...contamination that plastic bottled waters give off to the environment. The purpose of this paper is to inform people of the impairment that bottled water containers contribute to Earth’s atmosphere. Hopefully, this paper will inform people on this subject matter and help discover new ways to benefit Earth’s environment. In the article, Muddy Wars: The Public Health Risks and Sustainability of Bottled Water in China, written by Abigail Barnes, she states, “The three primary environmental issues that stem from bottled water...
Words: 1099 - Pages: 5
...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...
Words: 1188 - Pages: 5
...A Systems Analysis of Plastic Debris in the Pacific Ocean Course: Integrated Environmental Systems Instructor: Steven Arnold Fall Quarter University of Denver By: Cletus Achibonga November 7, 2012 Table of content Title 1 Abstract 4 Introduction 5 1.1 Scope 5 1.2 Background 5 Animal and plant deaths 8 2.1 Birds 8 2.2 Mammals and other animals 10 2.3 Plants and plant food 11 Environmental impacts 12 3.1 Physical impacts 13 3.2 Chemical impacts 14 3.3 Biological impacts 14 3.4 Human impacts 15 3.5 Economic impacts 16 Societal Responds 17 Conclusion and Recommendation 20 References: 21 List of figures Figure 1: A pack of plastics at the shores of Kamilo Beach, Island of Hawaii 8 Figure 2: Bird corpse with ingested plastic 10 Figure 3: Seal entangled in fishing nets and lines 11 Figure 4: DPSIR model analysis of the pacific gyre 18 Abstract The pacific patch is the most devastating problem of our generation yet there is little public knowledge about the nature and severity of the situation. There is also little to no awareness as to the way we humans either intentionally or unintentionally contribute to the worsening situation in our water bodies. This study used the DPSIR model in analyzing the problem of the pacific gyre from a systems perspective. It focused on the impacts of the pacific gyre on the environment, plants, animals as well as the ecosystem...
Words: 3857 - Pages: 16
...The current event I chose to write about is ocean pollution. Ocean pollution is a huge issue. Some people wonder why do people throw trash in the ocean? Well, people throw trash in the ocean because they are too lazy to get up and throw it away in a trash can or just can’t find one, so instead, they toss it in the ocean. They need to be aware of what it's doing to hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, whales, and other marine mammals, and more than 1 million seabirds. These creatures die each year from ocean pollution. You might not pollute in the ocean, but you might do it somewhere not realizing where it’ll go. Small pieces of trash that people throw on the street are usually washed into storm drains during rainstorms. The storm drains carry...
Words: 502 - Pages: 3
...The Effects of Trash In our Oceans When someone sees trash in the water do they ever wonder just how much trash is out there? Or how it is affecting marine life? You should. In 2013 Kyra Schilling, lead author of this study, was able to look at the sea floor at a depth of 365 meters, and continued to the depth of 4,000 meters. What they found was a lot of trash, one-third of the trash was plastic, of these objects half were plastic bags. Metal was the second common form of debris found, aluminum cans, steel, and tin cans were found. Other things were found as well that include rope, fishing equipment, glass bottles, paper, and cloth. Kyra made a good point, “We don’t usually think of our daily activities affecting life two miles deep in the...
Words: 1034 - Pages: 5
...National Geographic Society. “Great Pacific Garbage Patch.” National Geographic Society, National Geographic, 9 Oct. 2012, www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/great-pacific-garbage-patch/. The National Geographic has been known of posting many articles and videos about the concern and awareness of the water pollution of the Pacific Ocean. The article that is chosen is about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the National Geographic has many photo evidence of the harmful effects of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The article puts in perspective of how serious the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is by using quotes from captains that have sailed by the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and statistics of the mass size. The article will be supporting...
Words: 1296 - Pages: 6
...The Effects of Plastic Bags on Environmentt * | * The effects of plastic bags on the environment are really quite devastating. While there are many objections to the banning of plastic bags based solely on their convenience, the damage to the environment needs to be controlled. * There is no way to strictly limit the effects of plastic bags on the environment because there is no disposal method that will really help eliminate the problem. While reusing them is the first step, most people either don't or can't based on store policies. They are not durable enough to stand up to numerous trips to the store so often the best that citizens can do is reuse them when following pooper scooper laws. * The biggest problem with this is that once they have been soiled the end up in the trash, which then ends up in the landfill or burned. Either solution is very poor for the environment. Burning emits toxic gases that harm the atmosphere and increase the level of VOCs in the air while landfills hold them indefinitely as part of the plastic waste problem throughout the globe. * Plastic Bag Litter * Even when citizens try to manage their plastic bag disposal wind plays a role in carrying them away as litter. This litter is not biodegradable and thus where it lands it tends to stay for long period of time. A bag that is eventually ripped to shreds from high winds or other factors doesn't disappear but instead is spread in smaller amounts throughout the area. This can cause...
