...Plastic pollution in the ocean is continuing to increase, causing the death of marine animals and ruining islands that are habitat to many animals. Even uninhabited islands in the middle of the ocean are not immune to the issue even though they are located thousands of miles from any civilization. In particular Henderson Island has been severely impacted by plastic pollution, despite its tiny size and remoteness. This rural island is covered in over 38 million pieces of plastic debris (Parker). Plastic pollution is a current issue because despite the many organizations and people that are working to reduce the amount of plastic pollution, the amount of plastic in the ocean continues to increase and harm the most important parts of the ocean....
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...Oceanic Pollution and its Effects on Society “Around 8 million tons of plastic ends up in the oceans every year”,(Milman 1). Nowadays in our everyday society, plastic is used constantly from cups and plates, to bags and pencils. It is this same plastic that ends up in the world’s oceans due to various means of transportation, where it then harms the existing life and ecosystems present. Until something is done to combat this issue, the pollution will never cease to increase. Oceanic pollution harms the world’s oceans, it’s marine life, and ultimately ourselves due to the overwhelming influx of pollutants, and lack of action against it. The formal definition of marine pollution is as states, “Oceanic pollution also known as marine pollution is the spreading of harmful substances such as oil, plastic, industrial, and agricultural waste and chemical particles being released into the ocean”,(NOAA). Essentially there is no one cause to marine pollution, therefore there is also no one effect or solution to it either. Marine pollution is the accumulation of waste being emitted into the ocean both via natural, and unnatural means. A few of the most notable causes of marine pollution would include the following: sewage, industrial, land runoff, large scale oil spills, ocean mining, and littering. To go more into...
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...Save Our Beaches! The Study Behind Coastal Pollution Plastic Pollution is a significant contributor to the non-point source pollution found in the Monterey Bay and around the world. While terms such as Marine Debris and Ocean Trash have been used to describe the garbage that enters the ocean, a growing number of scientists, researchers and marine-based organizations have adopted the term Plastic Pollution not only because 90% of floating ocean trash is plastic, but because the term pollution highlights that we are dealing with a pervasive substance that contaminates water, the cells of organisms, and knows no boundaries. (Plastic Pollution, n.d.) 80% of plastic pollution that enters the ocean originates from land. Common sources include: recreational beach users, people who drop litter on sidewalks and streets, plastics manufacturers and transporters, illegal dumping, and areas with inadequate trash receptacles. All land-based plastic pollution has the potential to become ocean pollution. Plastics easily blow into the ocean or washed down storm drains that flow directly to the Bay, and oceans around the world. (Marine Problems: Pollution, n.d.) Marine animals often mistake plastic pieces for food. For example, bird species such as pelicans or albatross will mistake pieces of plastic for small fish. Once the animal ingests the plastic, their body cannot digest it. The plastic item will remain in the animals’ stomach causing the animal to feel full. Thus the animal will eventually...
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...Every year about eight million tons of plastic is dumped into our surrounding oceans, making that about 22,000 tons in one single day. Who decided that it is socially acceptable to dump waste into our delicate oceans; that do nothing but keep our Earth alive? Sustainable coastlines are a major role that play into preventing ocean pollution of plastics and other waste. The goal of sustainable coastlines are to inspire local communities to come together as a whole and help towards hands-on beach cleanups monthly. I was inspired to take on this topic because from a young age I have felt a close relationship with the sea, and I want nothing more for others to treat it with the most upwards respects as well. From this presentation, I hope to inspire others to protect our oceans and give our marine life a safe ecosystem; the same we want for our future generations....
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...Plastic in the world’s oceans has reached an unfathomable, and frankly disturbing level. It is speculated that there are at least 5.25 trillion plastic particles weighing a combined 268,940 tons currently floating in the world’s oceans (“Plastic Pollution in the World's Oceans” par. 17). What’s more, of the quarter million tons of plastic in the ocean, anywhere from 7,000 to 35,000 tons is comprised of micro-plastics measuring less than 5mm in diameter. Take a moment and consider the sheer magnitude of nearly 270,000 tons of plastic. For scale, let’s compare the maximum load allowed for big rigs in the United States, 40 tons (or 80,000 pounds). The weight of the combined plastic in the ocean is equivalent to at least 6,750 fully stocked big...
