# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Image

stockphoto-graf/shutterstock

Marine pollution is a growing problem in today's world. Our ocean is being flooded with two main types of pollution: chemicals and trash.

Chemical contamination, or nutrient pollution, is concerning for health, environmental, and economic reasons. This type of pollution occurs when human activities, notably the use of fertilizer on farms, lead to the runoff of chemicals into waterways that ultimately flow into the ocean. The increased concentration of chemicals, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, in the coastal ocean promotes the growth of algal blooms, which can be toxic to wildlife and harmful to humans. The negative effects on health and the environment caused by algal blooms hurt local fishing and tourism industries.

Marine trash encompasses all manufactured products-most of them plastic-that end up in the ocean. Littering, storm winds, and poor waste management all contribute to the accumulation of this debris, 80 percent of which comes from sources on land. Common types of marine debris include various plastic items like shopping bags and beverage bottles, along with cigarette butts, bottle caps, food wrappers, and fishing gear. Plastic waste is particularly problematic as a pollutant because it is so long-lasting. Plastic items can take hundreds of years to decompose.

This trash poses dangers to both humans and animals. Fish become tangled and injured in the debris, and some animals mistake items like plastic bags for food and eat them. Small organisms feed on tiny bits of broken-down plastic, called microplastic, and absorb the chemicals from the plastic into their tissues. Microplastics are less than five millimeters (0.2 inches) in diameter and have been detected in a range of marine species, including plankton and whales. When small organisms that consume microplastics are eaten by larger animals, the toxic chemicals then become part of their tissues. In this way, the microplastic pollution migrates up the food chain, eventually becoming part of the food that humans eat.

Solutions for marine pollution include prevention and cleanup. Disposable and single-use plastic is abundantly used in today's society, from shopping bags to shipping packaging to plastic bottles. Changing society's approach to plastic use will be a long and economically challenging process. Cleanup, in contrast, may be impossible for some items. Many types of debris (including some plastics) do not float, so they are lost deep in the ocean. Plastics that do float tend to collect in large "patches" in ocean gyres. The Pacific Garbage Patch is one example of such a collection, with plastics and microplastics floating on and below the surface of swirling ocean currents between California and Hawaii in an area of about 1.6 million square kilometers (617,763 square miles), although its size is not fixed. These patches are less like islands of trash and, as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says, more like flecks of microplastic pepper swirling around an ocean soup. Even some promising solutions are inadequate for combating marine pollution. So-called "biodegradable" plastics often break down only at temperatures higher than will ever be reached in the ocean.

Nonetheless, many countries are taking action. According to a 2018 report from the United Nations, more than sixty countries have enacted regulations to limit or ban the use of disposable plastic items.

National Geographic Society

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Marine pollution is a combination of chemicals and trash, most of which comes from land sources and is washed or blown into the ocean. This pollution results in damage to the environment, to the health of all organisms, and to economic structures worldwide.

# data[].attributes.body
What can we do about it?

# data[].attributes.body
Plastic waste management

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Plastic waste management is a collective term for various approaches and strategies used to recycle plastic materials that would otherwise be dumped into landfills, or bodies of water, or otherwise contaminate the environment. The idea behind this type of waste management is to utilize those discarded materials to manufacture new plastic products without the need to actually generate additional plastic materials. Doing so can help lower production costs as well as protect the environment.

Many different types of industries participate in some type of plastic waste management process. Some are specifically geared toward collecting plastic items for recycling. For example, many supermarkets encourage customers to contribute unwanted plastic bags into a recycling container located near the front of the store. The collected bags are then forwarded to recycling centers where the material is processed for use in the production of new products made from the recycled plastic.

Businesses that produce plastic products also engage in the task of plastic waste management. This often focuses on finding ways to recycle or reuse excess plastic that is discarded as units of different goods are produced. These plastic remnants can often be collected and ran through an internal recycling process to create additional products for sale. Not only does this approach prevent the disposal of the used materials into a landfill, it also allows the company to lower the actual cost associated with manufacturing each unit of its product line.

In some cases, businesses outsource the process of plastic waste management. Contracting with a waste management company makes it possible for unwanted plastic items to be collected and removed from the premises without expending additional company resources. Municipalities sometimes work with a waste management disposal company in creating plastic recycling programs that allow households to conveniently dispose of plastic milk jugs, broken plastic toys, and other plastic items without placing them into the trash. Depending on the nature of the arrangement with the plastic waste management company, the municipality may actually earn a small amount from the arrangement, creating another stream of revenue for the city or town that can be used to fund services offered to residents.

Any type of plastic waste management must be conducted in compliance with regulations set by local, state, and federal governments. This includes using recycling methods that are considered to be environmentally friendly, and that are not likely to create health risks for individuals living and working in the community. Since regulations regarding recycling vary somewhat from one jurisdiction to another, it is important to determine what is and is not allowed before establishing any type of ongoing program to deal with plastic waste.

After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including wiseGEEK, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm's other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.

After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including wiseGEEK, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm's other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Plastic waste management is a collective term for various approaches and strategies used to recycle plastic materials that would otherwise be dumped into landfills, or bodies of water, or otherwise contaminate the environment. The idea behind this type of waste management is to utilize those discarded materials to manufacture new plastic products without the need to actually generate additional plastic materials.

# data[].attributes.body
Plastic waste management

# data[].attributes.body
https://blog.geneco.sg/knowledge/plastic-pollution-in-singapore-what-is-it-and-why-does-it-matter

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Everything you need to know about the problem of plastics in our #ocean. (INFOGRAPHIC) | Infographic, Ocean pollution, Plastic pollution

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Everything you need to know about the problem of plastics in our #ocean. (INFOGRAPHIC)

# data[].attributes.body
By Jayanth

# data[].attributes.body
By Jayanth

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Each year, billions of pounds of trash and other pollutants enter the ocean.

# data[].attributes.body
plastic pollution cycle - great infographics!

# data[].attributes.headline
Air Pollution most vs least in some categories

# data[].attributes.subject
Air Pollution most vs least in some categories

# data[].attributes.body
By Jayanth

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The best - and worst - countries for air pollution and electricity use

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The best and worst countries in the world when it comes to air pollution and electricity use.

# data[].attributes.body
Nat Geo: Great Pacfic garbage patch

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a collection of marine debris in the North Pacific Ocean. Marine debris is litter that ends up in the ocean, seas, and other large bodies of water.

# data[].attributes.body
Ocean pollution

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Ocean pollution is a major global threat to today. Image credit: Roman Mikhailiuk/shutterstock.com

More than 70% of the Earth is covered with water bodies that play an important role in our day-to-day life and form an indispensable part of our existence.

Ocean pollution is caused by the introduction of toxic materials and harmful pollutants such as agricultural and industrial waste, chemicals, oil spills, and plastic litter into the ocean waters.

Careless human activity has posed a serious threat to the ocean ecosystem, thereby affecting several species of marine flora and fauna as well as humans that are dependent on it.

More than 70% of the Earth is covered with bodies of water. Lakes, rivers, seas, and oceans play a vital role in our day-to-day life and form an indispensable part of our existence: food, transport, hydration, and temperature regulation are just some of the things they give us. So when these water sources are polluted, we humans feel the effects.

