...OCEANIC IMPACTS Plastic Waste Humans have been utilizing the ocean for millions of years and have created serious problems within our oceans. Plastic pollution has caused huge problems in our oceans, as massive amounts of plastic trash ends up in our oceans every year. According to recent studies at least 5 trillion pieces of plastic waste are now floating in the world’s oceans. This waste for the most part sinks to ocean floor, what remains at the surface has created large whirlpools, and a significant amount of it washes onto our coastlines daily. (Parley, n.d.) The Pollution Problem Plastic pollution within our oceans is caused by following reasons: debris washed into the ocean from rivers after heavy rain or floods, blown off of garbage...
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...Oceanic Pollution and its Effects on Society “Around 8 million tons of plastic ends up in the oceans every year”,(Milman 1). Nowadays in our everyday society, plastic is used constantly from cups and plates, to bags and pencils. It is this same plastic that ends up in the world’s oceans due to various means of transportation, where it then harms the existing life and ecosystems present. Until something is done to combat this issue, the pollution will never cease to increase. Oceanic pollution harms the world’s oceans, it’s marine life, and ultimately ourselves due to the overwhelming influx of pollutants, and lack of action against it. The formal definition of marine pollution is as states, “Oceanic pollution also known as marine pollution is the spreading of harmful substances such as oil, plastic, industrial, and agricultural waste and chemical particles being released into the ocean”,(NOAA). Essentially there is no one cause to marine pollution, therefore there is also no one effect or solution to it either. Marine pollution is the accumulation of waste being emitted into the ocean both via natural, and unnatural means. A few of the most notable causes of marine pollution would include the following: sewage, industrial, land runoff, large scale oil spills, ocean mining, and littering. To go more into...
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...Save Our Beaches! The Study Behind Coastal Pollution Plastic Pollution is a significant contributor to the non-point source pollution found in the Monterey Bay and around the world. While terms such as Marine Debris and Ocean Trash have been used to describe the garbage that enters the ocean, a growing number of scientists, researchers and marine-based organizations have adopted the term Plastic Pollution not only because 90% of floating ocean trash is plastic, but because the term pollution highlights that we are dealing with a pervasive substance that contaminates water, the cells of organisms, and knows no boundaries. (Plastic Pollution, n.d.) 80% of plastic pollution that enters the ocean originates from land. Common sources include: recreational beach users, people who drop litter on sidewalks and streets, plastics manufacturers and transporters, illegal dumping, and areas with inadequate trash receptacles. All land-based plastic pollution has the potential to become ocean pollution. Plastics easily blow into the ocean or washed down storm drains that flow directly to the Bay, and oceans around the world. (Marine Problems: Pollution, n.d.) Marine animals often mistake plastic pieces for food. For example, bird species such as pelicans or albatross will mistake pieces of plastic for small fish. Once the animal ingests the plastic, their body cannot digest it. The plastic item will remain in the animals’ stomach causing the animal to feel full. Thus the animal will eventually...
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...The variety of ocean creatures in an aquarium is supposed to represent the real variety of the ocean but at this rate, it may not stay that way for long. While the general idea is that the big threat to marine species is their natural predators, in reality a more silent and deadly killer threatens to wipe out thousands of marine animals: ocean pollution. Ocean pollution kills thousands of birds, fish, and sea mammals alike every year, by toxic particles released in the water and being strangled by plastic alike. How many species have been killed off by pollution, let alone ocean pollution, may never be known. To preserve all of the planet’s species, action must be taken. Ocean and beach pollution must be stopped to prevent the destruction of...
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...National Geographic Society. “Great Pacific Garbage Patch.” National Geographic Society, National Geographic, 9 Oct. 2012, www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/great-pacific-garbage-patch/. The National Geographic has been known of posting many articles and videos about the concern and awareness of the water pollution of the Pacific Ocean. The article that is chosen is about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the National Geographic has many photo evidence of the harmful effects of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The article puts in perspective of how serious the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is by using quotes from captains that have sailed by the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and statistics of the mass size. The article will be supporting...
