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Home My WebLink AboutSS2 - Algalita Marine Research Foundationq;nesww c.�eMwanxza m. u.mm remv�rn;N.e.a.a,yy, . l NORTH PACIFIC TRANSITION ZONE MULTISPECIES INTERACTION STUDY 1994 0 Agenda Item No. SS2 October 11, 2011 MBC Scientists Counted 117 Species TUNAS SALMON • SWORDFISH OPAH • SHARKS NO REEF FISH BAYS • FLYING FISH • SPEAIMSH • YELLOWTAIL OCEANIC TRIGGERFISH Known to Associate with Mine Debris F,. L Y I N•Q.... tno•FJ Heaa"r •.•.. NORTH PACIFIC TRANSITION ZONE MULTISPECIES INTERACTION STUDY 1994 0 Agenda Item No. SS2 October 11, 2011 MBC Scientists Counted 117 Species TUNAS SALMON • SWORDFISH OPAH • SHARKS NO REEF FISH BAYS • FLYING FISH • SPEAIMSH • YELLOWTAIL OCEANIC TRIGGERFISH Known to Associate with Mine Debris Hawaiian Sergeant Mamo 2 ,A� 3lack 300mm buoy most common 4 51 °sr � O —.1n11 Pdnlx Pl.. En. P.I. '` ^ 01/01/1967 eo lMO /1971 n. At# 0 0, H ~S 0 it Web O Oj O lid �d— dri- kiememift ode Zo 5 I � I. M1� -�1 eVi lijruri.l �iri 1'i i� /i��r n�.l ii u�ia lk+�zi Iln niJo n. / rrelnn fJ SOUTHATEANTIC GYRE AUGU.SI w � 0 "THE ROLE OF THE INFINITELY SMALL IS INFINITELY LARGE" LOUIS PASTEUR POUNDEROFTxE SCIENCE OF MICRORIOLOGYAND CREATOROFVACCINES TOPREVENTOISEASES FAUSED 9Y GERMS r The sanni iii be rune io me Ni Maine Xeseartb Eoundanon lab wah a d6seaing.11r pe. 7 on West Seattle Beach, 2010 • Pair of Sweat Pants • Golf Ball • 20 Plastic Bags • Small Towels • Duct Tape •Surgical Gloves �C l.] PLASTIC NEEDS A "TIME OUT" -REMEMBER: aIF IT'S ON YOU -IT'S IN YOU �e.. -!Ft 9,ok W,ep Mynay} W atam ., Ydt— na�1, re Capt CANADA FIRST NATION TO DECLARE BISPHENOL A A TOXIC SUBSTANCE 93% of Canadians Test Positive for Bisphenol A Old... only high levels matter New... impacts at everyday levels... levels people had become accustomed to calling "normal," background levels. Bisphenol -A stated saal waters and all seafood ampled from Singapore markets end caused adult obesity in Seafood Old... the dose makes the poison New... timing is crucial, individual variation in susceptibility important, and low doses can have effects not predicted by high dose studies. 1 EM 9 THE "TRICKLE DOWN" THAT REALLY NORKS: TRICKLE DOWN TECHNOLOG' • WE CAN GET WE CAN "DIVEST" ENOUGH OURLOCAL EQUIPMENTAND ECONOMIES FROM TECHNICAL KNOW THE GLOBAL TECHNICAL/ HOW TO BE INDUSTRIAL/ INDEPENDENT OF MARKETING/ THE "JOB CREATORS:" IUGGERNAUTTHAT IS THE PLUNDERING, MULTINATIONALS POLLUTINGAND THATARE REALLY PLASTICIZINGTHE THE "JOB PLANET AND EVEN CONTROLLERS" SPCACE, AND BRING THE JOBS HOME' R SYNDROME AHEAD? Sphere of Necessary Productivity •FOOD •EDUCATION •CLOTHING TOWARDS • SHELTER EXCHANGEABILITY RESOURCES OF FUNCTIONS ENERGY -"DIRTY JOBS" CAN •a Creation of BE PUN FOR A "Regional Reliance WHITE Inventory" Progress Per se.l[ inwlves >r *4� THE CURRENT ECONOMIC MODEL IS UNWORTHY OF GLOBALIZATION • IT LEAVES A BIG MESS • IT OPPRESSES THE FOR US TO CLEAN UP NEWEST MEMBERS OF •ITMAKES IT HARD TO THE ETHIC BY MAKING RECOVERWASTEO THEM PRODUCE THE RESOURCES GOODS ATTHE LOWEST • IT MAKES THE COST NECESSUR OFGROWTH �- Netumceonca�nevee •lu IN PRODUCTION OF [he re5Y1[olfe['ANCaI ANY OLDIUNK -GOOD Progress Per se.l[ inwlves ORBAD -INTOA aPoliNCal eeveeul: DIEM RELIGION ocoksmo HerCerc MUcuse We Makes "FLUFF" from Unsorted Trash a 11 A prominent seafaring environmentalist and researcher shares his maritime encounters with the shocking amount of plastic debris in the Northeast Pacific Ocean, now commonly referred to as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. °A hero ... %.. Uunr. i. rh, iin. p r.un,. h:n. lninn. J,cnm, >imrik rew 4rA hl uwplmR the FUt W hud'-' — Ilu�Snr1:vY 71nna How a Sea Captain's Chance Discovery Launched a Determined Quest to Save the Oceans PLASTIC OCEAN CAPT. CHARLES MOORE „1,h - �,..\nRA VHII. 1.1 PS Follow his research into this startling discovery, his hard -won scientific credibility, and his indomitable, game- changing efforts to get the world to pay attention to a looming plastic peril. PLASTIC OCEAN inspires a fundamental rethinking of the plastic age and a growing global health crisis. Pre Order your signed copy today at www.algalita.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Zan Dubin Scott (310) 383 -0956 Crew Seats Available on 2012 Research Voyage to Investigate Plastic Pollution and Debris from the March 2011 Japan Earthquake and Tsunami LOS ANGELES, Calif., Oct. 5, 2011— Scientists, educators and eco- adventurers are being offered the unprecedented opportunity to join a research expedition through the North Pacific Ocean littered with debris generated by the Japan tsunami of March 11, 2011. Rarely is such a monumental amount of material —tens of thousands of tons including cars, entire homes and boats — simultaneously thrust into the sea from a single location. The 5 Gyres Institute and the Algalita Marine Research Foundation (Algalita) have organized this expedition in collaboration with Pangaea Explorations to offer a 7,000 -mile, high -seas voyage aboard the Sea Dragon sailing vessel from May 1 through July 1, 2012. The expedition's first leg will sail from Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands through the area of the North Pacific Gyre commonly referred to as the "Western Garbage Patch" where little research has been conducted on plastic pollution. The trip's second leg will