Ocean pollution refers to the introduction of toxic materials and other harmful pollutants such as agricultural and industrial waste, chemicals, oil spills, and plastic litter into the ocean's waters. The ocean provides humans with several resources and economic benefits, yet it is treated as a worldwide trash basin. This pollution of the world's oceans is mainly caused by careless human activity that poses a serious threat to the oceanic ecosystem and in turn to several species of marine flora and fauna that are solely dependent on it.

Causes Of Ocean Pollution

There are several causes of ocean pollution. Some of the main causes are listed below. These are as follows:

Dumping Of Sewage

The dumping of sewage in the ocean is often regarded as the cheapest and easiest method of sewage disposal. Most of the untreated sewage containing lethal substances find their way into the ocean waters through the sewer systems and has detrimental effects on the health of marine flora and fauna.

Land Runoff

Referred to as non-point pollution, runoff is caused when the soil is infiltrated with water to its maximum extent and the excess water then flows from the land into the ocean via the drainage systems like rivers and streams. This runoff water carries with it the harmful toxins: the litter dumped in towns and cities, fertilizers, pesticides, and other soil contaminants. All these toxins are then dumped into the ocean along with the runoff.

Industrial Chemicals

The untreated effluents and garbage along with harmful chemicals are also released into water bodies from several industries. The waste from industries like fossil fuel, plastic manufacturing, agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals contains harmful toxins like mercury, DDT, phthalates, Bisphenol-A, and other chemical substances. These pollute the oceans by altering the pH level of the water which contributes to the death of most aquatic flora and fauna. Such toxins also enter the bodies of marine animals and accumulate in their tissues. They are further transferred up the food chain from one level to another, resulting in biomagnification when the concentration of toxins increases as it ascends the food chain. Large quantities of such biomagnified toxins ultimately reach humans through the consumption of different kinds of seafood.

Eutrophication

Researchers have noted that the increased concentration of harmful chemicals in the ocean leads to eutrophication. The presence of nitrogen-rich fertilizers, animal wastes, and human sewage triggers the explosive growth of marine algae and other life-threatening microorganisms that subsequently disrupt the ocean ecosystem. The depletion of oxygen due to eutrophication will also cause the death of marine fauna, resulting in the formation of dead zones in the ocean waters.

Ocean Acidification And Thermal Pollution

The ocean acts as a massive natural carbon sink by dissolving the atmospheric carbon-dioxide and excess heat in its waters. However, due to an increase in CO ₂ levels due to global warming, the waters of the ocean are becoming increasingly acidic-a process called ocean acidification. The change in pH is already affecting coral reefs around the world leading to coral bleaching which has detrimental effects on marine life dependant on these reefs for their life cycle.

Thermal pollution of the ocean waters is caused by the release of hot waters from power plants and processing companies into the ocean. It leads to a localized change in water temperature that, in turn, reduces the volume of oxygen dissolved in the water, killing marine life.

Oil Spills

Oil spills result in the change of chemical composition of the marine ecosystems and also kill beneficial marine micro-organisms that generate oxygen. Such ecological imbalances lead to the smothering of the ocean's biodiversity and result in reduced reproduction and migration, and the death of fish.

Noise Pollution

Unwarranted loud noise generated by passing ships for transportation and exploration activities is detrimental to marine life. Such unnecessary noise creates confusion in the marine environment by interfering with the acoustic information used by many aquatic species like whales and dolphins that rely on their sense of hearing for survival and other activities.

Plastics

A large quantity of single-use plastics have been mercilessly dumped as litter into the marine environment and have been found on beaches, in polar ice seas, and even on the shorelines of the world's most remote uninhabited islands. Plastic debris has been transforming some marine areas into a plastic soup, leading to the choking of marine life and causing a potential large-scale impact on the marine environment.

Rain and winds carry macro plastics including plastic bags, bottles, and other wastes into storm drains and rivers which act as conveyor belts dumping about 1.15-2.75 million metric tons of waste into the oceans every year. The sunlight and the ocean waves help to breakdown the macro plastics into smaller pieces of microplastics, which have now become a ubiquitous component of the marine and freshwater ecosystems. These microplastics are spread throughout the water column and have even reached the Mariana Trench, thereby underscoring the breadth of marine pollution.

It has been estimated from several studies that about 8 million tons of carelessly managed plastic litter enters the oceans annually, and this would increase by about three times in the upcoming decade. A report by the United Nations has claimed that by 2025, the oceans will contain one ton of plastic for every three tons of fish, and by the year 2050, the plastic waste will outweigh the fishes present in all the oceans of the world.

Effects Of Ocean Pollution

Ocean pollution has resulted in serious adverse effects on marine life as well as multiple negative impacts on the environment and human health. The harmful toxins and industrial chemicals that enter the oceans get accumulated in the fatty tissues of aquatic fauna and lead to severe damage to their reproductive systems. The sea birds that depend on the marine fishes for their food are also subsequently affected. When humans consume fish as seafood, they are also getting contaminated by these harmful chemicals. Oil spills prevent sunlight from reaching the aquatic flora and lead to a disruption of oxygen supply. Toxic chemicals and oil spills cause severe bleaching of coral reefs and results in the destruction of these fragile habitats and the life cycle of the coral animals. The fertilizers and pesticides that reach the oceans also contribute greatly to the global decline in fish populations as well as affecting the reproductive fertility of human beings that consume them.

National Geographic studies have revealed that more than 700 species of marine organisms ranging from tiny corals to majestic whales are facing a serious threat from plastic pollution. Researchers have estimated that about 1 million aquatic birds and 100,000 marine fauna are killed every year due to the ingestion of plastic materials. It has also been observed that marine organisms across all trophic levels have microplastics in their bodies, and these ingested chemicals and plastic materials wreak havoc on the behavior, development, physiology, and reproduction in a range of marine species. Studies on oysters have revealed that their reproduction rates have been almost halved. Several marine organisms have also been found entangled in abandoned fishing gears, ropes, and fishing nets. Stranded ocean plastic litter creates visual pollution and causes major economic damages to tourism, fishing, and shipping activities, posing a challenge for the countries that rely on them. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch which spanning 617,000 square miles between California and Hawaii is estimated to contain about 1.8 trillion tons of plastic debris.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Causes And Effects Of Ocean Pollution

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
More than 70% of the Earth is covered with water bodies that play an important role in our day-to-day life and form an indispensable part of our existence. Ocean pollution is caused by the introduction of toxic materials and harmful pollutants such as agricultural and industrial waste, chemicals, oil spills, and plastic litter into the ocean waters.

# data[].attributes.body
Ocean pollution

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How plastic pollution is affecting seals and other marine life

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Microplastics, abandoned fishing gear and other plastic pollution are among our biggest environmental threats. It's hurting sea animals and making them sick

# data[].attributes.headline
People are fishing without permission and polluting the seas ! Navies have been called to save marine life !

# data[].attributes.subject
People are fishing without permission and polluting the seas ! Navies have been called to save marine life !

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.worldanimalprotection.org/news/worlds-biggest-navies-must-help-stop-vessels-fishing-illegally-and-save-animals

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Sign Up

Receive our best conservation research bi-weekly-stunning photos, wins, and action alerts.

Sign Up

Exclusive state-policy research, infographics, and stats every two weeks.