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...Every year about eight million tons of plastic is dumped into our surrounding oceans, making that about 22,000 tons in one single day. Who decided that it is socially acceptable to dump waste into our delicate oceans; that do nothing but keep our Earth alive? Sustainable coastlines are a major role that play into preventing ocean pollution of plastics and other waste. The goal of sustainable coastlines are to inspire local communities to come together as a whole and help towards hands-on beach cleanups monthly. I was inspired to take on this topic because from a young age I have felt a close relationship with the sea, and I want nothing more for others to treat it with the most upwards respects as well. From this presentation, I hope to inspire others to protect our oceans and give our marine life a safe ecosystem; the same we want for our future generations....
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...The article is called “Oceans of pollution” (Al Jazeera, 18 June 2012), Dahr Jamail. He shows the plastic pollution in the oceans on the Earth’s crisis. If the issue is not addressed, it will be unpredictable long-term consequences, with a mass extinction of ocean species. His rhetorical goals of explaining are quotations from scientific experts, cause-and-effect reasoning, and powerful visual imagery. The stimulus for the article was a series of scientific studies that demonstrate the dramatic worsening of ocean pollution in recent years. According to author, massive gyres of plastic garbage are developing in oceans that are harm to fish, turtles and other creatures. “Dead Zones” – where are algae blooms which runoff of nitrogen and phosphorus...
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...Examine two ways in which plastic bags contribute to environmental damage. ------------------------------------------------- eassy Wesley lam Module Code | FC501-2T | Group | Group A | Module Title | Skills for Study 1 Assessment | Type | Essay Assignment | Title | Examine two ways in which plastic bags contribute to environmental damage. | Tutor Name | Tatiana Wood | Student ID Number | T0022045 | Date of Submission | 28 Feb 2014 | Word Count | | Examine two ways in which plastic bags contribute to environmental damage. We are surrounding by plastic. Think about every piece you touch in a single day: shopping bags, plastic cups, drink bottles. Plastic may be very convenient, but it is also harmful in many ways to environment. There are so many ways to damage environment such as general waste, plastic bags and pollution. Ultimately, plastic bags are the major issue of causing environmental problems since it is generating pollution according burning plastic bags would generate air pollution, and throwing rubbishes and general waste in the ocean would damage the living things in the sea. According to above statement, millions of generate waste are generating each day causing tons of waste which contribute to environmental damage. As a result, this will lead to damage to living things and animals, as burning plastic bags will generate the harmful air pollution. Also, the place where is locating the rubbishes and plastic bags would not be able to...
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...What the Oceans Hide No one thinks about what happens to their plastic after it’s served its purpose. Most people believe it simply goes somewhere and gets recycled and reused. The truth is not so pretty. Plastics are made out of a variety of natural materials, including an oil called petroleum. To be useful they must be processed so they become easy to mold and shape for many different things. Basically, plastics are designed to suit consumer needs, but this usually means single use products like plastic bags or a Starbucks cup. According to Greenpeace, an environmental organization, “It is the very properties that make plastics so useful, their stability and resistance to degradation, that causes them to be so problematic after they have...
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...distribution and use of plastic bags. Central Idea: The United States needs to impose a ban and/or a fine for the distribution and use of plastic bags on all states because of the devastation caused globally every year. Organizational Pattern: Problem Cause Solution Order Introduction: A. (Attention getter) When we throw something away, something as simple as a plastic bag, we often don’t think of where it will end up or the journey it takes to its permanent home. We don’t care what happens next; however, 86% of you stated, in my audience analysis, that we do need to be concerned with plastic pollution in Nebraska (Audience Analysis). (show plastic bag video) B....
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...have been spilled into the ocean. The specific damage of these pollutants to animals in the ocean is mentioned in the article “Who is responsible for marine debris? The international politics of cleaning our oceans”. Plastic debris and trash caused malnutritions in sea animals, since the consumption of waste in the ocean make them feels like they are full and no longer need to in. While in fact, the plastic and trash they consumed have no nutritious values to keep the sea animals healthy. Plastic debris can also caused damage to internal organs of these animals, causing internal bleeding that can lead to a premature dead. And according to the EPA, also...
