Activity 3.3.3.1 Current Events in Plastic Pollution


Six-Point Critical Analysis Worksheet

1. Exploratory  
                                
Plastic pollution is the accumulation in the environment of plastic that creates problem to wildlife as well as humans. Plastic pollution is one of the major environmental issue and many are the nation that decided to take action about it. In fact, more than 60 nations are taking action to reduce single-use plastic in many ways like imposing bans or taxes. For example, Canada is banning single-use plastics. Also, in Europe, the European Union’s parliament decided to ban the most common single-use plastics object usually found on their beaches. They are also working on recycle 90% of plastic bottles by 2025. India has in the work eliminate all single-use plastic by 2022. (Howard, Gibbens, Zachos, & Parker, 2019)

2. Diagnostic      
                               
Plastics is used for a variety of purposes in our society. Plastics is part of cars, smartphones, televisions and many other electronic devices. It is used for mostly of the food packaging and food containers, toys, accessories, synthetic fiber in clothes, beauty products and much more. Some of the plastics have such a short life that are used for less than 1 hour like plastic bags or plastic straws. However, plastics it is not so beneficial for the environment. Plastics require a long-time to biodegrade and many plastics in use are not even biodegradable. Also, plastics are harmful for wildlife as well as humans. The amount of plastics produced per day is extremely high and in our consumerist society, single-use plastics represent 50% of the plastics we use. All those factors contribute to create plastic pollution, an important problem that need attention of every one of us (Ritschel,2018).

3. Cause and Effect   
     
Plastics gets to the ocean from the land or from rivers and lakes. When plastics is throwed away and not recycled, it will end up into a landfill. During its travel to the landfill, is often blown away because of its light weight.  Also, littering generates a lot of plastics as well as illegal dumping. From the land, plastics is carried away from wind and rain into stream and rivers. Major rivers collect plastic trash during they journey to the ocean. Once arrived, they pour the plastic in the water. Also, thanks to oceans currents, plastic trash moves around, and it is now able to be transported the world. Water, sun, wind and other weather conditions break down plastic trash in small particle that are called microplastics. Later, microplastic are eaten by marine animals entering in the food chain. Since plastic is now in the food chain, it is able to reach also the human population (Gibbens,2019)
                
4. Priority    
                                      
Plastic pollution is a serious problem for the environment so much that it kills millions of animals every year. The animals more affected are marine animals.  They are harmed visibly for example strangled by abandoned fishing nets or discarded six-pack rings. They are also harmed invisibly ingesting plastic part and microplastics.  In fact, a recent study confirmed how plastics is causing liver and cell damage and disruptions to reproductive systems to animals like oysters pushing them to produce fewer eggs. Plastic it is not only a problem for aquatic animals. Even large mammals and land-based animals were found consuming plastic leading to their death in some cases. (Parker, 2019). 

5. Application        
                            
Plastics pollution is an issue we are all responsible for. We all buy plastics, use plastics and throw that same plastics away. More often that what we thought, we use single-use plastics that last for a very short time before to be throwed as well. The amount of plastics used in our society is so high to create a danger for the environment as well as human health. In the North Pacific Ocean there is something called “The Great Pacific Garbage Patch”, an island of garbage made mostly of plastics and larger than Texas (Andrew, 2019). All the plastics we throw away will, in a way or another, come back to us through the food chain, water, air etc and end up in our bodies. It is extremely important then that every single person do his/her part. We need to be more responsible in using plastics, reuse them and recycle them when is possible. More important, it necessary starts reducing plastics consumes and opt instead for biodegradable materials.

6. Critical                  
                         
I was aware of the problem of plastic pollution. I always cared about plastics since I was a kid. I was lucky to grew up in a family environmentally conscious that taught me where plastic come from. More important, they taught me what happen to plastic after you threw it away. However, I did not have a clear idea about the huge amount of plastics actually used and consumed from modern society. The numbers shocked me.  Reading the materials, I discovered about what the world it is willing to do about it. It was very interesting to read about how many nations are willing to step out and so something about the problem. I also think the role of the single is essential and I am motivated more than ever to do further research and try to live as much plastic-free as possible

References:
Andrew, G. (2019, October 25) Plastics in the Ocean Affecting Human Health. Retrieved from https://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/health/case_studies/plastics.html.

Gibbens, S. (2019, June 10). Another plastic bag found at the bottom of world's deepest ocean trench. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2018/05/plastic-bag-mariana-trench-pollution-science-spd/

Howard, B. C., Gibbens, S., Zachos, E., & Parker, L. (2019, June 10, update). A running list of action on plastic pollution. Environment. National Geographic. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/07/ocean-plastic-pollution-solutions/

Parker, L. (2019, June 7). The world's plastic pollution crisis explained. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/plastic-pollution/.

Ritschel, C. (2018, April 18). This is how much plastic is in the ocean. Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/plastic-bad-environment-why-ocean-pollution-how-much-single-use-facts-recycling-a8309311.html.


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