Jacobo, J. (2019, June 8). World Ocean Day 2019: Ocean plastics problem isn’t going away, but here’s what you can do to help.
Retrieved August 21, 2019, from https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/world-ocean-day-
2019-oceans-plastics-problem/story?id=63324490
There is now more plastic than ever in the ocean and it is getting increasingly more and more difficult to get rid of it. Plastic is being found in the deepest accessible trenches and in animal’s stomachs. Microplastics are a large issue, because there is currently no way to filter them out of the water. A majority of the plastics flow through rivers and into the oceans and that is where groups are focusing efforts. A lot of the plastic isn’t being intentionally dumped. Because of its lightness, the elements are picking it up and blowing it down storm drains.
This article brought more awareness to the issue of plastics filling up our ocean. This is a really important issue and if left untreated will kill our marine ecosystem. This is an environmental science issue, because it deals with contaminating and destroying our environment. The worst part of this issue is the sheer amount we have let it grow to. Every year million metric tons of plastics are dumped into the ocean. Organizations are trying to solve this issue, but most of it consists of picking up plastic by hand which is impractical. The government should invest in projects and technology allowing the efficient removal of plastics and microplastics from the ocean. This isn’t just an issue for the United States. It is a global issue that affects all of us. If this isn’t treated soon, more and more animals will continue to die and our ecosystem destroyed.
You’ve got the topic of our time- PLASTIC! It’s crazy to think how it has infiltrated our food web so quickly- and is now showing up in people too. I agree with your sentiments, but not sure our current president or EPA would. We need to lead the charge for technology to remediate this big issue (beyond picking up the plastic by hand). In the meantime, how do we cut the source of plastic going into the waste stream? That’s the big question. (It is heartening to see plastic bags and straws coming under scrutiny- obviously there’s more to the problem.)
I agree that in order to reduce the amount of plastic in the oceans and in ecosystems overall is to have government regulations about plastic use especially because of how out of hand plastic use has gotten. What would be the best way to regulate plastic in America or in the world overall?
With the issue of plastic in the oceans killing marine life being so prevalent, it is very important to reduce plastic use and to incorporate reusable or paper sources.