ARTICLE: Plastic Pollution in Our Oceans: The State of Our Ocean Environment

(Originally published at Yahoo.voices formerly Associated Content~9/19/2008)

ABSTRACT: Our throw away, disposable society has create a myriad of environmental problems affecting all aspects of life including our oceans which have now become a virtual soup of our plastic garbage.

CONTENT: These past few decades, many of us have become aware of the extent of how we have damaged our own environment. We have realized that we've become a throw away, disposable society, and unfortunately we are suffering the consequences. Landfills are overflowing from the garbage we throw out and the majority of what we have been throwing out have been items made with plastics which are indestructible, non-biodegradable and therefore, do not break down as easily as other forms of garbage. It's only been in the past few years for instance, that people are being encouraged to either reuse the plastic bags they get at stores, or invest in reusable bags. Many countries have even banned plastic bags outright.

While the whole concept of recycling our garbage isn't a new one, in many places in America it didn't become mandatory until the late 1980s. For instance, in the New York City area, recycling was only voluntary in 1986, becoming mandatory in 1989, however, it wasn't until 1997 that all 59 districts of New York City's five borough began it's mandatory recycling program in earnest. Another incentive that began some thirty years ago, to prevent items that are recyclable winding up in landfills, particularly that of plastic bottles, was to add the 5¢ bottle deposit fee. The idea behind this was to encourage people to take these bottles back to their supermarket where their deposit money was reimbursed and the plastic bottles would be then recycled.

Despite all our efforts to make a conscientious effort to cut down on the amount of garbage that is being thrown out and have them recycled instead, is it too little too late? While we may understand the detrimental polluting effects that our garbage has created in our land environment, what about our oceans?

Supposedly, there now exists strict governmental regulations of ocean dumping, but that has only been taking effect in relatively recent years. Prior to these regulations, one of the most common places to dump any and all forms of garbage worldwide was in our oceans, ranging from untreated sewage, toxic and radioactive waste products, as well as common and ordinary types of garbage that was thrown out routinely, including and especially items made of plastic. Yet, even with the strict regulations against dumping garbage into our oceans, our garbage still manages to find it's way there. Anytime one throws out any form of garbage mindlessly on highways, for instance, it can wind up in a small body of water, and all bodies of water, such as rivers lead to the ocean. And, of course, if one carelessly throws garbage while on the beaches, they will end up in the ocean as well.

How many times for instance, in the past few years, have we heard on the news that beaches along the eastern coast of American had to be closed down, due to the discovery of disposable medical waste and syringes? The real alarming fact is that much of the garbage debris in our oceans, especially plastic items, may well be ones that were thrown and dumped into the oceans as many as some fifty years ago. (1)

While most forms of garbage can breakdown, disintegrate and therefore be considered biodegradable, plastic can't, not even the plastics that are supposed to be biodegradable. Biodegradable plastics can only breakdown with constant exposure to sunlight, a fact that doesn't exist when any plastic product finds its way into our oceans. In the ocean, plastic will often photodedgrade, that is, the sun's UV rays that filter into the ocean turns the plastic brittle, breaking the plastic into pieces anywhere from fairly large pellet sized to pieces as small as a particle of sand.(2)

Another offender is that of as nurdles. Nurdles are round pelleted sized plastics and have been in existence for about twenty-five years. These nurdles were thought to be the most economical means of shipping large quantities of plastic material to processing plants to make our plastic items such as bottles, toys, bags and virtually anything made out of plastic. Unfortunately, many of these pellets over the past twenty five years have escaped en route and managed to find their way into our oceans and on our beaches. The real danger of these pellets lies in the fact of their absorbing quality of toxins such as PCBs, and DDT-DDE making them virtual poison time bombs, not only releasing these toxins into the ocean, but being ingested by seabirds, fish and other sea creatures, and yes, of course we who consume marine animals for food. (3)

Worldwide, during the past few decades, marine biologists are constantly discovering dead birds and sea animals, such as seals, sea lions, dolphins, turtles, and whales whose stomachs contain a vast variety of plastic debris such as cigarette lighters, toothbrushes, plastic toys, plastic bags, bottle tops, styrofoam cups, even plastic tampon applicators. Back in the year 2004, a report was released by one study conducted by Dutch scientists, who upon examining the stomachs of dead fulmars, which are a type of seagull, found that each gull had an average of thirty pieces of plastics.(4) In a video I found at YouTube, entitled, Ocean of Plastic it states that an estimated one million seabirds and 100,000 whales, dolphins, seals and other animals die each and every year as a result of eating the plastic items that they think is food. Ironically, according to this video, while the bodies of these dead birds and animals will decompose on beaches, the plastic items they had eaten as food, doesn't...one even sees such evidence of a dead bird lying on a beach, it's body decomposed, yet you can clearly see the plastic bottle caps and other debris it had eaten still fully intact.

