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Topic: Why plastic is dangerous?

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Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources

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By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

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By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

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Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

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By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

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By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

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By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

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By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation

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By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

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Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

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Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

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Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in UNCLOS, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of The Future We Want

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Impact of Plastic pollution  on marine ecosystem

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POLLUTANT IN THE WATER BODIES CAN IMPACT THE AQUATIC LIFE

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Impact of Plastic pollution  on water bodies

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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.

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A wide range of pollution-from plastic pollution to light pollution-affects marine ecosystems.

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To understand What is Zero Waste Life style

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To understand What is Zero Waste Life style

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opens IMAGE file By Morgan O'Connor, Marketing & High Performance Building EcoFellow
Zero Waste is a movement to reduce the amount one consumes and consequently throws away. Adopting a Zero Waste lifestyle is one of the most sustainable ways of living. Zero Waste lifestyle choices influence all environmental areas by preventing resource extraction, reducing the amount of materials sent to the landfill or incinerator, and reducing pollution from producing, transporting, or disposing of materials.

Zero Waste is often shown as something not easily accessible (making your own soap just may not be practical in your life, for example), but it's actually very easy to take simple steps toward Zero Waste. In fact, not only will you reduce waste, adopting a Zero Waste lifestyle can often be more affordable. Composting, buying second-hand, sharing when you can, or packing your own lunch are all simple steps you can take toward Zero Waste, all while saving money too!

There are a variety of ways one can practice Zero Waste habits, and some will make more sense for you than others. Challenge yourself to adopt some of the tips below. Soon you'll be on your way to living the Zero Waste lifestyle.

Tips everyone can use to move toward the Zero Waste Movement:

Refuse what we do not need (for example, at restaurants opt to go strawless)

Reduce what we use, especially if we are not using it (we have lots of tips on how to reduce your wasted food, check out this blog here)

Reusing and using what we have until it no longer works, not when it no longer is in fashion (did you know our store, EcoBuilding Bargains, diverts 400 tons of material from the landfill every year?)

Repairing what we can

Recycling only when all previous options have been explored (here are some easy steps)

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By Morgan O'Connor, Marketing & High Performance Building EcoFellow Zero Waste is a movement to reduce the amount one consumes and consequently throws away. Adopting a Zero Waste lifestyle is one of the most sustainable ways of living. Zero Waste lifestyle

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connection
Responsibility

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Discussion on the Key Concept after reading the description about the key concept

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Discussion on the Key Concept after reading the description about the key concept

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Creating Lines of Inquiry using the Key Concept

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Creating Lines of Inquiry using the Key Concept

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Every drop of water that will ever exist on our planet is already here so our actions have an impact. Plastic - which takes decades or even hundreds of years to decompose - poses a threat to our water supplies and water quality in a variety of ways.

Plastic pollution from discarded water bottles, polystyrene coffee cups, grocery bags, synthetic clothing fiber, and other waste breaks down into tiny bits of plastic no bigger than the period at the end of this sentence.

Banning single-use plastic bags with local ordinances or a state law is pivotal to improving the health of our waterways. Creating new habits, where people bring reusable bags to stores, is essential to stop the estimated 4.5 billion plastic bags given out each year in New Jersey.

Microplastics have been detected in water around the world, including our streams, rivers, lakes and oceans. In these waterways, the microplastics end up in the water we drink and the fish we eat, including shellfish.

Since last summer when Gov. Phil Murphy vetoed a statewide ban on plastic bags in favor of waiting for stronger legislation, more than 50 New Jersey municipalities have passed local regulations to cut the use of single-use plastic bags and other plastic waste such as straws, balloons and Styrofoam containers.

If legislation is passed and signed into state law, then the current patchwork of ordinances in New Jersey would become uniform. New Jersey would then follow New York, California, and Hawaii by banning single-use plastic.

Wildlife is harmed when plastic is tangled in a limb, neck or other body parts. Wildlife often mistakes plastic for food. Once the plastic is eaten, it cannot be digested and ends up harming the animal by lodging in the gut. Plastic bags also can suffocate animals.