Sign Up

Receive our best conservation research bi-weekly-stunning photos, wins, and action alerts.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Plastic Pollution Affects Sea Life Throughout the Ocean

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Our ocean and the array of species that call it home are succumbing to the poison of plastic. Examples abound, from the gray whale that died after stranding near Seattle in 2010 with more than 20 plastic bags, a golf ball, and other rubbish in its stomach to the harbor seal pup found dead on the Scottish island of Skye, its intestines fouled by a small piece of plastic wrapper.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
THE OCEANS ARE so vast and deep that until fairly recently, it was widely assumed that no matter how much trash and chemicals humans dumped into them, the effects would be negligible.

Today, we need look no further than the New Jersey-size dead zone that forms each summer in the Gulf of Mexico, or the thousand-mile-wide belt of plastic trash in the northern Pacific Ocean to see that this early "policy" placed a once flourishing ocean ecosystem on the brink of collapse.

Many "flavors" of marine pollution

Ocean water covers more than 70 percent of the Earth, and only in recent decades have we begun to understand how humans impact this watery habitat. Marine pollution, as distinct from overall water pollution, focuses on human-created products that enter the ocean.

Before 1972, humans around the word spewed trash, sewage sludge, and chemical, industrial, and radioactive wastes into the ocean with impunity. Millions of tons of heavy metals and chemical contaminants, along with thousands of containers of radioactive waste, were purposely thrown into the ocean.

The London Convention, ratified in 1975 by the United States, was the first international agreement to spell out better protection for the marine environment. The agreement implemented regulatory programs and prohibited the disposal of hazardous materials at sea. An updated agreement, the London Protocol, went into effect in 2006, more specifically banning all wastes and materials except for a short list of items, like leftover materials from dredging.

Many of these pollutants sink to the ocean's depths or float far distances from their original source, where they are consumed by small marine organisms and introduced into the global food chain. Marine pollution encompasses many types of pollution that disrupt the marine ecosystem, including chemical, light, noise, and plastic pollution.

Chemical pollution

Chemical pollution is the introduction of harmful contaminants. Common man-made pollutants that reach the ocean include pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, detergents, oil, industrial chemicals, and sewage.

Many ocean pollutants are released into the environment far upstream from coastlines. Nutrient-packed fertilizers applied to farmland, for example, often end up in local streams and are eventually deposited into estuaries and bays. These excess nutrients trigger massive blooms of algae that rob the water of oxygen, leaving dead zones where few marine organisms can live. Some chemical pollutants climb high into the food webs-like DDT, the insecticide that placed the bald eagle on the United States Fish and Wildlife's endangered species list.

Scientists are starting to better understand how specific pollutants, leached into the ocean from other materials, affect marine wildlife. PFAS, a chemical incorporated into many household products, accumulates in human and marine mammal blood. Even pharmaceuticals ingested by humans, but not fully processed by our bodies, end up in aquatic food webs.

Light pollution

Since the invention of the lightbulb, light has spread across the globe, reaching almost every ecosystem. Often thought of as a terrestrial problem, scientists are starting to understand how artificial light at night affects many marine organisms.

Light pollution penetrates under the water, creating a vastly different world for fish living in shallow reefs near urban environments. Light disrupts the normal cues associated with circadian rhythms, to which species have evolved timing of migration, reproducing, and feeding. Artificial light at night can make it easier for predators to find smaller fish prey and can affect breeding in reef fish.

Noise pollution

Pollution is not always visible. In large bodies of water, sound waves can carry undiminished for miles. The increased presence of loud or persistent sounds from ships, sonar devices, and oil rigs disrupts natural noises in the marine environment.

For many marine mammals, like whales and dolphins, low visibility and large distances make non-visual underwater communication critical. Toothed whales use echolocation-emitting sounds that reflect off surfaces-to help them "see" in the ocean. Unnatural noises interrupt communication, disrupting migration, communication, hunting, and reproduction patterns for many marine animals.

Plastic pollution

Plastic pollution seeps into the ocean through run-off and even purposeful dumping. The amount of plastic in the Atlantic Ocean has tripled since the 1960s. The garbage patch floating in the Pacific Ocean, almost 620,000 square miles- twice the size of Texas -is a powerful image of our plastic problem.

A huge culprit is single-use plastics, used once before tossed into the trash or directly into the ocean. These single-use items are accidentally consumed by many marine mammals. Plastic bags resemble jellyfish, a common food for sea turtles, while some seabirds eat plastic because it releases a chemical that makes it smell like its natural food. Discarded fishing nets drift for years, ensnaring fish and mammals.

Bits of plastic swirl throughout the water column, even sinking to the deepest depths of the ocean. Scientists found plastic fibers in corals in the Atlantic Ocean-and more concerning, they found that the corals readily ate plastic over food. Dying marine mammals, washing up on shore, also contain plastic inside their stomachs.

Is there a "fix" to marine pollution?

Many national laws, as well as international agreements, now forbid dumping of harmful materials into the ocean, although enforcing these regulations remains a challenge.

Many pollutants still persist in the environment, difficult to fully remove. Chemical pollutants often cannot be broken down for long periods of time, or they increase in concentration as they move up the food web. Because plastic is thought to take hundreds of years to break down, it poses a threat to the marine environment for centuries.

Isolated efforts to restore estuaries and bays have met with some success, but pollution gets trapped in marine sediment and makes complete clean-ups nearly impossible.

Moving forward, encouraging recycling and reuse can minimize plastic pollution. Dampening unnecessary lights at night can limit light pollution. And encouraging responsible chemical-use through consumer and political actions can protect the environment for the future.

National Geographic is committed to reducing plastics pollution. Learn more about our non-profit activities at natgeo.org/plastics. Learn what you can do to reduce your own single-use plastics, and take your pledge.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A wide range of pollution-from plastic pollution to light pollution-affects marine ecosystems.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Pornsiri temcharoen sea pollution feature article

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Issuu is a digital publishing platform that makes it simple to publish magazines, catalogs, newspapers, books, and more online. Easily share your publications and get them in front of Issuu's millions of monthly readers.

# data[].attributes.body
By Jayanth

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
From smog hanging over cities to smoke inside the home, air pollution poses a major threat to health and climate.

Ambient (outdoor) air pollution in both cities and rural areas is causing fine particulate matter which result in strokes, heart diseases, lung cancer, acute and chronic respiratory diseases.

Additionally, around 2.4 billion people are exposed to dangerous levels of household air pollution, while using polluting open fires or simple stoves for cooking fuelled by kerosene, biomass (wood, animal dung and crop waste) and coal.

The combined effects of ambient air pollution and household air pollution is associated with 7 million premature deaths annually.

Sources of air pollution are multiple and context specific. The major outdoor pollution sources include residential energy for cooking and heating, vehicles, power generation, agriculture/waste incineration, and industry. Policies and investments that support sustainable land use, cleaner household energy and transport, energy-efficient housing, power generation, industry, and better municipal waste management can effectively reduce key sources of ambient air pollution.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year. WHO data shows that 9 out of 10 people breathe air containing high levels of pollutants. WHO is working with countries to monitor air pollution and improve air quality.

# data[].attributes.body
Yoonha

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Monday, July 1, 2019

We have all seen the photos: birds nesting in piles of garbage along the shore, fish fatally caught in discarded netting, and huge mosaics of debris floating in the ocean. Even more alarmingly, what we see in these poignant images is only a portion of the problem. Approximately half of all plastic pollution is submerged below the ocean surface, much of it in the form of microplastics so small that we may never be able to clean them up completely.