The real alarming fact is that plastic debris is affecting all stages of the ecosystem. Those fine particles of plastic "dust" absorb into the plankton and the ocean's sea-floor vegetation, which in turn may be consumed by fish and other sea mammals and even birds. Once again, referring to the YouTube video, Ocean of Plastic, this plastic dust is now showing up in our human blood and in women's breastmilk, since we are eating the foods found in the ocean, not only fish, but from other sources too, as in those cultures who consume the ocean's vegetation such as seaweed.

While all oceans are being affected by our plastic garbage, the worse to be affected is the Pacific Ocean as has been coined the term, "The Great Pacific Garbage Patch", specifically the area known as the North Pacific subtropical gyre. This garbage patch of plastics was discovered some eleven years ago, innocently enough by Captain Charles Moore and his crew on board the Alguita en route home from Hawaii to California. Most sailors usually avoid this particular path in the ocean, yet he decided to sail in this area on that particular day of August 3, 1997. What happened next was to inspire him to form his organization named The Algalita Marine Research Foundation. That day on what was supposed to be a leisurely sail home, he came upon scores of plastic bags, plastic nets, ropes, bottles quite literally in the middle of nowhere, and yet, before him were the plastic garbage remains of we humans.

Captain Charles Moore and his Algalita Marine Research Foundation, now routinely goes back to this Pacific Garbage Patch to continue studies of the effects of plastics that are found in the ocean. One would think that with our environmental awareness and efforts to help our planet these past few years that he and his Foundation would be finding less plastic items in the ocean. Not so, if anything, he's discouragingly only finding more. While perhaps a mere drop in the bucket, Moore's Foundation as well as the efforts of many like minded organizations are trying to clean up our oceans and rid them of our plastic garbage.

What can the average person do to help our oceans be rid of our plastic garbage? Be stringent about recycling plastics, try to use less plastic, especially plastic bags. If you really want to go the mile, join up with groups (usually volunteer status) that often do clean up efforts especially near any waterways, such as streams, bays, ponds, rivers and of course the beaches themselves. One great website to find out how one can go about volunteering or becoming involved with the efforts of keeping our oceans clean is at the Network For Good website, but there are of course many others one can find, especially on a local level by doing a search.

Various sources about plastics in our oceans

http://www.cdnn.info/news/article/a071104.html

http://www.cdnn.info/news/article/a071104.html

http://www.culturechange.org/Petroleum&Plastics.html (4)

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_did_the_recycling_movement_begin

http://www.alternet.org/water/76054/plastic_is_killing_our_oceans/ (1)

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/337466_ocean31.htmll (2)

http://www.greatgarbagepatch.org/

http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/archive/2006/11/whats_a_nurdle.html

http://blog.greenmuseum.org/recycle-ryoanji/?p=42 (3)

Recycling Programs

http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycwasteless/html/recycling/recycling_history.shtml

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_did_the_recycling_movement_begin

The Algalita Marine Research Foundation

http://www.algalita.org/

Videos On Plastics in Our Oceans

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7Nn-mUfSBU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPBO-c5GMDQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxNqzAHGXvs&feature=related

ARTICLE-Have We Been Poisoning Ourselves Unknowingly? The Potential Dangers and Health Risks of Plastic Bottles and Containers

(Originally published at Yahoo.voices formerly Associated Content~5/5/2008)

ABSTRACT: Many of us are aware of the hazards that plastics have been creating on our environment over the years, but how many are aware of the detrimental risks plastic bottles and containers have toward our health?

CONTENT: Poisoning might be a strong word to use here in association with our use of plastic bottles, but there are certainly severe health risks that are involved by using them. Over these many years plastic bottles have become a very convenient alternative to the heavier, breakable glass bottles or containers. It really wasn't really all that long ago, that beverages such as soda, juice, water and milk were sold in glass bottles. Also, women with babies also relied on glass bottles to fed their children formula.