Plastics also leech into the water, degrading the water quality with toxic compounds and end up harming human and animal health.

Discarded plastic bags from our throw-away society end up blocking storm drains and culverts, impeding the flow of water and worsening bank erosion.

The best solution is to avoid plastic by bringing reusable bags to grocery stores, switch from disposable to reusable drinking bottles, use a ceramic coffee mug, bring a reusable container to the deli, and reduce your consumption of single-use plastic bags, straws, cups and other items.

Once you're done with a plastic product, recycle them correctly. Here is a guide: https://www.greatswamp.org/blog/recycling-tips/

There is plenty of information available on this topic. Please join us by not purchasing single-use plastic and changing habits to benefit our waterways and water quality.
Learn More Water IQ

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How Does Plastic Pollution Harm Water? | thewatershed.org

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Every drop of water that will ever exist on our planet is already here so our actions have an impact. Plastic - which takes decades or even hundreds of years to decompose - poses a threat to our water supplies and water quality in a variety of ways.

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Did you know that every year 8 million tonnes of plastic end up in our planet's beautiful blue oceans? And that's seriously bad news for our friends beneath the waves...
Over 700 species of marine animals have been reported to have eaten or been entangled in plastic - and scientists think that the amount of plastic in the ocean may triple by 2050! But here's the good news - by understanding the issue and taking action, you can help change the future and make our oceans a clean, safe place for our wonderful wildlife!

What's the problem with plastic?

Plastic is an amazing man-made material used to make all kinds of important things. Bike helmets, car airbags and many medical supplies made with plastic save lives, and plastic water bottles can bring clean drinking water to people who don't have it.

The problem is that most of us use more plastic than we need to, and half of the plastic we produce is designed to be used just once and chucked away. This so-called ' single-use plastic' is used to make all kinds of items, such as shopping bags, straws, food wrappers and various packaging . And because plastic takes over 400 years to decompose (break down), it stays in the natural world, causing damage, for a very long time.

Did you know that we have a FREE downloadable Plastic Pollution Primary resource? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!

How does plastic waste end up in the sea?

Scientists think that a whopping 8.8 million tonnes of plastic end up in the ocean every year. That's the same as stacking five plastic shopping bags of rubbish on top of each other on every metre of coastline in the world! But how does it all get there?

One way is through ' ocean dumping', when people illegally tip large amounts of waste directly into the sea. But not all plastic in the ocean is dumped there on purpose. In fact, around 80% plastic in the sea comes from the land....

Much of it is blown into rivers, streams and sewers from overflowing rubbish bins or landfill sites, and from streets and parks where people litter. Another way is through our drains. Lots of our clothes contain tiny plastic fibres, called microfibres, which enter our water ways from washing machines when people do their laundry. And believe it or not, toiletries such as toothpaste and face wash can contain minuscule bits of plastic, too! These "microbeads" get flushed down the drain and, eventually, into the sea ocean. Thankfully, the UK government has banned toiletries containing microbeads, but lots of other countries still use them.

Why is plastic waste dangerous?

Animals and birds can get trapped, tangled and even strangled by all kinds of plastic waste, such as discarded fishing nets and six-pack rings from drinks cans. They also mistake small bits of plastic, such as bottle tops and wrappers, for food and gobble them up - leaving no room in their swollen tummies for real food. And the problem doesn't end there...

When plastic breaks down in the ocean, it doesn't break down completely - it just gets smaller and ends up being swallowed by fish and other marine animals and birds. The tiny particles of plastic absorb toxic industrial chemicals which, when eaten by fish, are absorbed into their tissues and are eventually eaten by humans.

What can we do about plastic pollution?

By working together, our choices can help clean up the ocean - and make it a safe place for our amazing marine life!

Look at how much single-use plastic your family uses by filling out a plastic journal for a week - then talk about what you can do to use less! Be sure to drink from reusable water bottles, use multi-use shopping bags and ask your parents to choose loose fruit and veg, rather than groceries wrapped in layers of plastic. And of course, recycle all the plastic that you can!

You can also help keep our seasides clean by going along to an organised beach cleanup. It's fun, and we promise you'll feel really proud when you see what a difference you've made!