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...Examine two ways in which plastic bags contribute to environmental damage. ------------------------------------------------- eassy Wesley lam Module Code | FC501-2T | Group | Group A | Module Title | Skills for Study 1 Assessment | Type | Essay Assignment | Title | Examine two ways in which plastic bags contribute to environmental damage. | Tutor Name | Tatiana Wood | Student ID Number | T0022045 | Date of Submission | 28 Feb 2014 | Word Count | | Examine two ways in which plastic bags contribute to environmental damage. We are surrounding by plastic. Think about every piece you touch in a single day: shopping bags, plastic cups, drink bottles. Plastic may be very convenient, but it is also harmful in many ways to environment. There are so many ways to damage environment such as general waste, plastic bags and pollution. Ultimately, plastic bags are the major issue of causing environmental problems since it is generating pollution according burning plastic bags would generate air pollution, and throwing rubbishes and general waste in the ocean would damage the living things in the sea. According to above statement, millions of generate waste are generating each day causing tons of waste which contribute to environmental damage. As a result, this will lead to damage to living things and animals, as burning plastic bags will generate the harmful air pollution. Also, the place where is locating the rubbishes and plastic bags would not be able to...
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...“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it,” said Robert Swan. People should not lounge about waiting for someone to undertake this immense responsibility. There’s no denying it; the people inhabiting Earth continue to eradicate it. The little things are what continue to slowly damage our planet. Whether it’s throwing trash out of the window, flicking a cigarette bud, or even spitting gum on the floor, people litter every day without giving a single thought to what might be affected. For what feels like eternity, humans have rigorously affected the marine life in Earth’s oceans by spreading their various and vast amounts of pollution. Ocean pollution is the spreading of detrimental substances such as plastic, oil, chemical particles, and industrial and agricultural waste. Being even more specific, littering. When objects are blown by the wind over long distances and end up in the ocean, this is considered pollution from the atmosphere and is a huge source of ocean pollution. Most of the debris that is dumped, especially plastic debris, cannot decompose and remains in the oceans...
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...near was the Pacific Ocean, which was located approximately two miles from Newport Beach and Huntington Beach, California. I lived near these Southern California beaches for over twenty years and visited them frequently during all four seasons. I have walked miles of their shoreline, taking in the sights and sounds of various birds flying high above in the sky. During the summer, I would get out into the water and bodyboard endless waves that propelled me towards the sandy coastline. What I have noticed throughout my years of visiting Huntington Beach is how the presence of single use plastic bags and bottles have increased along the shoreline, especially in and around the mouth of the Santa Ana river....
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...Pollution is a major issue that threatens marine ecosystems throughout the world, and one of the main sources of marine pollution is plastics. The problem of plastic pollution in oceans is a serious issue because of the negative impacts that it has on the marine ecosystems and the abundant living organisms found within these areas. The introduction of plastics into the natural environments of marine species often causes considerable damage to these creatures, as plastic debris is a known culprit of injuries and even the deaths of many marine animals. For instance, plastic bags are commonly mistaken by animals, both in marine ecosystems as well as on land, as a type of food “especially when the bags carry food residues, are brightly coloured...
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...It is hard for some people to grasp the concept that plastic debris is actually very harmful in the ocean life. “In the ocean, plastic debris injures and kills fish, seabirds and marine mammals” (cleanwater.org). Plastic isn’t just the harmless material that people use everyday for various reasons. Plastic that is no longer of use to anyone is thrown out, thus, ending up in the ocean. However, it doesn’t just sit there and waste away. The plastic begins to take a journey in the water, and when the sea animals see, they end up eating it. The destructive consequences of plastic in the ocean are so extreme that a lot of sea animals suffer devastating fates in result to the pollution of plastic. “Marine plastic pollution has impacted at least...