I suppose when plastic bottles replaced glass, we all thought of the wonderful advantages of such containers. They were lighter in weight, and best of all of course, was the fact that plastic bottles didn't break. Not only have beverages been commonly sold in plastic bottles, but more and more plastic container usage is being found in many food items as well, such as ketchup, mustard, vinegar, cooking oils, mayonnaise, salad dressings and so forth. Many canned food items as well, have a thin layer of plastic lining the cans. With all this seeming convenience however, have we been putting our health at risk?

Almost on a daily basis, we're are hearing not only of the harm plastics are creating to our environment, as none are biodegradable, but worse we are hearing of the potential dangers plastic bottles and containers have toward our health.

All plastics are made of chemical compounds that includes the use of petroleum, but many also contain other added chemicals that are known toxins. If one looks on the bottom of any plastic bottle or container, one will see a triangle that has a number rating on it from #1 to #7. These are the numbers to be aware of and can tell you which plastic bottle has the most potential for health risks. For instance one of the chemicals used in plastics is di-2-ehtylhexyl phthalate or DEHP, and is one of the chemicals used and found in the #3 PVC or Polyvinyl plastics, however there are traces of DEHP in the more commonly used #1 PETE (polyethylene terephthalate).

Polyvinyl or PVC plastics have been commonly called the Poison Plastic. When both manufactured and/or burned, it releases toxins in the air. This deadly plastic is not only found in any #3 bottles or containers, but in just about any household product in plastics and even in children's toys. (1) Anytime one purchases any item made of plastic, and it has that plastic "smell" you can bet it is a PVC plastic.

The #1 type bottle can be recognized by its very clear, see- through transparent appearance and is the one most used for almost all water bottles, especially the smaller ones, sodas, juices, and the condiments I've previously mentioned. Not only will the #1 be visible but usually the word PETE is also on the bottle. This is the type of bottle that is primarily manufactured for one-time usage only and it's not recommended to reuse it again, no matter how well one cleans it out. The older the bottle is, and if reused the more risks are involved that this toxic DEHP chemical will leach into the beverage. However the health risks aren't only apparent when one reuses the bottle but even in unopened bottles or containers. As far back as 2003 there had been a study and random testing had been conducted on unopened water bottles, and it was discovered that the amounts of DEHP had increased very significantly the longer the bottled water had remained on store shelves.(2)

Another highly toxic plastic is the one which contains the chemical known as Bisphenol A or BPA and this plastic is given the code #7. This plastic is most commonly used not only for large five-gallon water containers, but some so-called reusable sports beverage bottles such as manufactured by Nalgene, as a plastic lining for many canned foods, but worse is the plastic used for baby bottles.
The toxic BPA is even more traceable whenever such a container or bottle is heated, and that even includes the process of washing such plastic bottles or containers in hot water. In an article featured on April 16, 2008 by the New York Times, Canada is making moves to ban use of BPA in all bottle containers, especially those of baby bottles.(3) Perhaps we in America and the rest of the world should follow suit.

Just exactly what are the health risks involved with any of these toxic plastic containers or bottles especially those with BPA?
1). Can impair brain function in development
2). Can affect hormonal levels and proper reproductive functions especially in women
3). Can be a contributing factor and link to the development of Alzheimer's disease
4). Can trigger early puberty in children
5). Possible links to cancer(4)

These are just some of the health risks that can endanger us all with using any plastic bottle or container containing BPA, but think just how damaging this is to infants and children who are being feed formulas using baby bottles with this toxic chemical. And while none of these articles I've read have outrightly listed or suggested this as a potential health risk in children, could this be an explanation in the rise of such behavioral problems as ADHD or autism since BPA has been linked with brain impairment and function?

We obviously can't eliminate plastic containers or bottles completely in our lives, but we can at least monitor carefully just what kind of plastics we are using whenever we buy beverages or foods by being aware of those code numbers. We most certainly can completely eliminate any plastic #7 container such as those used for baby bottles and in this case switch to the old fashioned glass type baby bottles or baby bottles that are made out of the #5 type plastic which is considered safer.