Discover more ways that you can help clean up the natural world with our 10 tips to reduce plastic pollution!

Did you enjoy learning about the problem of plastic pollution? What have you done to help reduce plastic? Leave a comment below and let us know!

Text by Allyson Shaw, NG Staff
Photo credits:
Sea turtle with plastic bag photo - Sergi Garcia Fernandez, Biosphoto, Minden Pictures
Plastic on beach photo - apomares, Getty Images
Pelican with plastic photo - ©Studio One-One, Getty Images
Trash bags in sea water photo - Rich Carey, Shutterstock

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The problem with plastic pollution | National Geographic Kids

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Did you know that every year 8 million tonnes of plastic end up in our planet's beautiful blue oceans? And that's seriously bad news for our friends beneath the waves... Over 700 species of marine animals have been reported to have eaten or been entangled in plastic - and scientists think that the amount of plastic in the ocean may triple by 2050!

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The problem of plastics

Plastic is a polymeric material-that is, a material whose molecules are very large, often resembling long chains made up of a seemingly endless series of interconnected links. Natural polymers such as rubber and silk exist in abundance, but nature's "plastics" have not been implicated in environmental pollution, because they do not persist in the environment. Today, however, the average consumer comes into daily contact with all kinds of plastic materials that have been developed specifically to defeat natural decay processes-materials derived mainly from petroleum that can be molded, cast, spun, or applied as a coating. Since synthetic plastics are largely nonbiodegradable, they tend to persist in natural environments. Moreover, many lightweight single-use plastic products and packaging materials, which account for approximately 50 percent of all plastics produced, are not deposited in containers for subsequent removal to landfills, recycling centres, or incinerators. Instead, they are improperly disposed of at or near the location where they end their usefulness to the consumer. Dropped on the ground, thrown out of a car window, heaped onto an already full trash bin, or inadvertently carried off by a gust of wind, they immediately begin to pollute the environment. Indeed, landscapes littered by plastic packaging have become common in many parts of the world. (Illegal dumping of plastic and overflowing of containment structures also play a role.) Studies from around the world have not shown any particular country or demographic group to be most responsible, though population centres generate the most litter. The causes and effects of plastic pollution are truly worldwide.

According to the trade association PlasticsEurope, worldwide plastic production grew from some 1.5 million metric tons (about 1.7 million short tons) per year in 1950 to an estimated 275 million metric tons (about 303 million short tons) by 2010 and 359 million metric tons (nearly 396 million short tons) by 2018; between 4.8 million and 12.7 million metric tons (5.3 million and 14 million short tons) are discarded into the oceans annually by countries with ocean coastlines.

Compared with materials in common use in the first half of the 20th century, such as glass, paper, iron, and aluminum, plastics have a low recovery rate. That is, they are relatively inefficient to reuse as recycled scrap in the manufacturing process, because of significant processing difficulties such as a low melting point, which prevents contaminants from being driven off during heating and reprocessing. Most recycled plastics are subsidized below the cost of raw materials by various deposit schemes, or their recycling is simply mandated by government regulations. Recycling rates vary dramatically from country to country, and only northern European countries obtain rates greater than 50 percent. In any case, recycling does not really address plastic pollution, since recycled plastic is "properly" disposed of, whereas plastic pollution comes from improper disposal.

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Plastic pollution | Definition, Sources, Effects, Solutions, & Facts

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Plastic pollution, harmful accumulation of synthetic plastic products in the environment. Plastics are persistent large-scale pollutants, and plastic debris (such as bottles, straws, containers, and plastic wrap) and particulates have been found in many environmental niches, from Mount Everest to the bottom of the sea.

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Every year, 8 million tons of plastic enter the ocean. That's equivalent to one truckload dumped into the sea every minute of the day. From there, it goes on a long and destructive journey. "The plastic that enters the ocean can be carried vast distances by currents to all parts of the world, including remote Antarctica and the Mariana trench, the deepest place on Earth," says Winnie Lau, senior officer for The Pew Charitable Trusts' Preventing Ocean Plastics campaign. Along the way, it infiltrates ecosystems and causes untold harm to marine life.

