A Guide to Plastics in the Ocean
adapted from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. The problem with plastic
III. What are microplastics?
IV. How do we affect marine life?
V. What can you do?
VI. Conclusion
Introduction
Plastic is everywhere: In your home, your office, your school — and your ocean. Among the top 10 kinds of trash picked up during the 2017 International Coastal Cleanup were food wrappers, beverage bottles, grocery bags, straws, and take out containers, all made of plastic. How did it all get there, why is it a problem, and what can we do?
The problem with plastic
While it's tough to say exactly how much plastic is in the ocean, scientists think about 8 million metric tons of plastic entered the ocean in 2010. That's the weight of nearly 90 aircraft carriers, and the problem continues to grow. These plastics come in many different forms. Just think about all the plastic items you use daily: the toothbrush you grab first thing in the morning, the container your lunch comes in, or the bottle you drink water from after your workout. All these things get used and, eventually, thrown out. Many plastic products are single-use items that are designed to be thrown out, like water bottles or take out containers. These are used and discarded quickly. If this waste isn't properly disposed of or managed, it can end up in the ocean. Unlike some other kinds of waste, plastic doesn't decompose. That means plastic can stick around indefinitely, wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems. Some plastics float once they enter the ocean, though not all do. As the plastic is tossed around, much of it breaks into tiny pieces, called microplastics.
What are microplastics?
The first thing that comes to mind for many people when they think of microplastics are the small beads found in some soaps and other personal care products. But microplastics also include bits of what were once larger items. Microfibers, shed from clothing or fishing nets, are another problematic form of microplastic. These fibers, beads, and microplastic fragments can all absorb harmful pollutants like pesticides, dyes, and flame retardants, only to later release them in the ocean.
How do we affect marine life?
Oftentimes, fishing gear such as nets from boats can become marine debris when it is lost or abandoned. Furthermore, when people intentionally litter or improperly dispose of trash, rain and wind can sweep the debris into nearby waterbodies. Streams and storm drains can carry this debris directly into the ocean or Great Lakes. As a result, marine life can get entangled in fishing nets and other plastic waste, and some animals can easily mistake this debris as food. This in turn can severely harm the marine animals.
What can you do?
There are many ways to keep plastic out of the ocean! Here are two strategies:
Reduce plastic use.
Think about all the plastic items you use every day. Can you count them all? Look around you. How many plastic things can you see? Being more aware of how and why you use the plastics that you do is the first step to reducing plastic use. Commit to changing your habits by reducing your use of disposable and single-use plastic items, reusing items and/or recycling them.
Participate in a cleanup.
Volunteer to pick up marine litter in your local community. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Marine Debris Program (MDP) works to understand how plastics — and other marine debris — get into our ocean, how they can be removed, and how they can be kept from polluting our marine environment in the future.
Conclusion
Commonly found plastics include food wrappers, beverage bottles, straws, cups and plates, bottle caps, and single-use bags. How to help? Reduce, reuse, recycle. Dispose of waste properly no matter where you are. Get involved and participate in local cleanups in your area. Remember that our land and sea are connected.
1
Based on the context, the best definition for the underlined phrase “wreaking havoc” in section II is
A.
spreading rapidly
B.
causing destruction
C.
dissolving quickly
D.
disposing often