travel due east from Japan to Hawaii through the gyre, a vast vortex of ocean currents where plastic debris accumulates, to cross the "Japan Tsunami Debris Field." Of great interest to the researchers is how fast the plastic trash is traveling across the gyre, how quickly or slowly it is decomposing, how rapidly marine life is colonizing on it, and whether it is transporting invasive species. "We'll be riding the same currents that are transporting cigarette lighters, bottle caps, children's toys and all manner of other plastic pollution generated by the tsunami," said expedition leader Marcus Eriksen, Executive Director and co- founder of the 5 Gyres Institute. The 2012 voyage is open to anyone 18 -years and older, regardless of sailing experience. Participants will travel with four professional crewmembers and will be expected to earn their sea legs and rough hands by hauling in lines and hoisting sails. They also will conduct research side -by -side with scientists, whether operating a trawl or collecting and cataloging plastic marine pollution and sea life. Nine crew seats are available at a cost of $13,500 each for Leg 1 and $15,500 each for Leg 2. A portion of the fare is tax deductible and net proceeds will support Algalita and 5 Gyres' cooperative research and educational outreach. This is the second eco- adventure conducted by Algalita. Its July 2011 voyage across the eastern North Pacific Gyre sold out. 5 Gyres has conducted 7 eco- adventures across the five subtropical gyres, including the first expeditions to the three southern hemisphere gyres. Crewmembers included scientists, artists, journalists and environmentalists from around the world, such as Tim Silverwood of New South Wales. "After first hearing of the devastating state of the North Pacific Gyre, I immediately had a desire to witness it for myself and tell the world about it," Silverwood said. "Participating in leading scientific research with people from all over the world, all motivated to bring this issue to the mainstream, was incredible. The voyage has provided me so many opportunities to talk with media in the community and to schools about the issue and what we need to do to counter this problem." "Our vision is a global environment that is healthy, sustainable, and productive for all living creatures, free from plastic pollution," says Algalita Executive Director, Marieta Francis. "Understanding the impact of the Japan tsunami resultant debris will provide once -in -a- lifetime information to help us move closer to that vision." Algalita and 5 Gyres, both nonprofit organizations, have been leaders in pioneering research and increasing global awareness of plastic marine pollution. Algalita's founder, Captain Charles Moore, brought attention to the "Eastern Garbage Patch" in the North Pacific Gyre in 1999. 5 Gyres continues to monitor plastic marine pollution in the "garbage patches" found in all five subtropical gyres. Most of the plastic debris studied has been adrift for years, much of it broken down by the sun's rays and ocean currents into small plastic particles. For all participation requirements, sponsorship opportunities and to register, contact Jeanne Gallagher: (562) 598 -4889; oosadminCa.algalita.org. About 5 Gyres Institute: 5 Gyres Institute is a nonprofit organization committed to meaningful change through research, education and community action. 5 Gyres disseminates its findings through lectures, publications and traveling exhibits, and raises awareness about plastic marine pollution through sailing expeditions across the world's oceans. For information on upcoming expeditions and exhibitions around the globe: (323) 395 -1843; info @5Gyres.org. About Algalita Marine Research Foundation: The Algalita Marine Research Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Long Beach, CA, is dedicated to the protection of the marine environment and its watersheds through research, education, and restoration. Algalita conducts research and collaborative studies on the distribution, abundance and fate of marine plastic pollution and the potential harmful effects of plastics in the marine environment, including transference of toxins and their impact on human health; provides authoritative, educational findings to scientists, the general public, governmental agencies, and the private sector; collaborates with organizations working toward restoring the aquatic environment and ultimately eliminating plastic pollution. More information: (562) 598 -4889; www.algalita.org. About Pangaea Explorations: Pangaea Explorations offers adventure sailing to actively strengthen the health of marine life through exploration, conservation and education work. Our mission is to inspire and develop a new generation of leaders in conservation science, communication, education, art and policy leadership. More information: www.panexplore.com. TAIRA OCEANS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE m r o. z� ' NoSyO Media Contact: Marieta Francis, 562.598.4889, marietaCo),aloalita.org Media Contact: Eloise Fontaine 00 33 142013857 eloise @taraexpeditions.org STUDY REVEALS WIDESPREAD PLASTIC DISTRIBUTION IN ANTARCTIC WATERS Report released as research vessel arrives in Hawaii during 3 -year study LONG BEACH, California, September 19, 2011 — Scientists from the Algalita Marine Research Foundation (Long