Yet despite the scale of this problem, global plastic production continues, placing the oceans at ever-increasing risk. What makes the ocean so vulnerable to plastic pollution - and what can we do to limit the amount that gets in?

What's the problem with plastic?

Plastic is almost inescapable in our daily lives. It's used to make everything from food packaging to toiletries, clothing, furniture, computers and cars. This ubiquitous material is designed to be very durable - and as a result much of it doesn't biodegrade. Depending on the type, plastic can take between a few decades to potentially millions of years to disintegrate in landfill. Consequently, unless it's burned, which itself causes pollution, nearly every piece of plastic ever manufactured still exists today - and when it enters the ocean, its effects can be felt for centuries.

Where does waste come from?

Globally, we produce more than 300 million tons of plastic waste each year, and that number is rising. Yet of all the plastic waste ever created, only 9% has been recycled, while the rest has been incinerated or discarded, mainly ending up in landfills. A big reason for this is that 50% of the plastic we produce is single use, meaning it's intended to be thrown away immediately after it has served its purpose - like straws, plastic carrier bags and water bottles. Because it's so frequently produced and so rapidly discarded, single-use plastic increases the amount of waste entering landfills, and in turn, that increases the amount that inevitably escapes into the environment.

Why is the ocean so badly affected by plastic?

Incredibly vast and deep, the ocean acts like a huge sink for global pollution. Some of the plastic in the ocean originates from ships that lose cargo at sea. Abandoned plastic fishing nets and longlines - known as ghost gear - is also a large source, making up about 10% of plastic waste at sea. Marine aquaculture contributes to the problem, too, mainly when the polystyrene foam that's used to make the floating frames of fish cages makes its way into the sea.

But the vast majority of waste enters the water from land. Extreme weather and high winds brings it there, and pollution along coastlines gets swiftly hauled out by the tides. The ocean is also the endpoint for thousands of rivers, which carry tonnes of loose litter and waste from landfills, ultimately depositing it into the sea. In fact, just 10 rivers worldwide, eight of them originating in Asia, are responsible for the bulk of river-borne plastic that enters the oceans: China's Yangtze is the biggest source, contributing 1.5 million metric tonnes each year. That's mainly because several countries outsourced their plastic waste management to China. Until January 2018, when it banned the trade, China imported almost half of the world's plastic trash.

Once in the ocean, the harsh conditions and constant motion cause plastic to break down into particles of less than 5mm in diameter, called microplastics. This disperses plastic even farther and deeper into the ocean, where it invades more habitats and becomes effectively impossible to retrieve.

What's the impact on marine life?

Hundreds of thousands of marine animals get entangled in plastic waste each year - especially in ghost gear - which limits their motion and their ability to feed, and causes injuries and infections. Less visible is the devastation that occurs through the ingestion of plastic: seabirds, turtles, fish, and whales commonly mistake plastic waste for food, because some has a similar colour and shape to their prey. Floating plastic also accumulates microbes and algae on the surface that gives it an odour that's appetising to some sea animals. Once animals consume it, ingested plastic can pierce internal organs or cause fatal intestinal blockages; it also leads to starvation, because a stomach crammed with plastic gives an animal the illusion of being full.

Microplastics look similar to plankton, too, which is food for hundreds of species at the base of the food chain, meaning plastic infiltrates entire ecosystems. Researchers have even discovered that organisms as tiny as the polyps in corals regularly consume microplastics.

Furthermore, plastics absorb pollutants that are floating around in the ocean, and contain harmful chemicals themselves. Preliminary research suggests that when animals consume these toxin-infused particles, it could damage their organs, make them more susceptible to disease, and alter their reproduction.

How bad is it, really?

