Plastic Pollution

Have you heard about the plastic gyres in the middle of the oceans? There is overwhelming evidence showing that massive amounts of plastic trash have been entering our oceans resulting in serious pollution: aquatic organisms such as fish, sea turtles, seabirds, and whales are dying from ingesting plastic trash. Tiny plastic particles contaminate seafood and may be causing health issues in humans. You may think it is not a U.S problem, but you would be wrong! “New York City has no landfills or incinerators, yet residents produce 12,000 tons of waste every day” – GrowNYC. Read the recycling facts.

You might think nothing can be done at the individual level, but there is actually a lot you can do to alleviate the problem. Your assignment is to learn about the problem, answer the three questions below and be prepared to discuss in class. I highly recommend you watch the documentary, A Plastic Ocean available on Netflix. If you don’t have Netflix or similar, don’t worry. There are plenty of articles and websites available for you to learn from. Some examples are listed below.

The Oceans Are Drowning In Plastic -- And No One's Paying Attention"We're being overwhelmed by our waste."

Review Questions

1. Why plastic garbage is causing issues in general. What happens when they get into the oceans?

2. What are some examples of impacts caused by plastic pollution on aquatic organisms and/or human health?

3. What can you personally do to reduce plastic trash?

Still interested?

The Immense, Eternal Footprint Humanity Leaves on Earth: PlasticsMore than 8 billion metric tons of plastic have been made since the 1950s, researchers found. Because it does not degrade, most is still in the environment.

A Plastic Ocean | NetflixWhen he discovers the world's oceans brimming with plastic waste, a documentary filmmaker investigates the pollution's environmental impacts.

Rethink Plastic. Save Our Seas • Plastic Oceans FoundationPlastic Oceans Foundation is a global non-profit organization that addresses the issue plastic pollution and how it impacts our waters, sea life and humans.