The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the world's largest landfill, is located in the middle of the Pacific. Read about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. THE GARBAGE PATCH: Two Earth Day Lessons for Elementary Students. Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Garbage Patch Video Over 7 million tons of garbage floating in the pacific, creating a patch 2x's the size of Texas. Wholesale shopping patch handle plastic bags/garbage bags/t-shirt bags/mailing bags,$ 0.07 PlasticLDPESquare Bottom Bag.Source from Dongguan City Sanqun Packaging Products Co., Ltd. Plastics in the Ocean Affecting Human Health. Author: Gianna Andrews. This case study is part of a collection of pages developed by students in the 2. Geology and Human Health course in the Department of Earth Sciences, Montana State University. Learn more about this project. Photo credit: Top News, . Of the most devastating elements of this pollution is that plastics takes thousands of years to decay.
As a result, fish and wildlife are becoming intoxicated. Consequently the toxins from the plastics have entered the food chain, threatening human health. In the most polluted places in the ocean, the mass of plastic exceeds the amount of plankton six times over. This is a large piece of evidence that leaves the problem of polluted oceans undeniable. It is upsetting that more of clean up effort is not taking place. The Three Plastic Islands. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, also know as the Pacific Trash Vortex or gyre, is located in the central North Pacific Ocean and is larger than the state of Texas. 1990 Running shoes spill; 2002 Garbage strip; 2000 Plastic bag spill; Shoes found; Eastern Garbage Patch At the eye of the gyre, plastic reaches concentrations of a million pieces per square mile. There are also garbage patches in the Indian and Atlantic ocean. The patches are defined as containing a higher amount of plastic as compared to surrounding oceans. To date, five patches in total have been discovered. Plastics are transported and converge in the ocean where currents meet. This means that huge plastic islands are made as a result. SES (Sea Education Society) scientists studied plastics in the Atlantic and calculated there are 5. Photo credit: Earthly Issues, Charles Welch, http: //www. Sources of Plastic Toxins Entering the Oceanic Food Chain. As far as plastic entering the ocean, about 2. The rest sources from litter being blown into the sea, picked up by tides on the beach, or intentional garbage dumping. The worse part is, these plastics don't biodegrade, so they brake up into tiny pieces that are consumed by fish and sea mammals. Plastic is killing more than 1. To learn more visit Project Green Bag. Chemicals in plastics are released into the water as well as the atmosphere. Fish easily become contaminated from the chemicals in the water. This is a direct link of how plastic chemicals enter the food chain. See Earth Times for more on this. Plastics getting to Humans Impacting Health. Different plastics spread throughout the ocean. As Styrofoam breaks into smaller parts, polystyrene components in it sink lower in the ocean, so that the pollutant spreads throughout the sea column. In fact, not only do the toxins in plastic effect the ocean, but acting like sponges, they soak up other toxins from outside sources before entering the ocean. As these chemicals are ingested by animals in the ocean, this is not good for humans. We as humans ingest contaminated fish and mammals. For more information on this topic on toxins in the ocean, see this article by National Geographic. National Geographic. There are different types of ways that plastic is dangerous for humans. Direct toxicity from plastics comes from lead, cadmium, and mercury. These toxins have also been found in many fish in the ocean, which is very dangerous for humans. Diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) contained in some plastics, is a toxic carcinogen. Other toxins in plastics are directly linked to cancers, birth defects, immune system problems, and childhood developmental issues. To learn more on effects of plastics on humans visit the Ecology Center. Other types of toxic plastics are BPA or health- bisphenol- A, along with phthalates (mentioned above). Both of these are of great concern to human health. BPA is used in many things including plastic bottles and food packaging materials. Over time the polymer chains of BPA break down, and can enter the human body in many ways from drinking contaminated water to eating a fish that is exposed to the broken down toxins. Specifically, BPA is a known chemical that interferes with human hormonal function. Rolf Halden, associate professor in the School of Sustainable Engineering and Arizona State University has studied plastics adverse effects on humans and has thus far concluded that and exact outline of health effects of plastics on humans is almost impossible to determine. This is due to the fact that the problem of plastic contamination in humans is globally spread; there are almost no unexposed subjects. That being said, it is evident that the chemicals are not healthy for humans. To learn more about Halden's studies on plastic at Arizona State University see Impacts of plastics on human health and ecosystems. Prevention of Contamination. As Rolf Halden asserts, the only way for this unsustainable plastic production to decrease would be a global staggering petroleum supply, because of environmental worry. About 8% of the world's oil use is from manufacturing plastics. There are efforts to protect the oceans from plastic pollutants along with human health, but they are mostly grassroots organizations. One in particular that I discovered during my research is Save My Oceans (http: //www. As far as protecting yourself from contamination, it is probably best not to have a diet that consists mainly of fish, since most is probably contaminated. However, one of the most effective things we could all do as members of this fragile ecosystem is to be responsible for our trash. When we have the opportunity, we should try to avoid buying products packaged in plastic. We should always recycle plastic when we do use it. At the store, request a paper bag instead of plastic, or bring your own. Use a reusable water bottle, and of course don't litter. Photo credit: Bay County Michigan Government, http: //www. EACD/Recycling. Information. The Role Humans Play. As quoted by UN Environment Programme Executive Director Achim Steiner. We risk losing many species in the ocean as well as negatively effecting ourselves. The average person produces half a pound of plastic waste every day. No wonder the oceans are filling up with waste! I think part of the problem is that we don't recognize how this issue starts with the individual. There are obviously life style changes we can make to solve this problem. We just have to be willing to accept this issue and look past our denial. The government also needs to make regulations on plastics if anything is going to change. Surprisingly, there is little to no information on governmental websites about pollution in the oceans. I think they are afraid to address the problem; it is a costly fix. However there have been some treaties formed to minimize the amount of trash entering the oceans. This is still not enough. To see more on EPA laws and treaties visit US Environmental Protection Agency. These grassroots organizations are vital then to the protection of the oceans, striving to get information out about this tragic pollution. We should really all be involved though, it is everyone's responsibility. Lets make these changes before it is too late and we kill the all oceanic life, or even our own. Related Links. 1. How Does Plastic Get Into The Ocean? Project Green Bag. I found this website helpful in describing the how marine waste has compiled into the different plastic islands. Plastic Contamination in the Atlantic Ocean Earth Times, Kirsten E. Silven. This web article speaks specifically to the Atlantic garbage patch and plastic pollution in the ocean. Plastic Breaks Down in Ocean, After All- And Fast National Geographic. An article discussing how plastic breaks down in the ocean and is ingested by sea birds, asserts that humans will as well be affected by the toxins. Human Health Warning UN New Centre. This article provides useful information about the human tendency to waste and pollute and how it is effecting the planet and its species. Adverse Health Effects of Plastics Ecology Center. Discussing the health impacts that plastics have on humans, this article discusses the dangers in different plastic chemicals. Impacts of plastics on human health and ecosystems News Medical. I found it very compelling.
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