To cut through the enormity of the ocean pollution crisis, one approach is to focus on something recognizable within these images of debris. Identify something you personally have used that may have ended up in the ocean-a water bottle perhaps. Find one in an image and ask yourself, how did it get there?

Plastic is a human-made, synthetic material that was first discovered more than one hundred years ago but did not broadly enter the public sphere until the 1950s. While currently a major culprit in ocean pollution, plastics are not inherently bad for humans or the environment. In fact, in a United Nations (UN) report on combatting the negative effects of plastics, the head of the UN Environment Programme Erik Solheim made a point to acknowledge that plastic is in fact a "miracle material."

"Thanks to plastics, countless lives have been saved in the health sector, the growth of clean energy from wind turbines and solar panels has been greatly facilitated, and safe food storage has been revolutionized," Solheim wrote in his introduction. Yet plastic bottles are one of the most common items within marine debris. So how did such a promising material become a symbol of human environmental desecration?

Plastic bottles are a single-use plastic, a product designed to be used only once and then discarded. Single-use plastics also include plastic packaging, for example of meats and fresh produce, which accounts for almost half of all plastic pollution. This type of plastic product is distinct from multi-use plastics, which can also pollute the ocean, but tend to amass less frequently due to their multi-use nature.

For example, refillable bottles can store water in a way that does not produce the repeated waste of a single-use plastic water bottle. Refillable bottles can be made of many materials, including plastic, but last much longer than a single-use bottle and can be recycled when they become old or damaged. For both types of bottles, how they are discarded determines their ultimate resting place and whether they become pollutants of the ocean.

A single-use plastic water bottle was manufactured, filled with water, and likely transported to a store, where it sat on a shelf waiting for a thirsty purchaser. Many of us drink out of plastic bottles several times during an average day, week, or month. Once we are finished with it, we have a choice where we leave that bottle:

Recycling bin: Bottles destined for recycling are unlikely to end up in the ocean, in their current form, unless they are mismanaged or lost in transit to a processing facility. However, due to recent limitations in how recyclables are internationally transferred and accepted for processing, many of these bottles will unfortunately end up in landfills rather than recycling facilities.

Trash can: These bottles also will not likely end up, in their current form, in the ocean. However, in areas across the globe with poor waste management or a lack of properly sealed landfills, as a bottle breaks down into microplastic particles over time, some particles may seep into the soil and eventually make their way into our waterways, ultimately entering and polluting the ocean.

Litter: These bottles may very well be carried by wind, storm water, or other processes to sewers, rivers, lakes, and other waterways that may ultimately deposit the bottle in the ocean.

Multi-use plastic bottles face these same pathways at end of their life-but of course this happens much less frequently since they can be used many times.

National Geographic Explorer Heather J. Koldewey works to empower communities around the world to participate in solving the ocean pollution crisis from single-use plastics via incremental individual actions-including a campaign called One Less, which encourages people to stop using single-use plastic water bottles altogether. One Less is currently based in and focused on London, England and its inhabitants, but anyone can make the choice to use one less single-use bottle.

Once in the ocean, a single- or multi-use bottle moves with the wind and ocean currents as it faces the elements. Plastics can take hundreds of years to break down into microplastic, which gives them plenty of time to sail the seas. After a certain amount of time, much of the debris from the coast will have met an oceanic gyre-a large system of rotating currents. The Pacific Garbage Patch, a widely known icon of ocean pollution, is within one of these gyres.

National Geographic Explorer Jenna Romness Jambeck has described the movement of plastics into such ocean gyres. Her work has influenced testimony to U.S. Congress and inspired discussion in the UN regarding policies that may help mitigate the marine debris crisis. She also co-developed an app to encourage public participation in identifying and cleaning up marine debris, including plastics, enabling citizen-science solutions at the grassroots level.

Specifically, Jambeck published research findings in the journal Science that provide details about the amount of plastic that makes its way into the ocean. Jambeck noted in this publication that the quality of waste management within a country substantially influences its contribution to marine pollution. As an immediate action to combat marine pollution, Jambeck and her colleagues suggest that industrialized countries address the growing use of single-use plastics. According to a 2018 UN report, sixty countries have passed such regulations to curb the use of plastic bags and polystyrene foam (commonly called Styrofoam) products.

Hopefully, future government and community solutions to ocean pollution will move toward an end to the crisis. In the meantime, individuals can get involved in citizen-science initiatives like Jambeck's Marine Debris Tracker app and make smart choices about how to use and dispose of plastics, particularly the single-use items that dominate marine debris.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Monday, July 1, 2019 We have all seen the photos: birds nesting in piles of garbage along the shore, fish fatally caught in discarded netting, and huge mosaics of debris floating in the ocean. Even more alarmingly, what we see in these poignant images is only a portion of the problem.

# data[].attributes.body
By Jayanth

# data[].attributes.body
Mikkel

# data[].attributes.body
Mikkel

# data[].attributes.body
By Adyot

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Ocean pollution: 11 facts you need to know

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
With each passing year, we expose the ocean to more pollutants, from trash to chemicals. Fortunately, it’s not too late to clean up our act.

# data[].attributes.body
By Adyot

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Image

Pollutants are dumped into the ocean. This waste affects the daily life of fish and other marine creatures.

stockphoto-graf/shutterstock

This lists the logos of programs or partners of NG Education which have provided or contributed the content on this page. Powered by

Encyclopedic Entry Vocabulary

Marine pollution is a growing problem in today's world. Our ocean is being flooded with two main types of pollution: chemicals and trash.

Chemical contamination, or nutrient pollution, is concerning for health, environmental, and economic reasons. This type of pollution occurs when human activities, notably the use of fertilizer on farms, lead to the runoff of chemicals into waterways that ultimately flow into the ocean. The increased concentration of chemicals, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, in the coastal ocean promotes the growth of algal blooms, which can be toxic to wildlife and harmful to humans. The negative effects on health and the environment caused by algal blooms hurt local fishing and tourism industries.

Marine trash encompasses all manufactured products-most of them plastic-that end up in the ocean. Littering, storm winds, and poor waste management all contribute to the accumulation of this debris, 80 percent of which comes from sources on land. Common types of marine debris include various plastic items like shopping bags and beverage bottles, along with cigarette butts, bottle caps, food wrappers, and fishing gear. Plastic waste is particularly problematic as a pollutant because it is so long-lasting. Plastic items can take hundreds of years to decompose.

This trash poses dangers to both humans and animals. Fish become tangled and injured in the debris, and some animals mistake items like plastic bags for food and eat them. Small organisms feed on tiny bits of broken-down plastic, called microplastic, and absorb the chemicals from the plastic into their tissues. Microplastics are less than five millimeters (0.2 inches) in diameter and have been detected in a range of marine species, including plankton and whales. When small organisms that consume microplastics are eaten by larger animals, the toxic chemicals then become part of their tissues. In this way, the microplastic pollution migrates up the food chain, eventually becoming part of the food that humans eat.

Solutions for marine pollution include prevention and cleanup. Disposable and single-use plastic is abundantly used in today's society, from shopping bags to shipping packaging to plastic bottles. Changing society's approach to plastic use will be a long and economically challenging process. Cleanup, in contrast, may be impossible for some items. Many types of debris (including some plastics) do not float, so they are lost deep in the ocean. Plastics that do float tend to collect in large "patches" in ocean gyres. The Pacific Garbage Patch is one example of such a collection, with plastics and microplastics floating on and below the surface of swirling ocean currents between California and Hawaii in an area of about 1.6 million square kilometers (617,763 square miles), although its size is not fixed. These patches are less like islands of trash and, as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says, more like flecks of microplastic pepper swirling around an ocean soup. Even some promising solutions are inadequate for combating marine pollution. So-called "biodegradable" plastics often break down only at temperatures higher than will ever be reached in the ocean.