Words: 4911 - Pages: 20
...Does Polluted Water Hurts the Environment? Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Abstract Water pollution is the worst problem that the United States and other nations are facing today. Although, many people have known this issue, they are still contributing to it. People need to become more responsive on this issue by complying on several ways to prevent water pollution. The chemical industry and factory farms need to follow the guidelines of operating their business, by using proper disposal methods for hazardous materials and waste materials. Chemical industry and factory farms need to follow the guidelines behind water pollution. To begin with, factory farms should be regulated accordingly. They must obtain permits, monitor water quality and pay for cleaning up and disposing of their waste. Also, factory farms must strengthen their new technology standards. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must consider recent technological advances that significantly reduce pathogens. In addition, residents and local government should get involved and must have a say in whether to allow factory farms in their communities. The public also has the right to review and comment on the contents of pollution reduction plans and to enforce the terms, when a factory farm is in violation. The politically powerful chemically industry should enforce federal laws that permits underground waste disposal. A better and potentially...
Words: 1938 - Pages: 8
...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...
Words: 3821 - Pages: 16
... Nancy Skinner, Chair AB 87 (Davis) - As Amended: March 18, 2009 SUBJECT : Solid waste: single-use carryout bags. SUMMARY : This bill establishes a statewide fee of 25 cents for single-use carryout bags (bags), of all types, beginning in 2010. EXISTING LAW : 1)Requires operators of stores (defined as supermarkets and stores over 10,000 square feet that include a pharmacy) to establish an in-store plastic carryout bag recycling program. The program must include: a) Plastic bags provided by the store to include a label encouraging customers to return the bag to the store for recycling; b) Easily accessible recycling bins for plastic bags; c) All plastic bags collected must be recycled in a manner consistent with the local jurisdiction's recycling plan; d) The store must maintain records relating to the program for at least three years and must make the records available to the local jurisdiction or California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) upon request; and e) The operator of the store must make...
Words: 2259 - Pages: 10
...30 October 2014 The True Price for Plastic Did you know that plastic bags are one of the largest sources of litter in the world? According to research discussed on “How Stuff Works”, plastic bags can take anywhere from two hundred to a thousand years to break down. They also give off toxic chemicals when burned, so burning is a hazardous way to rid of the material. Because of this it is difficult to safely dispose of plastic. According to the same site, less than 1% of plastic bags used in the US are recycled due to recycling costs being much higher than the recovered plastic is worth. States are attempting to find new strategies to reduce the number of plastic carry-out bags from grocery stores and other retail outlets to help with the issues arising. They believe regulating the use of bags can lower harmful impacts to oceans, rivers, lakes and the wildlife that inhabits them. Reducing bag use can also relieve pressure on landfills and waste management. One of the methods being experimented with is charging for the plastic bags given out at grocery stores. This is definitely something stores should try to help out both economically and environmentally. Economically, charging for plastic could help the world in a few ways. It would profit the community, it would put more money into recycling as more people buy reusable bags, and it could cut costs on manufacturing these bags, making it possible to put money elsewhere. Charging for plastic would create an extra income for grocers...
Words: 1660 - Pages: 7
...The biggest landfill on the earth: Great Pacific Garbage Patch Can you imagine the amount of trash approximately fourteen times bigger than whole Slovakia? No? Then it is about time to make you familiar with Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This large floating landfill is the biggest one in the world. According to Charles Moore, discoverer of Great Pacific Garbage Patch (in 1977), "The ocean is downhill from everything" (as cited in Blomberg, 2011). Considering the fact that high percentage of all trash is produced on the land, it is very surprising then the biggest junk yard is actually in the water and not on the land. Even though, recently many people and companies started to care more about amount of trash in oceans, there is a lack of information about Great Pacific Garbage Patch and related issues among large number of population. First of all, Great Pacific Garbage Patch consists of two parts, Western and Eastern Pacific Garbage Patch as mentioned in article written by Jacob Silverman (n.d.). Some sources refer to Eastern one as Great Pacific Garbage Patch and do not talk about the other one (Boudreau et al., n.d.), even though they do not deny the existence of Western Pacific Garbage Patch it can cause some misunderstanding with names. In this essay, there will be used distinction of Eastern and Western Pacific Garbage Patch as well as collective name Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Eastern one is situated between Hawaii and California, the Western...