Plastic pollution is so pervasive that it's been found in some of the wildest and most remote locations on our planet, including Antarctica, and the deepest canyons of the Mariana trench. Ocean currents have coalesced floating plastic into five huge, swirling deep sea gyres - such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which covers an area of ocean three times the size of France. Estimates suggest there could be upwards of 5 trillion individual pieces of plastic floating in the ocean. And if we continue producing plastic at current rates, the amount could outweigh all the fish in the sea by 2050. Research also shows that more than 800 coastal and marine species are directly affected by plastic waste through entanglement, ingestion, or damage to their habitats. Studies show that 90% of seabirds, and 52% of all turtles on the planet have consumed plastic. Additionally, a million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals die annually because of plastic waste.

How does plastic pollution impact humans?

When marine animals consume plastic, the toxins it contains breaks down inside their bodies. So when humans eat seafood, we're consuming these, too. Some of these plastic toxins are linked to hormonal abnormalities, and developmental problems. But researchers are still trying to understand exactly how our health is affected when we consume plastic via fish and shellfish. Analyses so far have suggested that microplastics don't necessarily pose a risk to human health. But there's still lots we don't know. One concern is that plastics in the ocean eventually degrades into nano-plastics, which are so small they could enter human cells when consumed. In 2019, experts called for more research into the effect of micro- and nano-plastics on human health.

What can I do?

Undoubtedly, the biggest impact consumers can make is to reduce their use of single-use plastic, which contributes a significant share to plastic pollution in the sea. Recycling plastic wherever possible is also important. Volunteering for group clean-ups of rivers and beaches helps to reduce the amount of loose plastic that makes its way into the sea. Supporting campaigns and policy changes that reduce the production of unnecessary plastics is crucial, too. This has led to huge successes in the past, such as the ban in the United Kingdom, the United States and other countries on using microbeads - tiny spheres made of plastic - in toiletries and cosmetics. Similarly, in China government action on plastics led to a countrywide ban in 2008 on thin, single-use carrier bags. Now that's being extended to gradually phase out single-use plastics across the country by 2025.

Can technology help?

Researchers and innovators are developing solutions to stop plastic getting into the sea. A Dutch company called The Ocean Cleanup has invented a huge floating boom that siphons plastic waste out of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. In the Chinese port city of Xiamen, university researchers are developing a camera surveillance system to identify plastic and forecast its trajectory downriver, so they can stop it before it enters the sea. The European Space Agency is even using its satellites to track plastic waste from space, in the hopes of informing new policies that will limit plastic pollution. Advances in developing biodegradable plastics could also have a huge impact on ocean health: researchers are currently working on a bioplastic that degrades in seawater, which could ultimately reduce the amount of waste that accumulates there.

But the only way to truly solve this problem is to dramatically reduce the production of plastic, which means curbing our addiction to it. "The most important thing we must do is stop plastic from getting into the ocean in the first place, because it is not feasible or cost-effective to do large-scale cleanups," says Lau. "Once in the ocean, plastic waste will stay there for hundreds of years or longer. That is not a legacy I would want to leave for future generations."

Abandoned gear is a huge threat to the environment but there are lots of ways to fix the problem

Professor Jambeck believes both individuals and governments have an important role to play in keeping plastic out of the ocean

The city is using cameras to help recover marine plastic and identify its sources, but much work remains to be done

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How does plastic pollution affect the ocean?

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Every year, 8 million tons of plastic enter the ocean. That's equivalent to one truckload dumped into the sea every minute of the day. From there, it goes on a long and destructive journey.

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1st:Types of pollutant

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2nd: Plastic and Aquatic life

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3rd :Our responsibility in conserving aquatic life

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Discuss what are the types of pollutant.
https://www.britannica.com/science/water-pollution

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Source of water pollution

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The problem with plastic pollution - National Geographic Kids

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Learn all about plastic pollution. How much plastic is in the ocean? Why is plastic pollution dangerous? What can we do to reduce it?

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Plastic Pollution Affects Sea Life Throughout the Ocean

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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.

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Plastic has already entered the food chain. Animals carry microplastics in their bodies. When they are themselves eaten, those microplastics are also ingested. This process is called 'trophic transfer' of microplastics. Since one animal eats another, microplastics can move through the food chain. The main question is what happens to the toxins and chemicals that are associated with these plastics.