Nonetheless, many countries are taking action. According to a 2018 report from the United Nations, more than sixty countries have enacted regulations to limit or ban the use of disposable plastic items.

group of organisms linked in order of the food they eat, from producers to consumers, and from prey, predators, scavengers, and decomposers.

substance an organism needs for energy, growth, and life.

overflow of fluid from a farm or industrial factory.

Credits

Media Credits

The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.

Director

Tyson Brown, National Geographic Society

Author

National Geographic Society

Program Specialists

Sarah Appleton, National Geographic Society
Margot Willis, National Geographic Society

Producer

Andre Gabrielli, National Geographic Society

Production Managers

Gina Borgia, National Geographic Society
Jeanna Sullivan, National Geographic Society

Last Updated

July 3, 2019

User Permissions

For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. If you have questions about licensing content on this page, please contact ngimagecollection@natgeo.com for more information and to obtain a license. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please visit our FAQ page.

Media

If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media.

Text

Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service.

Interactives

Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives.

Director

Tyson Brown, National Geographic Society

Author

National Geographic Society

Program Specialists

Sarah Appleton, National Geographic Society
Margot Willis, National Geographic Society

Producer

Andre Gabrielli, National Geographic Society

Production Managers

Gina Borgia, National Geographic Society
Jeanna Sullivan, National Geographic Society

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Marine pollution is a combination of chemicals and trash, most of which comes from land sources and is washed or blown into the ocean. This pollution results in damage to the environment, to the health of all organisms, and to economic structures worldwide.

# data[].attributes.body
By Adyot

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Plastic Pollution Affects Sea Life Throughout the Ocean

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Our ocean and the array of species that call it home are succumbing to the poison of plastic. Examples abound, from the gray whale that died after stranding near Seattle in 2010 with more than 20 plastic bags, a golf ball, and other rubbish in its stomach to the harbor seal pup found dead on the Scottish island of Skye, its intestines fouled by a small piece of plastic wrapper.

# data[].attributes.body
ir, Sea, Land
Interesting articles related to all areas of pollution.
Avatar of Ian Hallo
Ian Hallo
 +  4
●
2d

# data[].attributes.body
Great short documentary about plastic - How it is made etc.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Updated February 26, 2019 16:36:30

Cadbury chocolates and lollies from the Natural Confectionery Company are being dumped from the shelves at Melbourne Zoo.

Zoos Victoria chief executive officer Dr Jenny Gray said it made the decision after the parent company of Cadbury and the Natural Confectionery Company, Mondelez, failed to declare where the palm oil used in its products comes from.

"They have not committed to certified sustainable palm oil and we cannot in good conscience keep selling those products," she said.

"We are absolutely serious about mandatory labelling."

Palm oil production has destroyed the habitats of rare and endangered animals including orangutans, tigers, gibbons and elephants.

Vision of an orangutan seemingly under assault from heavy machinery in Indonesia went viral on social media last June, briefly putting the issue of illegal palm oil operations back in the spotlight.

Last year, Zoos Victoria removed Nestle from its kiosks and food carts in Melbourne, Werribee and Healesville after the company was suspended from an organisation that promotes the sustainable use of palm oil.

Palm oil is used in a variety of products and can be disguised in labelling as "vegetable oil".

Zoos Victoria said it had given all its food suppliers a six-month deadline to declare the origins of the palm oil they use and commit to getting all palm oil from sustainable sources.

The organisation's Community Campaigns senior manager Ben Sanders said many large companies have committed to using only sustainable palm oil by 2023.

"Avoiding palm oil is not part of the solution," he said.

"It is likely to cause bigger problems, because palm oil itself is not a bad product - it is about how it is farmed.

"We want people to know what is in their foods by mandatory labelling of palm oil and where that palm oil has come from."

Mr Sanders added the European Union, Canada and the US have mandatory and clearer labelling and suggested the Australian Government should follow that lead.

Mondelez said it shares Zoos Victoria's concerns and is committed to eradicating deforesting for palm oil.

It said 96 per cent of its palm oil is traceable to mills and added it is working with suppliers to ensure all of its palm oil is fully traceable.

Topics: zoos, animals, human-interest, environment, endangered-and-protected-species, business-economics-and-finance, industry, food-and-beverage, parkville-3052, vic, melbourne-3000, indonesia

First posted February 26, 2019 15:44:13

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Melbourne Zoo ditches Cadbury chocolates over palm oil concerns

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Updated February 26, 2019 16:36:30 Cadbury chocolates and lollies from the Natural Confectionery Company are being dumped from the shelves at Melbourne Zoo. Zoos Victoria chief executive officer Dr Jenny Gray said it made the decision after the parent company of Cadbury and the Natural Confectionery Company, Mondelez, failed to declare where the palm oil used in its products comes from.

# data[].attributes.body
Microplastics in Singapore waterways

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
(Updated: )

Share this content

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share via E-Mail

SINGAPORE: Toxic bacteria that can cause infections on open wounds have been found on microplastics collected from three coastal areas in Singapore.

The National University of Singapore (NUS) said on Monday (Feb 11) its marine scientists found more than 400 types of bacteria on microplastics collected from Lazarus Island, Sembawang Beach and Changi Beach between April and July last year.

During the six-month study, the scientists used DNA sequencing to examine 275 pieces of microplastics, which are pieces of plastic smaller than 5mm in size.

They found species of marine Vibrio - a major cause of wound infections in humans - as well as species of Arcobacter, which is known to cause gastroenteritis.

The team also found the bacteria Photobacterium ronsebergii, which is associated with coral bleaching and disease. The bacteria can be detrimental for the coral reefs in the southern strait of Singapore, which are under conservation.

On the positive side, the team also found species of bacteria capable of degrading plastic and cleaning up oil spills, providing "nature-friendly alternatives" in dealing with pollution from plastics and other toxic materials.

"As the microplastics we studied were collected from locations easily accessible to the public and in areas widely used for recreation, the identification of potentially pathogenic bacteria would be important in preventing the spread of diseases," said Ms Emily Curren, a PhD student at the Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI) and the Department of Biological Sciences at the NUS Faculty of Science.

There are currently more than 150 million tonnes of plastics in the ocean, said NUS. Microplastics, in particular, are often mistaken as food by marine organisms, such as shrimps, mussels and fish.

"This could lead to the accumulation and subsequent transfer of marine pathogens in the food chain," said Dr Sandric Leong, research lead and Senior Research Fellow at TMSI.

"Hence, understanding the distribution of microplastics and identifying the organisms attached to them are crucial steps in managing the plastic pollution on a national and global scale," Dr Leong added.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Toxic bacteria found on microplastics along Singapore's coastline

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
(Updated: ) Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via E-Mail SINGAPORE: Toxic bacteria that can cause infections on open wounds have been found on microplastics collected from three coastal areas in Singapore.

# data[].attributes.body
Plastic waste in Singapore

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Plastic waste pollution is now a widespread problem for our natural environment. Just recently, the debate on whether Singapore should place a charge on plastic bags was revived in Parliament, but was rejected.