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...Man versus Nature: Technology Versus Environment: Money Versus Wild Life Bristol Bay Although the fishing industry has long been associated with the contribution of marine pollution little work has been done on the effects on the industry itself of marine debris and other pollution. The fishing industry is responsible for discarded nets, hooks, fishing poles, and many times sunken boats, among other gear. In many circumstances this is not the intended plan when going fishing to catch their paychecks. In fact the fishing industry pays a high price for these losses from the time they have to replace their nets to the pulling of old nets and trash out of their new nets on a regular basis. When questioned about the effects of marine debris on their fishing activities, Shetland fishermen responded that 92% had recurring problems with accumulated debris in nets, 69% had had their catch contaminated by debris and 92% had snagged their nets on debris on the seabed. Many also experienced fouled propellers and blocked intake pipes. On average, 1-2 hours per week were spent clearing debris from nets. Debris could cause a restricted catch and many boats avoided particular fishing areas altogether due to the high concentrations of debris. It has gotten to the point for many fishers that they can no longer fish certain areas known to be well stocked with money fish due to the time consuming issues with trash and fishing debris in those specific waters due to left behind gear. Ultimately...
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...We use plastics every day. For example, (Sheavly Journal, 2007) household products and packaging materials were accounted for 40% of all plastic products; however, do you know what happened after we through the plastic wastes? They began to harm our ecosystem. The plastic pollution needs to be addressed because it is becoming a huge problem to the human beings and the ecosystem. I always remind myself to recycle and not through wastes into public places. By doing research, I have a more detailed understanding on plastic pollution now. Although plastic pollution seems nothing related with ourselves, it is actually hurting both the human beings and the ecosystem. From my survey, I found that although students know there is a problem on plastic pollution, most of them didn’t pay much attention on it (Communication 101 Questionnaire). We will get to know plastics pollution better through what the plastic pollution is, how it is affecting the environment, and the proper solutions of the plastic pollution to find out what we can do to make changes. So first, let’s look at the existing problem of plastic pollution. Plastic pollution is also called "White Pollution". It is rapidly expanded with an amazing speed since the industry developed. On the one hand, the common way of landfill load limited land resources. (Mitra PLASTIC POLLUTION COALITION 2013)As land increasingly nervous, the site that the garbage can be buried was also found progressively to decrease, and...
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...Marine Pollution The ocean is the most valued resource in human society. “The oceans provide humans with energy and mineral resources, food, and climate moderation, as well many other commodities and services.” (Desonie 87) Oceans, How We Use the Seas Chapters 8 through 10 of Oceans, How We Use the Seas; Dana Desonie informs the reader about the cause and effects of marine pollution, as well as what pollutes our oceans and how, and the types of pollutants that enter our oceans. Marine pollution is when unnatural substances enter the ocean. Dana explains the type of pollutants that enter our oceans such as plastics, man-made chemicals, heavy metals, oil, sediments, nutrients, and even radioactivity. Many pollutants infiltrate our oceans...
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...The ocean is able to do this because of the plankton in the water they absorb the CO2 and turn it into O2 using photosensitise. 3) It Prevents the world from overheating, it takes up to 80% of the heat caused from climate change (Life in The worlds Ocean, Wiley-Blackwell) (Book) If it were not for the ocean the cities that boarder it would already be under water. 4) It gives a massive habitat to much marine life that may help in medical development and where we get a lot of medical ingredients come from. Also gives a place for breeding to take place and...
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...Bio 324 12/01/12 Plastics in the ocean Imagine the massive breadth and spread of our great state of Texas. Now imagine every milli-inch of that piled high with trash: bottle caps, cigarettes, cigarette lighters, tampon applicators, plastic nets, discarded flip flops, Frisbees, soda bottles, milk jugs, diapers, six-pack rings, busted tennis rackets, empty pens, shampoo bottles, empty squeeze bottles of jam, you name it. Now take that image, double it, and plunk into the water. That's what is floating around the eastern corner of a 10-million-square-mile oval known as the North Pacific subtropical gyre. Nicknamed the "Eastern Garbage Patch," this buoyant stew of toxic pollution-most of which is plastic-is only one of five such garbage heaps caught in the swirling high-pressure currents characteristic of gyres. The others reside in the South Pacific, the North and South Atlantic, and the Indian Ocean. And each year, perhaps unwittingly, each one of us adds to plastic to the heap. Plastic makes it into our oceans in a variety of ways. About twenty percent of it comes from goods lost from boats: i.e. accidental loss of fishing tackle and other recreational gear, massive shipping containers carrying millions of plastic items washed overboard during severe storms; litter from pleasure boats, or illegal dumping of unwanted goods. Beachgoer’s debris is also a contributor. The other eighty percent is swept in from land. Just as Nonpoint Source Pollution from fertilizers,...
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