Beach, California), in cooperation with the TARA Foundation, report findings of plastic pollution in Antarctic waters. During a 2011 segment of a three year circumnavigation voyage by the vessel TARA, every sample taken from the Antarctic Ocean contained plastic with the count between 956 and 42,826 pieces per kilometer squared at each of the stations. These samples were collected at or near the ocean's surface and show that plastic pollution has found its way to the most remote parts of the globe. The full effects wrought by this pollution continue to be investigated and include the study of marine birds, mammals, and fish that ingest small bits of plastic and /or get entangled in large pieces, as well as the relationship between plastics and the marine microbes that colonize them. Additional analysis is being conducted to understand human health risks associated with these plastics, plastic additives (e.g., BPA), and toxins that sorb to the plastics (e.g., DDT), as they enter the food web. As exploration continues in the Antarctic, South Pacific, and other oceans, reports of the distribution and accumulation of plastic will be prepared by the Algalita Marine Research Foundation research team and made available for review. To measure the quantity of plastic in waters explored during the Tara Oceans expedition, the Algalita Marine Research Foundation proposed a unique scientific protocol first used aboard Tara in Antarctica during January 2011. Since then, at every sampling station throughout the expedition, a special surface net is lowered into the water for an hour and a half to collect particles of plastic. These samples are then analyzed by Algalita Marine Research Foundation. Tara Oceans is a unique 3 -year marine research expedition (September 2009 to March 2012) based on a 118 -foot schooner. Participants include several American university marine research -more- ALGALITA MRP Page 2 programs, the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Health, and other U.S.based organizations. Tara operates under the auspices of the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The vessel is a floating research platform directed by Dr. Eric Karsenti and Etienne Bourgois. Its principal objectives are to enable scientists to study little known aspects of ocean ecosystems including planktonic life and the effect of global warming on this fundamental element of the marine food chain. Also studied are the effects of global warming on coral reefs and the marine life dependent upon them. Tara will stop -over in Honolulu (September 19th, 2011), San Diego (October 27th, 2011) and New York (February 2012). Throughout the rest of the expedition, the boat will continue measuring plastic in the ocean, notably in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, where plastic sampling will be combined with biological investigations. Both genomic and biogeochemical techniques will be used to characterize the microbial communities that colonize and live on the plastic debris, to draw some of the first impressions of this microbe - plastic relationship. f NOTE: Copies of the research are available upon request. READ MORE - For additional information about Algalita Marine Research Foundation, Captain Charles Moore, and to learn more about our mission, outreach programs, and research projects, please visit www.algalita.org or call 562.598.4889. To learn more about Tara Foundation, please visit www.taraexpedtions.org Algalita Marine Research Foundation - 148 N. Marina Drive Long Beach, CA 90803 562- 598 -4889 fax - 562 -598 -0712 www.algalita.org Algalita Marine Research Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation � o a MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 1. Where and what, is the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch The "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" is an area of high concentration of debris in the northeastern corner of the vortex, or center, of North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. It is also known as the "Eastern Pacific Garbage Patch" because it is theorized there is another "Garbage Patch" on the western side of the Gyre. It is not a "patch" or a floating "island" of debris, but it is actually a "plastic soup" where the plastic is distributed throughout the water column. The eastern area of the vortex is characterized by relatively consistent high pressure and little wind becoming a convergent area or accumulation zone. Algalita's first study area in this corner of the vortex, which showed high concentrations of plastic in the surface (Manta) samples, was roughly the size of Texas. As the area of study expanded, so did the size of "Garbage Patch" to roughly twice the size of Texas. 2. Why aren't there any satellite photos of the " Garbage Patch �" When seen from above plastic appears as confetti on the ocean's surface, among an occasional piece of derelict fishing gear. Many of the pieces of plastic are not seen because of the fluid dynamics of the ocean, stirring the plastic just below the surface by the wave action created by the wind and currents. Some of the floating plastic becomes fouled by plant growth or organisms attaching to it, which make it sink below the surface. Certain types of plastics are heavier than the water and sink or to the ocean floor. This cannot be captured in satellite photos. 