Plastic in the food chain and bio-accumulation of pollutants

When plastic ends up in the environment, it tends to bind with environmental pollutants. With plastic that moves through the food chain, the attached toxins can also move and accumulate in animal fat and tissue through a process called bio-accumulation. In addition, chemicals are often added to plastic during the production process, to give them some desired properties. These chemicals can in turn leak from the plastic, even when that plastic is inside the body of an animal.

Toxins shared in the food chain

Plastic is by no means the only way that toxins, such as PCBs and dioxins, end up in the food chain. The role of plastic in bioaccumulation of toxins is quite small compared to exposure via the animals' normal food. Animals that excrete swallowed plastic may actually cleanse their bodies because toxins present in the body have attached themselves to the plastic.

It is a different story for plastic additives. Unlike PCBs and dioxins, these substances have not accumulated in the food chain over the decades. When Japanese researchers found a particular flame retardant in the tissues of seabirds, it was certain that it came from swallowed plastic to which the flame retardant was once added.

Number of animals affected by plastic

The number of individual animals affected by plastic would be very difficult to estimate but would run into the billions. Attempts have been made to determine the number of species affected. In 2015, Dutch researchers found that the number of marine species that swallow or get caught in plastic had doubled since 1997: from 267 to 557. This number is now above 2000, with the caveat that only a very limited number of animal species have been investigated. It is even more difficult to determine whether plastic threatens the survival of a certain species, let alone the influence of plastic on the food chain.

Arrow worms

Arrow worms are transparent torpedo-shaped creatures which live in the sea and hunt for zooplankton.

As has been recorded on film, arrow worms consume plastic microfibers. The digestive tract of this animal is as long as its body. The curled fiber blocks the tube, with the result that the intake of real food is blocked. This recording shows how plastic enters the food chain because arrow worms are in turn eaten by animals higher up the chain. Amphipods that live at the deepest point of the ocean, the eleven-kilometer-deep Mariana Trench, were examined for the presence of plastic. These animals all had plastic in their bodies, almost always microfibers from synthetic clothing.

Plastic in fish and behavioural changes

Swedish scientists have shown that nanoplastics can enter the brains of fish through the food chain and lead to abnormal behavior. Nanoplastics in algae are eaten by water fleas, which in turn are food for fish. This is how plastic particles move through the food chain. The researchers made simulations of the food chain, with and without nanoplastics. In contrast to the fish that were not fed nanoplastics, the fish that did eat them showed abnormal behavior: slower eating and hyperactive behavior. It was a laboratory study, but the accumulation of plastic in living organs can also take place in nature, especially if the animals live for a long time. Fish that swim slower are easy prey. In this way, plastic can disrupt the natural balance.

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How Plastic Has Entered the Food Chain - Plastic Soup Foundation

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Plastic has entered the food chain through fish and other marine animals. What animals are affected by plastic, and what does it mean for us? Read more.

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Create a info graph on 2nd LOI

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Topic: All about Plastic

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Topic: Aquatic ecosystem and How are we dependent on aquatic life

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Topic: How plastic is harming aquatic life

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Create infographic on different ways to solve the entry of plastic in the water bodies

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10 Ways You Can Help Save the Oceans

Oceans cover 71 percent of the planet and are home to important species and ecosystems that we rely on for food, livelihoods, climate regulation and more. But the oceans need our help. Saving the oceans can sometimes feel like an overwhelming task, but if we all pitch in, we can make a big difference.

Here are 10 lifestyle choices that - when adopted - can help protect and restore our oceans for future generations.

1. Demand plastic-free alternatives

The oceans face a massive and growing threat from plastics. An estimated 17.6 billion pounds of plastic leaks into the marine environment from land-based sources every year-that's roughly equivalent to dumping a garbage truck full of plastic into our oceans every minute. And plastics never go away!

We must urge companies to provide consumers with plastic-free alternatives and say no to single use plastics such as straws, plastic cutlery, coffee cups, water bottles, plastic bags, balloons, plastic-wrapped produce and take-out food containers.

2. Reduce your carbon footprint

Carbon dioxide, a known greenhouse gas, is making our oceans more acidic. This is contributing to the loss of corals on a global scale as their calcium skeletons are weakened by the increasing acidity of the water.

