "Bisphenol A (BPA) has been shown to interfere with the reproductive systems of animals" - this from a report by the National Geographic - Plastic Breaks Down in the Ocean After All - and Fast.
- The Great Pacific Garbage Patch as one example of the many huge concentrations of plastic debris that are gathered by ocean currents. While some predict this mass is the size of Texas, estimate sizes are speculative due to the complexities invovled in assessment.
- The concentration of pollutants throughout the food chain - with us humans at the top. As animals ingest more and more toxins, these have the possibility to transfer to us as we consume fish.
These are just three consequences, but the issue of plastic pollution permeates much deeper than these, as I will hope to address in time. Keep your eyes peeled for the next posts, and any opinions/comments are welcome!
Good start - it would be really interesting to know the route that plastics take between on-land dumping and their arrival in the oceans. If the route is via rivers, does that mean plastics in freshwaters is a problem too? Questions, questions!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Anson - I'm hoping for my next couple of posts to be progressive - looking at all of these issues from consumption of plastics to their eventual resting places, and where they end up along the way. And of course, how governments and individuals can help to tackle the pollution
DeleteHey Caoimhe, don't know if you've come across this - it's a good little animation from National Geographic about marine plastic pollution! Bit depressing though :( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjT8GG0ETQg&feature=youtu.be
ReplyDeleteThanks for the youtube video - quite eye-opening. And for the average person, we buy our plastics and we put them into bins or recycling bins, but we never really think about all of the operations and infrastructures behind that process. How are they made, what is in them, and how are they recycled. Obviously our waste management industries our failing - considering the amount of leakage happening. I'm giving you a shoutout in my next blog post, as I'll be using the vid! Cheers
ReplyDeleteNo worries!
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