Words: 3057 - Pages: 13
...Waste and Energy Paper Monique Clemons, Angie Downs, Chisa Jackson, Sierra Richardson, Tim Rodabaugh, and Yvette Scott ENV / 100 October 28, 2013 Pamela Primrose Waste and Energy Paper Environmental Science is a way to obtain agricultural knowledge of how things are going on around the world and the effect it has on the environment. In this document you will obtain a brief explanation of nuclear waste, plastic, coal and oil. What are the alternatives of other energy resources, advantages and disadvantages that would contribute to stabilize the environment currently around the the surrounding areas. Effects: Plastic is one of the most used resources that society has; the most common are plastic bags and beverage bottles. Plastic though durable is very slow to degrade. Plastic is sourced from two major categories, thermoset and thermoplastics; thermoset means that the plastic solidifies when it’s heated. Thermoset plastics are most commonly used in cars and construction; soften when heated however they resume their original composition when at room temperature. Some common thermoplastic products include milk jugs, credit cards and carpet fibers. Plastic makes up 13% of solid waste in our water system ; shockingly 8% of plastic is recycled. Plastic in our soil can block the flow of water through the soil as well as hinder the growth production. Plastic covers about 40% of our world’s ocean surfaces. The greatest affect of all is the effect on our...
Words: 2273 - Pages: 10
...independent and non-profit making association, working in the public interest to fulfil its declared mission: “To Promote and Develop Sustainable and Professional Waste Management Worldwide“ ISWA achieves its mission through: Promoting resource efficiency through sustainable production and consumption Support to developing and emerging economies Advancement of waste management through education and training Promoting appropriate and best available technologies and practices Professionalism through its program on professional qualifications. More than 1,400 Members in More than 90 Countries WWW.ISWA.ORG ISWA Membership Benefits ISWA members have access to a variety of benefits as for instance access to: • Waste Management & Research • Waste Management World • ISWA Newsletter • ISWA Working Groups • ISWA's Job Exchange Platform • Large International Network • Discount on Registration Fees • Member Discount Program ISWA Membership Categories • National Membership • Company/Organisation Memberships • PLATINUM Annual fee: € 5,000 • GOLD Annual fee: € 2,500 • SILVER Annual fee: € 1,500 / 50% reduced fee for members from Low and Lower Middle Income Economies • Individual Membership Annual fee: € 200 / 50% reduced for members from Low, Lower Middle and Upper Middle Income Economies • Student Membership: € 50 • Online Membership: €...
Words: 1409 - Pages: 6
..., Veerle A. I. Huvenne , Eduardo Isidro , Daniel O. B. Jones12, Galderic Lastras8, ´ ˆ Telmo Morato1,2, Jose Nuno Gomes-Pereira1,2, Autun Purser13, Heather Stewart14, Ines Tojeira15, 8 16 5 Xavier Tubau , David Van Rooij , Paul A. Tyler 1 Center of the Institute of Marine Research (IMAR) and Department of Oceanography and Fisheries, University of the Azores, Horta, Portugal, 2 Laboratory of Robotics `ncies del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain, 4 Norwegian Institute for Water Research and Systems in Engineering and Science (LARSyS), Lisbon, Portugal, 3 Institut de Cie (NIVA), Marine Biology section, Oslo, Norway, 5 Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, United Kingdom, ¨ 6 Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Bergen, Norway, 7 Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum fur Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany, 8 GRC `ncies Marines, Departament d9Estratigrafia, Paleontologia i Geocie `ncies Marines, Facultat de Geologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Campus de Pedralbes, Barcelona, Geocie Spain, 9 Marine Biology & Ecology Research Centre, Marine Institute, Plymouth University, Plymouth, United Kingdom, 10 Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Texel, The Netherlands, 11 Institut Francais de Recherche pour l9Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER), Bastia, France, 12 National Oceanography Centre, University of ¸ Southampton Waterfront Campus, Southampton, United Kingdom, 13 OceanLab, Jacobs University Bremen, Bremen...
Words: 10668 - Pages: 43