While many environmental advocates were disappointed in the decision, we should adopt a fact-based approach to evaluate Singapore's waste management system in handling plastic waste, and more specifically, plastic bags. The following three reasons are why, in my opinion, Singapore should not ban or levy charges for plastic bags.

In Singapore's context, banning/charging for plastic bags would not have a significant, positive environmental impact

All household and commercial waste is collected and sent to waste-to-energy incineration plants daily, and the ashes produced are taken to the landfill on Pulau Semakau. Recreational beaches, parks and most public spaces are cleaned regularly by professional cleaning companies. Rivers and canals in Singapore are either sealed off to become reservoirs or have litter traps in place to minimise marine litter pollution.

Given our highly effective waste collection and management system, Singapore's contribution to marine- and land-based plastic pollution is minimal. Also, plastic bags account for a small percentage (see point three) relative to all waste generated in Singapore. Therefore contribution to air pollution from incineration of plastics bags is not significant.

With that in mind, if Singapore were to impose a ban or a fee on plastic bags, the overall positive impact on the environment is expected to be minimal.

There are more concerning waste streams to regulate in Singapore

Plastic waste only accounted for 11 per cent of the total waste generated in Singapore in 2017. It is unclear what proportion of this 11 per cent is due to plastic bags and whether the a ban would have a lasting effect in reducing plastic waste.

According to data from NEA and Department of Statistic Singapore, plastic waste generated per capita per year has been on the decline since 2014. While the total population in Singapore has grown since 2014, the amount of plastic waste generated in 2017 fell 9,400 tonnes compared to 2014.

This apparent fall in the use of plastics might well be part of the reason why the Singapore government has decided to focus efforts on other forms of waste.

Hazardous waste streams such as electronic waste (e-waste) and food waste account for an equal or higher proportion of trash produced in Singapore, and can pose a much more serious environmental problem if not treated properly.

E-waste consists of various heavy metals such as mercury and lead that cannot be treated by incineration or direct land filling, and will continue to pose a toxic risk for years. Food waste, on the other hand, has little value as fodder for incineration and can potentially become a hotbed of diseases if not treated properly.

The good news is both e-waste and food waste have a higher recycling value than plastic waste, and are easier to recycle. If the government truly intends to reduce Singapore's environmental impact, resources should be channelled to reduce these two waste streams instead of plastic bags.

"

Focusing simply on banning or charging for plastic bags can be a distraction from the real problem, giving a false sense of achievement in thinking that we have reduced our environmental impact when in fact we have not.

Resources are limited

Applying quick solutions like banning or charging for plastic bags without fully understanding its environmental effect can be a waste of resources, in terms of manpower, time and taxpayers' money, especially when government resources are limited.

Singapore should invest in innovative plastic waste treatment technologies to minimise use of plastic packaging and increase plastic waste recycling rate. The Closing the Waste Loop research grant by NEA and National Research Foundation aims to do just that.

This is part of a long-term approach which requires time for results to show, but would be highly effective in mitigating environmental impact if successful. The Singapore government has delivered before on its long-term plans-just take a look at our world-famous water management system.

Zero waste, not zero plastic bags

The biggest problem in Singapore's waste management is the limited landfill capacity in Pulau Semakau. We should be striving towards zero waste instead of zero plastic bags. Focusing simply on banning or charging for plastic bags can be a distraction from the real problem, giving a false sense of achievement in thinking that we have reduced our environmental impact when in fact we have not.

To make a significant positive impact on the environment as a nation, we need to consider all our waste produced, understand how we manage waste and be willing to invest in environmental technologies that can benefit not just Singapore but also other countries.

In my opinion, the Singapore government probably considered all these data and chose a less popular but effective solution-investing in R&D of technologies and regulating plastic packaging industry -to tackle our plastic waste problem.

Individually, we should always aim to produce less waste by using only what we need-that, of course, includes plastic bags. Efforts in educating other about a zero waste lifestyle should be encouraged. When there is less waste generated by individuals, there will be less demand for plastic bags to bag our waste. As long as we strive to minimise our total waste produced and dispose our waste properly, I believe Singapore can continue to use plastic bags without any charges.
Aw Boon Jun is a project manager at Umore Consulting. This article was written exclusively for Eco-Business.

Thanks for reading to the end of this story!

We would be grateful if you would consider joining as a member of The EB Circle. This helps to keep our stories and resources free for all, and it also supports independent journalism dedicated to sustainable development. It only costs as little as S$5 a month, and you would be helping to make a big difference.
Find out more and join The EB Circle

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Zero plastic bags or zero waste? In defence of Singapore's rejection of a plastic bag ban

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Plastic waste pollution is now a widespread problem for our natural environment. Just recently, the debate on whether Singapore should place a charge on plastic bags was revived in Parliament, but was rejected. While many environmental advocates were disappointed in the decision, we should adopt a fact-based approach to evaluate Singapore's waste management system in handling plastic waste, and more specifically, plastic bags.

# data[].attributes.body
Mrs Dermody
Marine pollution

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
(Updated: )

Share this content

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share via E-Mail

PARIS: Animals living in the deepest ocean trenches have been found with plastic fragments in their gut, according to new research published on Wednesday (Feb 27) showing how manmade pollution reaches into the bowels of the planet.

More than 300 million tonnes of plastics are produced annually, and there are at least five trillion plastic pieces floating in our oceans.

Because deep-sea exploration is expensive and time-consuming, most studies on plastic pollution up until now had been close to the surface, showing a widespread level of plastic contamination in fish, turtles, whales and sea birds.

Now a British team of researchers say they have discovered cases of plastic ingestion among tiny shrimp in six of the world's deepest ocean trenches.

In the Mariana Trench east of the Philippines, the deepest depression on Earth, 100 percent of the animals studied had plastic fibres in their digestive tracts.

"Half of me was expecting to find something but that is huge," said Alan Jamieson, from Newcastle University's School of Natural and Environmental Sciences.

Jamieson and his team normally spend their time looking for new species in the depths of the ocean.

But they realised that during the course of expeditions dating back a decade they had accumulated dozens of specimens of a species of tiny shrimp that lives between 6000-11,000 metres (19,500-36,000 feet) beneath the surface.

They decided to look for plastic.

"We are sitting on the deepest dataset in the world, so if we find (plastics) in these, we are done," Jamieson told AFP.

The team was astonished by just how widespread the plastic contamination at extreme depths proved to be.

For instance, the Peru-Chile Trench in the southeast Pacific is around 15,000 kilometres (9,300 miles) from the Japan Trench. Yet plastic was found in both.

"It's off Japan, off New Zealand, off Peru, and each trench is phenomenally deep," Jamieson said.
'PILING OUR CRAP'
"The salient point is that they are consistently found in animals all around the Pacific at extraordinary depths so let's not waste time. It's everywhere."

Of the 90 individual creatures the team dissected, 65 - more than 72 per cent - contained at least one plastic microparticle.

The study, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, said it was unclear if the particles had been ingested by fish at higher depths which then died and sank.

But when the team analysed the fibres - most of which appeared to be clothes fabrics such as nylon - they found that the plastics' atomic bonds had shifted compared to brand new material, suggesting they were several years old.

Microplastic particles are either dumped directly into the seas via sewers and rivers or form when larger chunks of plastic break down over time.

Once they start gathering bacteria, they get heavier and eventually sink.