More Information About Plastic Products

http://www.chej.org/BESAFE/pvc/about.htm(1)

http://thegreenguide.com/doc/101/plastic (2)

http://www.simplyneecy.com/simplyhealthy/2008/02/dangers-of-plas.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/16/business/worldbusiness/16plastic.html?
ex=1224043200&en=4d20b3af50fc113a&ei=5087&excamp=GGBUplasticdanger&WT.srch=1&WT.mc_ev=click&WT.mc_id=BI-S-E-GG-NA-S-plastic_danger (3)

http://www.ewg.org/node/25991

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070804101711.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080422114734.htm (4)

Video about dangers of plastics

http://video.nbcsandiego.com/player/?id=23851

ARTICLE: Are We Using and Relying on Too Many Plastic Products?

(Originally published at Yahoo.voices formerly Associated Content~5/2/2008)

ABSTRACT: One of the most damaging disposable materials we have created that has had the most detrimental effects on the environment has been the overuse of plastic products.

CONTENT: One day out of each year, since March 21,1970, people have celebrated "Earth Day" to bring a worldwide conscious effort to the detrimental effects we humans have created on the only planet we know and live on. This environmental awareness movement was the brainchild of Senator Gaylord Nelson as far back as 1962 when he decided that one of the things that needed to be brought forth to attention on the political agenda, should be the addressing issues of the environment to both politicians and citizens alike. Eight long years passed before his tireless efforts became a reality and the first Earth Day was celebrated. Ever since then, one day during the month of April is set aside to remind ourselves of the detrimental affects we humans have created in the world's environment. But how much has really changed during all these years? Are we really any better off?

Many of us are very conscientious of the horrific and damaging effects we ourselves have created over the past few centuries beginning as far back as the Industrial Revolution that have harmed our environment. In many cases it's irreversible damage that can't be undone. In the past few decades conscientious people have developed the "go green" philosophy, but not all. All too many of us still have the "disposable" attitude in society, and no where is this more apparent then our heavy use of plastic products.

Yes, plastic has become a true convenience for us in many aspects. It's cheaper to produce, cheaper to buy and a lot more lightweight than the more natural products. Items that used to be made out of wood, glass, or metal have been replaced by the variety of durable plastics. It wasn't really all that long ago, that beverages such as milk, juice, sodas, and water were sold in glass containers. Now all these beverages are sold in plastic bottles instead. Plastic bags are all too readily handed out like candy at any supermarket or other store, when formerly there were only paper bags, which, while not as durable as those plastic bags, as they often risked tearing, at least they didn't harm the environment. The most alarming fact that it is estimated that up to one trillion, yes, one trillion plastic bags have been used worldwide each and every year. (1) Even a simple thing like buying a dozen eggs, which used to be sold in cardboard-type cartons, have now been replaced by probably the most toxic and environmentally unfriendly plastic derived material of all--styrofoam.

What is really needed is a true and honest effort to replace our plastic buying habits and usage and maybe even pressure companies to use more environmentally friendly and biodegradable items instead of relying too much on plastic products. Also, the most surprising fact that most people probably don't realize about plastics is that all are compounds made and derived from petroleum...cut down on the use of plastics, and we also cut down on our reliance on petroleum usage.

Over the years, many have been falsely under the impression that those handy plastic bags we are constantly getting at stores are degradable. Not so. Those plastic bags do eventually deteriorate if and only under constant exposure to the sun, and let's face it, the garbage we throw out by the tons everyday that is dumped and winds up in our landfills aren't.

Thankfully some progress is being made to cut down on all this plastic bag usage, from charging a small fee or tax for bags to encourage people to at least reuse the bags they have, or to an almost all outright banning of all plastic bags, such in Australia, Bangladesh, Ireland, India and Italy, just to name a few countries. (1)

The next great offender in our over-usage of plastic, is of course those convenient beverage bottles, particularly those small spring water or juice bottles. Every time you buy that small Poland Spring, Evian or anyone of the "pure" waters in those bottles and throw them out you're contributing to the damage to our environment. Reusing those bottles is not the answer either. For a long time, I have to admit, on occasion I would buy those water bottles, and thinking that I was doing something to help the environment, instead of throwing them out, would refill the bottles. I didn't realize that I was in fact exposing myself to potential health risks from the toxins that are found in all plastic bottles. All beverage bottles are manufactured with the idea of one-time usage only. When one reuses such a bottle, one is actually endangering their health, for the older the bottle is and the more it has been reused the more the likelihood that chemical toxins from the plastic is leaching into the beverage.