3. Where is all the plastic coming from It is estimated that land-based sources are responsible for up to 80% of marine debris. About 65 % of this, or essentially half of all found in the ocean, comes from consumer used plastics that have not been disposed of properly. These non point (diffuse) sources include trash that comes from further inland,. carelessly discarded and carried by the wind and/ or down streams and rivers flowing into the sea. Heavy storms can contribute to the immense volume of debris via flood or swift moving water. Additionally both intentional and unintentional plastic debris "lost" in the ocean by cargo and passenger ships and the fishing industry compounds the problem. Land based point sources include plastic manufacturers and fabricators who inadvertently spill "nurdles" that ultimately find their way to the oceans. A "nurdle" is a preproduction plastic pellet. They are chemically produced in a few facilities and then shipped to processors where they are melted and shaped into many types of consumer products, such as toothbrushes, and non consumer products, such as handles for crates or packaging materials. March 2010 4. [What types of plastic are causing the problem The majority of our samples collected in the water column at one, ten, thirty, and one hundred meter depths, contain primarily low-density polyethylene, expanded styrene (Styrofoam), polypropylene, and PET (polyethylene terephthalate). There are others, but these are the most predominant. 5. How long does it take plastic to break down? No one can say with certainty how long plastics will last in the environment. Depending on the type of plastic, its size and shape, its method of manufacture, the length of time to degrade can be hundreds of years or longer. So many factors are at play, such as temperature, amount of sunlight, water chemistry, agitation, and the surface area of the material, each situation is different. What degrades in a landfill or a municipal waste treatment plant digester does not necessarily degrade in the ocean. In any case, some of the plastic that currently exists in the ocean appears to have been there for decades. One euphemism stated by some is "That plastic, like diamonds, is forever." 6. What is the difference between photo degradation and bio degradation? Photo degradation refers to the action of ultraviolet radiation and solar heat on plastic. In the absence of special additives (many plastics contain UV filters specifically designed to resist this natural process), the plastic weakens and breaks into pieces. This is a physical change, not a chemical one. Bio degradation occurs when living organisms transform the chemical bonds of the plastic. In current scientific understanding, biodegradation plays a very limited role in the environmental fate of plastics. While there have been preliminary, isolated reports of specific terrestrial microorganisms that can "digest" certain types of plastic, in general.... plastic is NOT "digestible ". 7 What effect is plastic having on mazsne life? Large pieces of plastic can kill by entrapment, suffocation and drowning. Smaller pieces can be ingested, causing choking or intestinal blockage. In some cases, starvation occurs because the plastic makes the animal feel full without having had any nourishment. Plastic consumed by marine life appears to either pass through the digestive tract intact, if it is small enough, or remains in the animal, blocking the intestinal tract, causing death. When the animal dies, the plastic is either released to be eaten again, or it is swallowed by a predator eating the plastic-ridden prey. In the case of seabirds, many of them simply perish on shore with their stomach contents eventually being the only thing to remain. March 2010 Accumulation of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS) on plastic, and the resulting effects on marine life when this plastic is ingested is a topic of much discussion in the scientific community. The term POP (persistent organic pollutant) is a description of organic materials which do not completely dissolve in water and do not degrade into harmless materials in a relatively short amount of time. Examples include PCB's (polychlorinated biphenyls) and other materials that resist degradation. Many POPs are proven carcinogens. Other POPs contribute to other problems with marine life, such as reproductive issues due to hormone disruption. Recent conferences (2008) attended by various groups indicate the need for much more research to be done in this area. 8. Are there solutions? There are many ways to help alleviate the problem of plastic accumulation in the world's oceans. We need to DO NO MORE HARM, and stop the flow of waste into our marine environment. Some ways to help: A. Reconsider the use of plastic products. Can an alternate material, such as paper, glass or aluminum allow the product to serve the same purpose? B. Try not to use "single use" products made of plastic, such as water bottles and plastic bags. Stainless steel water bottles are a reusable alternative, for example. C. Recycle all materials properly. Turn waste into a resource. Some creative products are now being made from recycled plastics. D. Reuse materials wherever possible. E. Encourage more investigation and research into alternate materials, such as