"So even if not a single fibre were to enter the sea from this point forward, everything that's in the sea now is going to eventually sink, and once it's in the deep sea where is the mechanism to get it back?" asked Jamieson.

"We are piling all our crap into the place we know least about."

Because plastic contamination is now so widespread, even at extreme depths, the team cautioned that it was nearly impossible to know what effect plastic ingestion was having on bottom-dwelling species.

"These particles could just pass straight through the animal, but in the animals we looked at they must be blocking them. The equivalent would be for you to swallow a 2-metre polypropylene rope and expect that not to have an adverse affect on your health," said Jamieson.

"There's no good aspect to this."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
(Updated: ) Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via E-Mail PARIS: Animals living in the deepest ocean trenches have been found with plastic fragments in their gut, according to new research published on Wednesday (Feb 27) showing how manmade pollution reaches into the bowels of the planet.

# data[].attributes.body
Haze in Singapore

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
(Updated: )

Share this content

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share via E-Mail

SINGAPORE: A hotspot in southern Johor could bring "slightly hazy" conditions to Singapore if the winds change, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Monday (Feb 25).

The hotspot was detected about 30km to the east of Singapore, NEA said.

"Prevailing winds over Singapore have been blowing from the northeast, but a change in the wind direction could bring slightly hazy conditions to Singapore," it added.

NEA was responding to Channel NewsAsia's queries about a burning smell across Singapore.

Over the weekend, residents reported a smoky or hazy smell in areas such as Bedok, Pasir Ris, Woodlands, Choa Chu Kang, Bukit Panjang, Sengkang, Bishan and Thomson.

On Monday, NEA said it received feedback on a burning smell in the eastern part of Singapore between 9pm on Sunday and 11am on Monday.

During this period, the pollution standards index (PSI) in the east was 52 to 55, which is in the moderate range. The one-hour PM2.5 readings were in the normal range, said the agency.

"We are closely monitoring the air quality," said NEA.

"Members of the public, including the elderly, children and those with lung/heart diseases, can continue with normal activities."

The latest reports come about three weeks after residents in the eastern part of Singapore complained in early February about a smoky smell in the air. NEA attributed that incident to a fire at a landfill at Bandar Tenggara in Johor.

In a separate incident in mid-February, NEA said reports of a burning smell detected in the northeast of Singapore were likely related to a separate fire at Tanjong Langsat landfill in Pasir Gudang.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Hotspot in Johor could bring 'slightly hazy' conditions to Singapore: NEA

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
(Updated: ) Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via E-Mail SINGAPORE: A hotspot in southern Johor could bring "slightly hazy" conditions to Singapore if the winds change, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Monday (Feb 25). The hotspot was detected about 30km to the east of Singapore, NEA said.

# data[].attributes.body
Mrs Dermody
Marine pollution

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
According to 4Waste:
"Plastic recycling is very important and must be taken seriously. Plastics make up a huge amount of solid waste and take centuries to break down in a landfill or the ocean. Therefore, all recyclable plastics should be recycled to reduce landfall, conserve energy and conserve the environment."

The practice of recycling has its brilliant moments from time to time, and the story about Goby the Fish is one of them.

Instead of placing the boring garbage cans around the beach, people decided to use barbed wire and mesh and make a giant sculpture of a fish with a sign that said: "Goby loves plastic, please feed him".

This made children want to feed Goby, and thus recycle plastics.

Until the present day, Goby is constantly being fed, and sometimes, he even gets more than he can eat in a day. During the night, it is taken away by the city in order to be emptied and brought back to the beach in the morning hungry and willing to be fed again.

What a fantastic idea, isn't it?

Source: yupthatexists.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
All It Took To Clean Up This Beach Was A Fish Sculpture Named Goby

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It is predicted that by 2050, there will be more plastic on the planet than fish. According to 4Waste: "Plastic recycling is very important and must be taken seriously. Plastics make up a huge amount of solid waste and take centuries to break down in a landfill or the ocean.

# data[].attributes.body
Mrs Dermody
About microplastics in the ocean

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A new study shows that microplastics are affecting the ability of mussels to attach themselves to their surroundings - potentially having a devastating impact on ocean ecosystems as well as a worldwide industry worth between 3-4 billion US dollars per year.

© Richard Harrington
Show copyright information

Sue Kinsey

The study found that mussels exposed to microplastics over a period of 52 days produced significantly fewer byssal threads (the thin fibres that help them attach to rocks and ropes, visible at the lower right of the photo on this page), leaving the mussels with an attachment strength 50% lower than normal.

As well as enabling mussels to survive waves and strong tides, and stay attached to their surroundings, these byssal threads also enable them to form extensive reefs that provide important habitats for other marine animals and plants.

The study also found that the overall tenacity or attachment strength of mussels exposed to microplastics, calculated by measuring the maximal vertical force required for the mussel to become dislodged from its position, fell by 50% compared to a control sample of mussels that were not exposed to microplastics.

And to understand potential effects of microplastics on the health of the mussels, the researchers measured the proteins within the mussel's circulatory fluid or haemolymph, which performs a similar function to blood. This showed that microplastics induced a strong immune response and also affected the mussels' metabolism.

The new research, published in the journal Environmental Pollution, was led by Dr Dannielle Green of Anglia Ruskin University, and was carried out at the Portaferry Marine Laboratory in Northern Ireland.

Dr Green said: "Tenacity is vital for mussels to form and maintain reefs without being dislodged by hydrodynamic forces. Our study showed that the presence of non-biodegradable microplastics reduced the number of byssal threads produced by the mussels, which likely accounts for the 50% reduction in their attachment strength.

"Byssal threads help mussels to form aggregations, increasing fertilisation success and making mussels more resistant to predation. A reduction in these byssal threads in the wild could lead to cascading impacts on biodiversity as well as reducing yields from aquaculture, as mussels are more likely to be washed away by waves or strong tides.

"Our research also shows that even biodegradable microplastics can affect the health of mussels. Both biodegradable and non-biodegradable plastic are used in making single-use packaging, which if it becomes litter can break down into microplastics. Better recycling and an overall reduction of these materials can play an important role in helping to safeguard our marine environment."

In response to the study, Dr Sue Kinsey, MCS Senior Pollution Policy Officer says "This study highlights yet again the damage that microplastics can cause and reinforces the urgent need to act now stop plastics getting into our seas."

Dr Kinsey continues: "We need concerted action from Governments, industry and the general public to stop this tide of rubbish and need to introduce, as soon as possible, such policies as minimum recycled content for plastic products, taxes on hard-to-recycle plastics, the banning of polystyrene and black plastic, the introduction of a deposit refund system for all drinks containers and work towards a genuine circular economy system in the UK where 'waste' is valued as a resource and used time and time again rather than polluting our countryside, coasts and seas".

Actions you can take

1. Download our 'Living without single-use Plastic' guide

2. Download the Great British Beach Clean Report 2018

3. Help us stop the plastic tide

4. Join the Plastic Challenge

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Microplastics cause mussels to lose their grip

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A new study shows that microplastics are affecting the ability of mussels to attach themselves to their surroundings - potentially having a devastating impact on ocean ecosystems as well as a worldwide industry worth between 3-4 billion US dollars per year.

