plastics in our oceans resources to explore
NEWS STORIES:
Plastic Debris in the Open Ocean
Plastic Breaks Down in Ocean, After All -- And Fast Carolyn Barry for National Geographic News
How a DVD case killed a whale
Dolphin calf freed of plastic debris off Florida's west coast A six-month-old dolphin calf is now swimming safely with its mother after rescuers freed the animal from plastic fishing line and other debris Thursday.
Sea turtle swims up to the boat seeking help.
News in Science
Rising plastic menace choking sealife
Plastic Debris in the Open Ocean
Plastic Breaks Down in Ocean, After All -- And Fast Carolyn Barry for National Geographic News
How a DVD case killed a whale
Dolphin calf freed of plastic debris off Florida's west coast A six-month-old dolphin calf is now swimming safely with its mother after rescuers freed the animal from plastic fishing line and other debris Thursday.
Sea turtle swims up to the boat seeking help.
News in Science
Rising plastic menace choking sealife
- https://www.cleanup.org.au/PDF/au/cua_plastic_recycling_fact_sheet.pdf
- UN Environment’s comprehensive six-minute video about the problem and the role of global partnership efforts can play in the solution. "Preventing Our Oceans from Becoming Dumps"
- NOAA’s "Trash Talk" special feature https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCQMZfnM-a4
What can we do about marine debris? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuhdmDc4L1Y
- National Geographic - How We Can Keep Plastics Out of Our Ocean - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQTUWK7CM-Y
- 5 Gyres - Plastic Pollution in the World’s Oceans" (overview) https://vimeo.com/113359330
- Take the pledge to stop sucking on single-use plastic straws: http://www.strawlessocean.org
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfFpz8KM-9E
- NOAA Marine Debris
- GRID-Arendal – Marine Litter Vital Graphics https://www.grida.no/publications/60
- Plastic facts and figures (with citations) http://www.beachapedia.org/Plastic_Pollution_Facts_and_Figures
- Rise Above Plastics Activist Toolkit https://issuu.com/rise.above.plastics/docs/activist.toolkit
- The New Plastics Economy – new report, infographics, and information on a newly-announced $2 million New Plastics Economy Innovation Prize
https://newplasticseconomy.org/news/ellen-macarthur-foundation-and-the-prince-of-waless-international-sustainability-unit-launch-2-million-innovation-prize-to-help-keep-plastics-out-the-ocean
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- Are Plastic Grocery Bags Sacking the Environment? - An article from National Geographic that explores the environmental impact of plastic bag use.
- Reducing Disposable Bag Pollution - An article explaining how disposable bags cause pollution and what is being done to reduce the problem.
- The Environmental Impacts of Plastic Bag Use - A list of the negative environmental impacts of using plastic bags.
- Marine Debris Impacts - An overview of the impact of marine debris on the environment from the Environmental Protection Agency.
- Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling Plastic Bags and Wrap - A page that provides education on what can be down to reduce plastic bag use and increase recycling.
- Environmental Impact of Plastic Bags - A graphic that explains the life cycle of a plastic bag and its impact on the environment.
- The Plastic Bag Problem - An article that provides information on the issue of plastic bags, and how people can reduce use and recycle.
- Plastics in our Oceans - A page that explores the increasingly harmful issue of plastic pollution in the world's oceans.
- Polymers are Forever - Plastics are polymers, and this article explains how plastic does not break down, causing major environmental issues.
- Plastics in the Ocean Affecting Human Health - Information from a case study that explored how plastic in the ocean is affecting the health of humans.
Miscellaneous articles about the dangers of using plastics and ways to reduce plastic waste:
Information about harms caused by plastic bags:
Polystyrene (What is Polystyrene?)
- A report from the United Nations warns that the tiny pieces of plastic from plastic bags, bottles and clothes are one of the most dangerous environmental problems facing the world today. They present a serious threat to human health and marine ecosystems.
- Green Guide for Kids and Adults at Home – Assurance for a Healthy Earth by US Insurance Agents
- Biodegradable plastic ‘false solution’ for ocean waste problem – a report by The Guardian
- What is PLA and is it really better than plastics made from petroleum? PLA is something that is not a viable solution to the plastic pollution problem and it also misleads consumers to thinking that plastic #7’s are recyclable. While the production of most of Bioplastics results in reduced carbon dioxide emissions compared to traditional petroleum based plastics, there are some concerns that the production of a bio-economy could contribute to an accelerated rate of deforestation if not managed effectively.
- Is the ‘reign of recycling’ really over? This is a well written article that helps explain why we cannot walk away from recycling by Tom Szaky, Guest Writer for TreeHugger
- Plastic GYRE Symposium: Artists, Scientists and Activists Respond as reported in Elemental Impact on-line magazine
- Leaching of plastic additives to marine organisms – by Marine Environmental Research
- In Press, Corrected Proof — Interaction between loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) and marine litter in Sardinia– by Marine Environmental Research
- summary-marlin-rapport
- In Press, Corrected Proof — Young green turtles, Chelonia mydas, exposed to plastic in a frontal area of the SW Atlantic by Elsevier
- Plastic litter in the sea – by Marine Environmental Research
- These fish are eating the plastic you throw into the ocean… by The Grist
- Marine Plastic Pollution in Waters around Australia: Characteristics, Concentrations, and Pathways – by http://www.plosone.org/
- How Plastic Pollution Can Carry Flame Retardants Into Your Sushi – Smithsonia.com
- Ingested plastic transfers hazardous chemicals to fish and induces hepatic stress – by Scientific Reports
Information about harms caused by plastic bags:
- Catalyst ABC TV – Plastic Oceans… a documentary about plastic harms on marine life
- Plastic Cow… a documentary about what is happening to cows in India
- Biodegradable plastic: What you need to know by the Mother Nature Network
- Rare sea turtles eating plastic at record rate by the Mother Nature Network
- The Silent Killer by Mrs. Green’s World
- Young green turtles, Chelonia mydas, exposed to plastic in a frontal area of the SW Atlantic
- Life in the “Plastisphere” Microbial Communities on Plastic Marine Debris by Environmental Science & Technology
- Waiter, Why Does My Fish Taste Like Plastic? – by Kristina Chew
- Jeremy Irons: public need to take responsibility for plastic waste problem – Guardian Environment Network
- Phthalates – Fact-sheet by the CDC
- Contaminated Diet Contributes to Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: Phthalates and BPA – by Science Daily
- Plastic-Free Doesn’t Mean BPA-Free – by Kristina Chew
- As main meal for sperm whales: Plastics debris — by Science Direct
- 6 Tragic Tales of Animals Who Died After Swallowing Plastic — by Kristina Chew
Polystyrene (What is Polystyrene?)
- Chick-fil-A insists on serving use Styrofoam by Lisa Kaas Boyle
- The following information comes from our friends at Surfrider: Polystyrene comes in various forms, check out the Polystyrene Page on Beachapedia for details on the differences between polystyrene, expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam foodware or packaging, and Styrofoam. Most polystyrene ordinances only cover EPS foam foodware but some cover other EPS items and/or all polystyrene (#6) foodware items.
- Article ASAP — Polystyrene Plastic A Source and Sink for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Marine Environment by Environmental Science & Technology
- Here is the letter the folks at 5 Gyres sent to the city of New York regarding their consideration of setting up a recycling program for Styrofoam:Why DART Corp’s Bribe To New York’s City Council Won’t Stop Polystyrene In The Environment
- Check out the Rise Above Plastics program page to find more info on plastic pollution and how to get involved in plastic litter reductions.
- Polystyrene Ordinances