compostable, or biodegradable plastics. Much discussion has been conducted concerning biodegradable and compostable plastics. It is difficult to make a blanket statement about compostable and biodegradable plastics. The technology is changing rapidly... new products are being introduced regularly. Some plastics compost only under certain conditions, such as a specific temperature; pressure; moisture and presence of particular species of microorganisms, etc. These will not necessarily be achieved in the marine environment. There are others that show promise, but even when products do biodegrade, the question remains about the toxicity of the additives. F. Support closed-loop manufacturing processes that capture waste, and reuse it as a raw material. No one solution is the answer, and there are many more ideas yet to come that will generate a whole new set of solutions. We believe human creativity, changes in habits, and technological developments will eventually result in our oceans being clean again. March 2010 9. Can't we clean up the plastic in the Gyre? To clean the Gyre poses a whole new set of issues and obstacles, therefore we feel the present focus should be on preventing further accumulation of polluting materials in the oceans. Think of how difficult it would be to gather confetti from along a stretch of beach. Now imagine the area you are trying to clean is not only miles long, but also miles deep. Plastic debris occurs throughout the water column...... some of it floats, some swirls below the surface at various depths and some has already sunk to the sea floor. All the while, more and more trash is entering the area. While some of the plastic debris is large enough to be scooped out, much of it consists of tiny fragments. Although cleaning the ocean today appears to be impractical, we embrace the creativity of those trying to solve this problem. Some of these new ideas may not only help clean up the ocean, but be applicable to the waterways entering the ocean, or be appropriate to use further up the watershed. It seems more practical to not only use some of these new ideas to help clean the ocean, but to adapt them to the waterways entering the ocean from further up the watershed, thus preventing further accumulation downstream. 10. How does this affect me? Is mvhealth stzisk? There is more research needed in this area. There are questions about exactly how plastic pollution transfers pollutants associated with that plastic into the marine environment. Not enough is known about what toxins accumulate. We are not sure how much plastic is ingested by fish, for example, and what affects the pollutants have on fish, and the entire food chain. We are fearful that toxins absorbed by fish through the ingestion of plastic is already beginning to rise within the food chain, and more research on that topic is needed. 11. What are the next steps on Algalita's A ends? Priorities for our land-based researchers include an ongoing project examining the role of plastics in transporting POPS. Biologists with AMRF are currently studying fish from the Pacific Ocean to determine the type and amount of plastic ingested and analyze both the fish and plastics consumed for contaminants. We are analyzing samples of Albatross (by-catch of the fishing industry) from the Pacific for plastic consumption and contamination. Additional work is yet to be done on the characterization of trawl samples from previous Pacific Gyre voyages, as well as future Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Ocean voyages. Another project planned will examine the presence of plastic in coastal sediments, and potential contaminants associated with those samples. Algalita Marine Research Foundation 148 N Marina Drive, Long Beach, CA 90803 Please refer to our Research Page for more information. www.algalita.org • Buy in bulk and bring your own cloth or recycled grocery bags to the store • Keep litter, leaves, and debris out of the street gutters and storm drains • Reuse whenever possible • Reduce consumption by avoiding excessively packaged products • Use environmentally friendly cleaners or products that are low in phosphorous to reduce the amount of nutrients discharged into our lakes, streams and coastal waters • Choose products packaged in recycled materials • Pay attention and follow the 4 R's of sustainability - REDUCE - REUSE - RECYCLE - REFUSE Join the Algaitta Marine Research Foundation (AMRF) AMRF is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization founded in Long Beach, California and is dedicated to the protection of the marine em i- ronment through research and education. Our primary work is to establish baseline data, track the levels of plastic debris in our oceans, and inform the public and civic leaders. Membership Levels Basic Membership .... ............. ............. _ ...... ..... . .............. _.. $25 Friend of Algafita ................. . ._ ........................ ........ ..._..... $50 Good Friend of Algalita ............. - . ......... _ ...... ............. $100 Great Friend of Atgalita _ ........... _ _ ...... _ ....................... $250 A membership donation of $250 or more will receive an AMRF'Research Clips" video. Member Information: Name Address Phone# e -mail Send by mail or fax Algallta Marine Research Foundation . 