Next point, think of all the plastic utensils, cups, plates and take out containers (usually made out of styrofoam) that are not only used in most fast food chains, or coffee shops, but even in the more expensive restaurants. What most people don't realize that there are environmentally friendly, biodegradable alternatives for any of these items, and it may stun people to know that such items can be manufactured of either sugarcane and/or believe it or not, potatoes! I only learned this fact myself, upon watching a recent "Earth Day" episode of Oprah Winfrey. Her guests that day, included the actresses Juila Roberts and Sandra Bullock. (2)

For those of you not aware of it, Ms. Bullock is a real staunch advocate of the whole "Go Green" movement. She owns a restaurant in the Austin, Texas area called Bess Bistro, and on Oprah Winfrey's show she demonstrated her usage of utensils made out of potatoes, by such companies as SpudWare (http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/) although this is just one manufacturer of such utensils. Then there are such companies as The Sugar Cane Paper Company (http://www.thesugarcanepapercompany.com/product/) and World Centric (http://www.worldcentric.org/store/samples.htm) that manufactures many items that are normally either made out of paper or plastic from plates, take out containers, tissues, napkins and so forth.

I realize that we can't eliminate plastics completely in our lives. I don't think any of us can envision a switch to non-plastic products in the manufacture of TVs, Computers, car parts, and appliances in general, but there are several steps we can all take to at least cut down on our usage of too much plastic.

1). Many stores now sell reusable bags for shopping purposes and are as inexpensive as a mere 99¢. These bags are usually made of nylon, which, yes is also a synthetic fabric made and derived from petroleum, but unlike plastic bags are more readily reusable and most of all durable and washable. Besides finding such bags at stores, there are numerous websites one can order these bags and range from about $5.00 and up. I provide a link of just a few websites one can purchase these reusable bags from.

2). Instead of buying those small beverage bottles, invest and get a reusable bottle that are not only safer for the environment, but safer for one's health. Once again one can buy these bottles in most stores or there are numerous websites one can order from such as the Reusablebags.com. Also, consider investing in a water filtering system, such as Brita that one can attach to one's faucet rather than buying bottled water in the first place.

3). Instead of accepting that take out cup of coffee, tea or even soup from a shop, have a reusable coffee container, mug or thermos and ask them to fill that instead...that will be one less plastic or styrofoam cup being tossed into the environment.

4). If you really want to become the activist about changing how plastics are used, start writing campaigns. Here are just a few ideas of whom to write to:

a). The most obvious is to write to your local political representatives urging either a strict reduction or complete banning of plastic, non-reusable bags. Lets make this a nationwide effort!

b). Put pressure on fast food chains or private restaurants to switch to the environmentally friendly utensils, plates and storage or take out containers that are made of completely biodegradable materials rather than plastics.

c). Write to companies that still use styrofoam. This can range from egg companies to even supermarket chains that use styrofoam for packing not only eggs, but meats.

I know this probably seems a lot to ask for, but if we really all get on the bandwagon about this, and do this now, hopefully one day we can have the satisfaction that we contributed to truly helping our environment for generations to come, instead of damaging it even further.

Articles on the History of Earth Day

http://earthday.envirolink.org/history.html

http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:bw7PWNJlSREJ:www.abcteach.com/free/
r/rc_earthday_upperelem.pdf+When+did+earth+day+begin%3F&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=us&client=firefox-a

Articles about Plastics (Bags, Bottles, etc)

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0721-04.htm (1)

http://www.worldwatch.org/node/1499

http://www.teachingtools.com/Slinky/plastics.html

Oprah Winfrey's Earth Day Episode

http://www2.oprah.com/world/enviro/green/green_main.jhtml (2)

http://www2.oprah.com/world/enviro/green/living/slide/living_sandra_350_402.jhtml (2)

Reusable Bag Websites

http://store.chicobag.com/

http://baggubag.com/SHOP.html

http://www.reusablebags.com/store/shopping-bags-c-2.html

Reusable Beverage Bottles

http://www.reusablebags.com/store/reusable-bottles-c-19.html

http://www.brita.com.au/britaproducts/filtersportbottle

Brita Website

http://www.brita.com/