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...We use plastics every day. For example, (Sheavly Journal, 2007) household products and packaging materials were accounted for 40% of all plastic products; however, do you know what happened after we through the plastic wastes? They began to harm our ecosystem. The plastic pollution needs to be addressed because it is becoming a huge problem to the human beings and the ecosystem. I always remind myself to recycle and not through wastes into public places. By doing research, I have a more detailed understanding on plastic pollution now. Although plastic pollution seems nothing related with ourselves, it is actually hurting both the human beings and the ecosystem. From my survey, I found that although students know there is a problem on plastic pollution, most of them didn’t pay much attention on it (Communication 101 Questionnaire). We will get to know plastics pollution better through what the plastic pollution is, how it is affecting the environment, and the proper solutions of the plastic pollution to find out what we can do to make changes. So first, let’s look at the existing problem of plastic pollution. Plastic pollution is also called "White Pollution". It is rapidly expanded with an amazing speed since the industry developed. On the one hand, the common way of landfill load limited land resources. (Mitra PLASTIC POLLUTION COALITION 2013)As land increasingly nervous, the site that the garbage can be buried was also found progressively to decrease, and...
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...Man versus Nature: Technology Versus Environment: Money Versus Wild Life Bristol Bay Although the fishing industry has long been associated with the contribution of marine pollution little work has been done on the effects on the industry itself of marine debris and other pollution. The fishing industry is responsible for discarded nets, hooks, fishing poles, and many times sunken boats, among other gear. In many circumstances this is not the intended plan when going fishing to catch their paychecks. In fact the fishing industry pays a high price for these losses from the time they have to replace their nets to the pulling of old nets and trash out of their new nets on a regular basis. When questioned about the effects of marine debris on their fishing activities, Shetland fishermen responded that 92% had recurring problems with accumulated debris in nets, 69% had had their catch contaminated by debris and 92% had snagged their nets on debris on the seabed. Many also experienced fouled propellers and blocked intake pipes. On average, 1-2 hours per week were spent clearing debris from nets. Debris could cause a restricted catch and many boats avoided particular fishing areas altogether due to the high concentrations of debris. It has gotten to the point for many fishers that they can no longer fish certain areas known to be well stocked with money fish due to the time consuming issues with trash and fishing debris in those specific waters due to left behind gear. Ultimately...
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...Introduction Plastic water pollution is a national issue that needs to continue to be addressed in Australia and around the world. Although Australia’s waters are not the most polluted in the world our waters are being affected significantly by plastic pollution. Below I have addressed the main causes of plastic water pollution in Australia. The repercussions of plastic pollution on wildlife and humans have also been discussed. The sustainable volunteer work I participated in was picking up litter from two of Canberra’s lakes. There were many positive qualities of this volunteering experience including helping the environment by reducing pollution and recycling items. On a personal note it was also a great way for me to spend time outdoors...
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...Mai English 961A March 13 2015 The Lack of Awareness of Overconsumption of Los Angeles Residents Last year the Advance Science, Serving Society reported that 4.8 to 12.7 millions metric tons of trash enter the ocean. America, the country has the well-developed infrastructure to handle the waste, contributed 40,000 to 110,000 metric tons per year. The improved life quality and the increase resource consumption as the society gets more modern have posed the negative impact on the environment. Moreover, the waste management is far beyond the handling of the government and the agencies because there are never enough landfills for 25 percents of world trash in America (Humes). In the article “Can Psychology Help Save The World? A Model For Conservation Psychology,” Susan Clayton, a professor of psychology at the College of Wooster, and Amara Brook, a professor of Santa Clara University, use psychology to help explaining the human behavior which causes environmental problem. Although the government spends a lot of money on waste management, the lack of awareness of Los Angeles residents causes high volumes of waste, which leads to ocean pollution and health problem. The Los Angeles government spends a lot of money for trash management and controlling the amount of trash. California government spends millions a year to clean trash from their beaches and alley ways. In the article “L.A. lawmakers press for cleanup of city's trash-strewn alleys” by Emily Alpert Reyes, she states...
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