148 N. Marina Drive, Long Beach, CA 90803 Phone: 562.598.4889 Fax 562.598.0712 e -mail: into @algalita.org or sign up online. ` www.algalita.org > ` w- qM02oo 01 ld/// � G We drink out of them, eat off of them, sit on them and even drive in them. They are durable, lightweight, and can be made into virtually anything. But it is these useful properties of plastics which make them so harmful when they end up in the environment Plastics, like diamonds... ARE FOREVERI Only 6.8% of municipal plastic waste gets recycled in the U.S. 63 pounds of plastic packaging goes into landfills in the U.S. per person per year. . Broken, degraded plastic pieces outweigh surface zooplankton in areas of the North Pacific over 6 to 1. Because plastic does not biodegrade! When something biodegrades, naturally occurring organisms break materials down into their simple chemical components. Paper, when it breaks down, becomes carbon dioxide and water. But plastic, a synthetic material, never biodegrades. Plastic goes through a process called pho- _ todegradation, where sunlight breaks it into smaller and smaller pieces, all of which are still plastic polymers. Even this degradation process can take a very long time. Estimates of 400 years for a plastic six -pack ring, 450 J years for a plastic bottle, and 500 years for a A plastic bone disposable diaper until the final degradation takes 450 years has been made. The more plastic we produce, to degrade. the more we have to live with... foreve)i The ocean is especially susceptible to plastic pollution because: It takes longer for the sun to break apart a piece of plastic in the ocean than a piece of plastic on land. This is because the ocean water cools the plastic piece, pre- vents heat build -up and limits W light exposure. Plastics are carried by currents, which can concen- trate the plastic in certain areas and prevent it from washing onshore. Circulating currents in the ocean caused by stable weather patterns are called "gyres." When plastic is flushed out of a gyre by storms and washes ashore, or when rain sends plastics down rivers to the sea, much of it is mixed into beach sand and can never be recovered. Plastic pollution doesn't Just look bad... It is bad for the millions of animals that inhabit our ocean waters and for the people who fish, swim, and recreate there. Many marine birds and animals mistakenly eat free - floating plastic. Often these animals cannot distinguish plastic from food. Plastic, because of its high molecular weight and the nature Example of plastic beach sand, of its chemical bonds, can never be digested. It provides no nutrients, yet animals feel full even though they are not actually consuming food. In birds, ingestion of plastics can prevent migration and reproduction, and can eventually cause starvation and death. In turtles, plastic has been shown to block intestines and make the animals Boat so that they cannot dive for food. Plastic can puncture and damage organs. . Toxic chemicals in plastics can sicken marine birds and make animals sick. Over 80 species of seabirds have been found to ingest plastic. Sea bird chicks are especially vulner- able as they receive high levels of pollution from the yolk sac and, after hatching, from food brought by their parents. . 100% of laysan Albatross chick carcasses and regurgitated Food boluses contain plastic. . Marine birds and animals can become entangled in plastic nets and fishing line. An estimated 100,000 marine mammal deaths occur this way each year in the North Pacific. . Chemicals used to in plas- tics can escape into the atmosphere during the manufac- turing process. Fourteen percent of the toxic airborne chemicals nationally are from "plastics sector" releases. These chemicals can be toxic or carcinogenic, harming both people and animals. The plastic future looks grim. • Virgin plastic pellets are released into the environment by thousands of consumer plastics manufacturers and are the most common contaminant on some beaches. ■ In 2008 scientists found over a 7 -fold increase in ocean plastics compared to a 1999 study, with the ratio of surface plastic to zooplankton in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre at 46:1 by weight. Did you know this about plastic? w In 2007, the U.S. produced 58 million tons of plastic, over twice the weight of the entire population. Over half that amount (30.7 million tons) was thrown away. 63 pounds of plastic goes to landfills in the U.S. per person per year. The average American throws away about 186 pounds of plastic per year. Reheating plastic gives it a "heat history' which reduces its flexibility. Reheating temperatures are too low to burn off contaminents; therefore, very few plastics are recycled into the same type of container or product that they were origi- How are plastics getting in the ocean? Approximately 100 million containers are shipped annually over the world's oceans. Shipping across the North Pacific Ocean from Asia to North America is along Great Circle routes in the West Wind Drift current at the northern edge of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. Frequent severe storms along this route cause the loss of hundreds of containers overboard each year contributing, among other plastics, tens of thousands of shoes and millions of plastic shopping bags made in Asia. Only about 20% of ocean pollution comes from activities at