# data[].attributes.body
Ad by Iceland

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Iceland’s Banned TV Christmas Advert... Say hello to Rang-tan. #NoPalmOilChristmas

# data[].attributes.body
How air pollution is destroying our health

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
As the world gets hotter and more crowded, our engines continue to pump out dirty emissions, and half the world has no access to clean fuels or technologies (e.g. stoves, lamps), the very air we breathe is growing dangerously polluted: nine out of ten people now breathe polluted air, which kills 7 million people every year.

The health effects of air pollution are serious - one third of deaths from stroke, lung cancer and heart disease are due to air pollution. This is having an equivalent effect to that of smoking tobacco, and much higher than, say, the effects of eating too much salt.

Air pollution is hard to escape, no matter how rich an area you live in. It is all around us. Microscopic pollutants in the air can slip past our body's defences, penetrating deep into our respiratory and circulatory system, damaging our lungs, heart and brain.

Air pollution is closely linked to climate change - the main driver of climate change is fossil fuel combustion which is also a major contributor to air pollution - and efforts to mitigate one can improve the other. This month, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that coal-fired electricity must end by 2050 if we are to limit global warming rises to 1.5C. If not, we may see a major climate crisis in just 20 years.

Meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement to combat climate change could save about a million lives a year worldwide by 2050 through reductions in air pollution alone. The economic benefits from tackling air pollution are significant: in the 15 countries that emit the most greenhouse gas emissions, the health impacts of air pollution are estimated to cost more than 4% of their GDP.

"The true cost of climate change is felt in our hospitals and in our lungs. The health burden of polluting energy sources is now so high, that moving to cleaner and more sustainable choices for energy supply, transport and food systems effectively pays for itself," says Dr Maria Neira, WHO Director of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health.

The lack of visible smog is no indication that the air is healthy. Across the world, both cities and villages are seeing toxic pollutants in the air exceed the average annual values recommended by WHO's air quality guidelines. To help people better understand just how polluted the air is where they live, the WHO, UN Environment and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition's Breathe Life campaign developed an online pollution meter.

Critical issues at the first Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health

There are two main types of air pollution - ambient air pollution (outdoor pollution) and household (or indoor) air pollution refers to pollution generated by household combustion of fuels (caused by burning fuel such as coal, wood or kerosene) using open fires or basic stoves in poorly ventilated spaces. Both indoor and outdoor air pollution can contribute to each other, as air moves from inside buildings to the outside, and vice versa.

Household air pollution kills 4 million people a year and tends to affect countries in Africa and Asia, where polluting fuels and technologies are used every day particularly at home for cooking, heating and lighting. Women and children, who tend to spend more time indoors, are affected the most.

The main pollutants: are (1) particulate matter, a mix of solid and liquid droplets arising mainly from fuel combustion and road traffic; (2) nitrogen dioxide from road traffic or indoor gas cookers; (3) sulphur dioxide from burning fossil fuels; and (4) ozone at ground level, caused by the reaction of sunlight with pollutants from vehicle emissions. The pollutant that affects people the most is particulate matter (often abbreviated to PM and used as a measure for air pollution).

Video: Did you know - using a clean cookstove can protect your health?

5 ways to limit breathing polluted air

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How air pollution is destroying our health

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As the world gets hotter and more crowded, our engines continue to pump out dirty emissions, and half the world has no access to clean fuels or technologies (e.g. stoves, lamps), the very air we breathe is growing dangerously polluted: nine out of ten people now breathe polluted air, which kills 7 million people every year.

# data[].attributes.body
Global warming glaciers

# data[].attributes.body
This a really cool photo

# data[].attributes.headline
Effects of rising sea levels - newspaper article.

# data[].attributes.subject
Effects of rising sea levels - newspaper article.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Updated February 06, 2018 10:37:31

Torres Strait residents have described the moment the sea robbed them of their possessions and their homes in the floods caused by last week's king tide.

The 3.8-metre peak on Yam Island has left 16 people homeless and has sparked protests from locals calling for a new seawall to prevent future disasters.

Basana and Banasi Gimini lost everything but a few bags of clothes.

"I was sitting watching TV and while I was watching I could hear the banging of the tide against the door," Mr Gimini said.

"It happens every year so I was thinking it was like usual... then water started rushing over the floor and underneath the TV unit."

He moved what he could out of harm's way, hoping that, as in previous years, the water would soon recede.

"But it didn't. It smashed the room, it smashed the wall and our TV, fridge, washing machine, everything got damaged," he said.

As the water continued to rise the couple tried in vain to save their possessions.

"We couldn't go into the house because the sea was just there so we just waited at the front door," Mr Gimini said.

"And as the water was taking the things out we grabbed those things and tried to save them."

With their home in ruins, the Gimini family are now staying with relatives, adding to an already growing problem of overcrowding on Yam Island.

"If it's possible to rebuild down here, and build it higher then we'd like to come back," Mrs Gimini said.

"All our kids grew up here and now we've got grandchildren living with us.

"If it's possible to build a new seawall out there [off the coast] then we'd love to come back."

The surging waves left Ralph Pearson-Bann's house littered with broken coral and sand.

He's concerned by the erosion underneath the existing 1990s seawall that is meant to protect his home.

"The tides have eaten it away so the footings underneath it aren't as good anymore," Mr Pearson-Bann said.

"The seawall's been sinking because of the sand getting pulled away and every time it happens it gets lower and lower."

Mr Pearson-Bann said he wanted to see a breaker or seawall installed off the coast, instead of the beach.

He doesn't believe it would cost as much as the new $25 million seawall on nearby Saibai Island.

"We just need some pre-cast [concrete] or drop some big rocks out there to make a break," he said.

"All we're trying to do is save the land."

'Governments need to do something' Minister says

Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford visited the island yesterday, hearing stories of people fleeing their houses and dodging waves while removing their possessions

"No-one should have to put up with the ocean running through their lounge room and destroying their livelihood," Mr Crawford said.

"I've mostly heard frustration because this is not a new event for the Torres Strait ... but a bit of relief that no-one was harmed or died."

He said the Queensland Government had activated disaster relief funding for Yam Island and other parts of the Torres Strait, and said local councils could apply for hardship funding to assist their residents in the short term.

In the longer term, Mr Crawford said he'd like to see seawalls installed on Yam Island.

"We've been listening to the CEO of the Council telling us about the seawalls on Saibai and how effective that was during this same event," he said.

"I think that seawalls are something that the federal government particularly need to be looking harder at up here.

"It's about how to stop and mitigate some of these communities being inundated with seawater.

"Whether people are believers or not in climate change, sea levels are rising and governments need to do something about it."

Cook MP Cynthia Lui, who grew up on Yam Island, said she was not shocked by last week's flooding, but only because she knows similar flooding happens every year.

"This is the reality of living in remote regions and this is one of the realities of living on Yam Island," she said.

"But to see people losing their homes and their belongings, that is quite shocking."

"What happened here last week highlights the issues faced by not only Yam Island, but by other communities in the Torres Strait that are affected by rising sea levels."

Topics: floods, disasters-and-accidents, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, emergency-incidents, local-government, torres-strait-islands, qld, australia, cairns-4870, brisbane-4000

First posted February 06, 2018 07:12:27

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Torres Strait locals lose everything as rising sea hits home

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Updated February 06, 2018 10:37:31 Torres Strait residents have described the moment the sea robbed them of their possessions and their homes in the floods caused by last week's king tide. The 3.8-metre peak on Yam Island has left 16 people homeless and has sparked protests from locals calling for a new seawall to prevent future disasters.