You can reduce your carbon footprint by adopting some of these simple measures:

* Ride a bike, walk or use public transportation rather than driving a car.

* Turn off the lights when you leave a room.

* Put on a sweater in the winter instead of turning up your thermostat.

* Have some fun with your diet - buy sustainably caught wild seafood. It is a renewable resource that requires minimal freshwater to produce and emits less carbon dioxide than land-based proteins like beef.

3. Avoid ocean-harming products

There are many products directly linked to harming endangered or threatened species, unsustainable fishing methods and pollution. For example, avoid cosmetics that contain shark squalene, jewelry made of coral or sea turtle shell, souvenir shells of conchs, nautiluses and other animals, and single-use plastics like straws and water bottles that can end up in our oceans. These products support unsustainable fishing and threaten important species and ecosystems.

4. Eat sustainable seafood

Choose seafood that is healthy for you and the oceans from well-managed, wild fisheries. We know it's hard to know what fish are okay to eat, which is why you can turn to these helpful resources:

* Print or download a guide from Seafood Watch to help you make sustainable choices when you buy or order seafood, and learn about eco-certification of seafood.

* Refer to these top chefs for sustainable seafood recipes.

* Consider adding small, oily fish that are packed with protein to your diet.

5. Vote on ocean issues

Electing public officials that support good ocean policies can help us protect marine life and our oceans. Do your research on candidates and make an informed decision, then exercise your right (and responsibility) to vote. And don't let Election Day be the last time they hear from you. Follow up with your candidates and elected officials regularly to remind them of policies you care about.

6. Contact your representatives and lawmakers

Your representatives and lawmakers might not know how important these issues are that face our oceans. But they will if you tell them. It's up to constituents like you to make lawmakers aware of the crises facing marine life and our oceans. Don't be shy! Take action with Oceana to directly contact your government representatives and lawmakers.

7. Explore the oceans

"People protect what they love." - Jacques-Yves Cousteau

Get outside and explore the oceans around you! If you don't live near the ocean, visit your local lake or river to learn how your watershed connects to the ocean. There are plenty of online opportunities to explore the oceans, too. Dive into Oceana's Marine Life Encyclopedia to read fun and interesting facts about all kinds of animals from sharks and seals to octopuses and clownfish.

8. Leave nothing behind

As beach crowds increase, so does the amount of trash left behind or blown away. Don't let your day outside contribute to the destruction of our oceans. Remember to leave nothing behind but your footprints - collect and dispose of your trash.

9. Share your ocean heroics with friends, family and coworkers

Tell people what's going on with the world's oceans and what they can do to join you in making a difference. Spread the word about petitions, share fun facts and join the conversation with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

10. Join Oceana

More than 800,000 members and activists in over 200 countries have already joined Oceana - the largest international organization focused solely on ocean conservation. Together, we've won over 300 victories and protected more than 4 million square miles of ocean. But there's more to be done! Become an Oceana Wavemaker and continue your efforts to help save the oceans. As a Wavemaker, you'll receive a monthly update on the latest ocean news and learn ways you can help protect marine life.

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10 Ways You Can Help Save the Oceans - Oceana

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Oceans cover 71 percent of the planet and are home to important species and ecosystems that we rely on for food, livelihoods, climate regulation and more. But the oceans need our help. Saving the oceans can sometimes feel like an overwhelming task, but if we all pitch in, we can make a big difference.

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3rd LOI: Our responsibility in conserving aquatic ecosystem

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3rd LOI: Our responsibility in conserving aquatic ecosystem

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take a print and fill it

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Skills  thinking skills because now we are thinking on how we will make model on taking action we will discuss this in our class  learner profile  attributes and I  have developed I am reflective because I know that where I have to do well

how did you inquire this week ?  we watched a video on plastic factory of Delhi in the video they were showing how plastic is made

What challenges did you faced this week ? mam had given us the task of making models and I was not having materials for the model

how did you overcome to the challenge ? we did not make models but in replace of model we had made a pledge on saving the the aquatic life

we have not learned any which has helped us to understand ci and Loi deeply