sea. Activities on land contribute most of the remaining 80%. Because of their buoyancy and persistence, plastic items con- tribute disproportionately to the overall impact of marine debris. Most of the debris that either surface trawl sample entangles animals or is found of 5.79 sq. miles from in their stomachs is made of North Pacific Ocean plastic. The majority of the plastic that ends up in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (a continent -sized area) has been shown to circulate for decades. Not all plastic floats on the surface. Approximately half of plastics are negatively buoyant. They therefore do not receive sunlight to facilitate the photodegredation process that breaks them into smaller pieces. This debris accumu- lates on the bottom of the ocean or "benthos." There the particulates are used by polychaete worms to make their dwelling tubes and some are eaten by flounders and lobsters. The nets, traps and lines that do not photo degrade con- tinue to "ghost fish" (catch fish without a fisherman) and entangle fish and mammals for years. What's happening in the North Pacific Ocean. Scientists have been studying the problem of plastic floating pollution in the area since the 1970's. These are some of their findings over the last few decades: In a 1999 study, one area of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre was found to contain six pounds of plastic for each pound of surface zooplankton. Floating plastic pollution in the L.A. River. . The results of studies done in late 1989 and 1999 indicate that the quantity of plastic tripled in ten years from maximum densities of 320,000 particles to 1 million particles per square kilometer. a The fdter- feeding animals in this area, mucous web feeding jellies and salps, were found to be heavily impacted by plastic fragments. The smaller the fragments, the fewer of them were found to be free floating, indicating that filter feeders or larval fish had caught them. is Filter feeders are at the lower end of the food chain, and fifty species of fish and many turtles are known to eat them, thus accumulat- ing plastic in their stomachs. Plastic materials accumulate and concentrate organic chemicals and environmental pollutants up to one million times their concentration in the surrounding sea water. Many of these chemicals are called "endocrine disruptors'; and can be released when the plastics are ingested. The endocrine system produces hormones in humans and animals. Animals and birds ingest plastic and it accumulates in their stomachs. Hormones are amazingly potent Estradiol, the body's key estrogen hormone, operates at a concentration in the part per trillion range. One part per triflion is equivalent to one drop of water in 660 rail tank cars —a train 6 miles long. Effects of hormone disruption on humans run the gamut from enlarged prostates and cancer to early puberty in young girls, even mental retardation and propensity to violence. In fish it can cause males to become female or fail to produce sperm. 1 . Plastics that go into curbside recycling bins get recycled. FAOT: Most do not. 2. Curb side collection significantly reduces the amount of plastic land filled. FACT: It does not. Less than 5% gets recycled worldwide. 3. Packaging resins are made from petroleum refinery waste, FAcr: Nearly all are made from virgin petroleum and natural gas. 4. Plastic recyclere promote its recyclability. FAcr: Plastic resin pellet producers pay for recycling ads to promote the sale of plastics. Most plastics can only be down - cycled, made into lesser -grade products. Plastics, whether made from virgin or recycled resin, pose health and environmental risks through leaching, abrasion, and off - gassing, 5. Using plastic containers conserves energy. FAcr: Most of the energy costs of plastic are incurred by the manufacturer. Virgin glass uses an equal amount of energy, while recycled glass uses far less than either virgin plastic or virgin glass. 6. Our choice is limited to recycling or wasting. FAcr: Many healthy alternatives to plastic exist already, and are readily available. ............................................................. ............................... For more information our video "Synthetic Sea: Plastics In the Open Ocean" is available from AMRF for $20 per copy. Information on authors, contributors & literature cited can be found at: www.algailte.org A Brief History nally. Usually, recycled merely means 1909 collected, not reprocessed into the Planas same product ®a17 is The "chasing arrows" symbol (shown 2007 at left) only denotes type of plastic; oth- Less than 5% erwise it is meaningless. Better symbols of plastic gets are needed for intelligent recycling. recycled worldwide. Monsanto s House of How are plastics getting in the ocean? Approximately 100 million containers are shipped annually over the world's oceans. Shipping across the North Pacific Ocean from Asia to North America is along Great Circle routes in the West Wind Drift current at the northern edge of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. Frequent severe storms along this route cause the loss of hundreds of containers overboard each year contributing, among other plastics, tens of thousands of shoes and millions of plastic shopping bags made in Asia. Only about 20% of ocean pollution comes from activities at sea. Activities