Reading about ocean plastic makes one marvel at what man has wrought. According to National Geographic, trash from North America makes a mighty six-year voyage to reach “The Great Pacific Garbage Patch,” where it hooks up with trash from Asia. Ocean currents form these areas of spinning debris that researchers are only now starting to measure.
Marine life can potentially choke on plastics but researchers from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) have said tests show toxins absorbed by plastic are transferred to the animal that ingests it. Professor Richard Banati has chartered… Read More ›
With 10-20 tons of plastic entering our oceans every year, the dire results are now obvious. This video showcases the latest statistics and data about how plastics are choking our seas, and likely us.
We know that Australia’s waters contain lots of tiny pieces of plastic, and that these pieces can harm many marine species. But in new research published today we show that these microplastics are also home to marine life, some of… Read More ›
Jun 18, 2014 Issues: Environment WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) introduced legislation, the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2014, that would prohibit the sale or distribution of personal care products that contain synthetic plastic microbeads. These small… Read More ›
“Marine debris casts its ominous shadow and threatens to break the virtuous circle which would otherwise guarantee sustainable livelihoods and incentives to protect wildlife.”
What’s more concerning is that plastic has been found to act like a sort of sponge, concentrating toxic chemicals that are diluted in oceans and lakes. Such toxins include heavy metals and chemicals that have long been banned, such as DDT or PCBs, that can have severe environmental effects and are known to cause cancer and birth defects.
What seemed like a landfill of plastic in kelp, catapulted me into photographic obsession (about 200 frames shot). I lost track of time while I stooped and bent my body to find the right way to capture this polyester moment. Eventually several curious people asked “ What are you photographing?”
Plastic linked to metals in seabirds The University of Tasmania Monday, 03 February 2014 New research by the University of Tasmania has examined the toxic effects of seabirds ingesting marine plastic pollution and population decline. UTAS’ Institute for Marine and… Read More ›
BOB CHAMBERLIN / Los Angeles Times Students from the University of San Diego bring up a water-collection device to gather minuscule pieces that make up the plastisphere, a result of decades of plastic pollution. OFF THE COAST OF SAN DIEGO… Read More ›
Neptune 911! 