on land contribute most of the remaining 80%. Because of their buoyancy and persistence, plastic items con- tribute disproportionately to the overall impact of marine debris. Most of the debris that either surface trawl sample entangles animals or is found of 5.79 sq. miles from in their stomachs is made of North Pacific Ocean plastic. The majority of the plastic that ends up in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (a continent -sized area) has been shown to circulate for decades. Not all plastic floats on the surface. Approximately half of plastics are negatively buoyant. They therefore do not receive sunlight to facilitate the photodegredation process that breaks them into smaller pieces. This debris accumu- lates on the bottom of the ocean or "benthos." There the particulates are used by polychaete worms to make their dwelling tubes and some are eaten by flounders and lobsters. The nets, traps and lines that do not photo degrade con- tinue to "ghost fish" (catch fish without a fisherman) and entangle fish and mammals for years. What's happening in the North Pacific Ocean. Scientists have been studying the problem of plastic floating pollution in the area since the 1970's. These are some of their findings over the last few decades: In a 1999 study, one area of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre was found to contain six pounds of plastic for each pound of surface zooplankton. Floating plastic pollution in the L.A. River. . The results of studies done in late 1989 and 1999 indicate that the quantity of plastic tripled in ten years from maximum densities of 320,000 particles to 1 million particles per square kilometer. a The fdter- feeding animals in this area, mucous web feeding jellies and salps, were found to be heavily impacted by plastic fragments. The smaller the fragments, the fewer of them were found to be free floating, indicating that filter feeders or larval fish had caught them. is Filter feeders are at the lower end of the food chain, and fifty species of fish and many turtles are known to eat them, thus accumulat- ing plastic in their stomachs. Plastic materials accumulate and concentrate organic chemicals and environmental pollutants up to one million times their concentration in the surrounding sea water. Many of these chemicals are called "endocrine disruptors'; and can be released when the plastics are ingested. The endocrine system produces hormones in humans and animals. Animals and birds ingest plastic and it accumulates in their stomachs. Hormones are amazingly potent Estradiol, the body's key estrogen hormone, operates at a concentration in the part per trillion range. One part per triflion is equivalent to one drop of water in 660 rail tank cars —a train 6 miles long. Effects of hormone disruption on humans run the gamut from enlarged prostates and cancer to early puberty in young girls, even mental retardation and propensity to violence. In fish it can cause males to become female or fail to produce sperm. 1 . Plastics that go into curbside recycling bins get recycled. FAOT: Most do not. 2. Curb side collection significantly reduces the amount of plastic land filled. FACT: It does not. Less than 5% gets recycled worldwide. 3. Packaging resins are made from petroleum refinery waste, FAcr: Nearly all are made from virgin petroleum and natural gas. 4. Plastic recyclere promote its recyclability. FAcr: Plastic resin pellet producers pay for recycling ads to promote the sale of plastics. Most plastics can only be down - cycled, made into lesser -grade products. Plastics, whether made from virgin or recycled resin, pose health and environmental risks through leaching, abrasion, and off - gassing, 5. Using plastic containers conserves energy. FAcr: Most of the energy costs of plastic are incurred by the manufacturer. Virgin glass uses an equal amount of energy, while recycled glass uses far less than either virgin plastic or virgin glass. 6. Our choice is limited to recycling or wasting. FAcr: Many healthy alternatives to plastic exist already, and are readily available. ............................................................. ............................... For more information our video "Synthetic Sea: Plastics In the Open Ocean" is available from AMRF for $20 per copy. Information on authors, contributors & literature cited can be found at: www.algailte.org A Brief History 1868 1909 1939 1946 1955 1957 1983 2000 2007 2008 of Plastics John Wesley Hyatt Bakelite is introduced to Nylon stockings debut at Fars S. Tupper produces a The Corvette is the first Monsanto s House of Microwave ovens open up In the US, pm- production In the US, pre- production Algalilas research invents rellulaid, the the Chemist Club in NY the world's Fair. 7-ounce polyethylene tumbler, car to use plastic for hot, Tomorrow, completely a new market for plastic plastic reaches 100 billion plastic reaches 57 determines that bait first plastic product as the "first thermoset the fast of many products panels made of plasfic, opens at packaging. pounds (50 minion tons) minion tons, fish as well u food fish given a Me name, plastic; meaning once available from'ILpperwme Disneyland The Hula Hoop of virgin resin pellets we ingesting plasur formed, it was set for life. Home Parties, Inc, creates a surge in demand peryear. particles. forpolyeBgdene. �L