SEA Writer
ISSUE 1, 2022 The student magazine of the Sea Education Association Woods Hole, MA, USA
SEA Quest: Plastics & Oceanography
Contents Introduction
4-5
"Local Initiatives Initiating the Change"
7-10
"The Social Life of Plastic in India"
11-14
"The United States Contribution of Plastic Waste"
15-17
"Arctic Seabirds and Microplastics"
18-20
"Effect of Plastic Additives on Fin Whales and What This Could Mean in the Future"
21-23
"How Does Plastic get into the Arctic?"
24-27
"Beach Clean-up in Tarawa, Kiribati"
28-31
"What We Can Do About Ocean Plastics"
32
ISSUE 1, 2022
Introduction
The Sea Education Association (SEA), based in Woods Hole, MA, USA, offers ocean-studies programs for undergraduate, gap year, and high school students
During June of 2022, SEA Writer emerged as a product of SEA Quest-Woods Hole’s high school online summer seminar, “Plastics and Oceanography,” which focused on analyzing and studying the impact plastic waste has on marine ecosystems through a trilogy of mini courses: “Oceanography,” “Nautical Science,” and “Oceans and Society.” Folded within the pages of SEA Writer are the stories and findings of young environmentalists and authors, who hope to improve our planet one article at a time. Through SEA Writer, scientific publications are re-written to become more digestible; research and data are combined with insight from young writers to produce articles that are engaging as well as informative. In doing this, SEA Writer hopes to spread knowledge about the science world to readers of every age and inspire change in those who are curious enough to read. In this issue of SEA Writer, six articles written by students of “Plastics and Oceanography” provide a sample into the larger global plastic problem, each cont'd >
ISSUE 1, 2022
SEA Quest-Woods Hole is a 2-week interdisciplinary online seminar bringing together an international community of high school students to work together to study the globe's major ocean concerns. This seminar's theme was "Plastics and Oceanography."
piece offering a different aspect of the issue. From the effect plastic additives have on fin whales to the plastic invasion of pristine Arctic landscapes, this edition of SEA Writer tells the story of plastic. In the latter pages of the magazine, our fellow students from Kiribati describe the details of their Oceanography project, a beach cleanup analysis. Then all of the students of “Plastics and Oceanography” explore a list of what individuals, companies, governments, and researchers can do regarding plastic in a segment titled, “What We Can Do.” Through this final page, SEA Writer hopes to motivate and inspire readers and remind all who read that through a collaborative initiative, we can shape the future! – Vivian Goller
Editor: Vivian Goller Cover art: Harry Kim Canva Layout and Consultation: Zuzanna Witek Instructors: Jess Donohue, "Oceanography" Richard King, "Oceans and Society" Chris Nolan, "Nautical Science"
Local Initiatives Initiating the Change
"
M
any a little makes a mickle,” is a well known saying. To put it another way, small drops of water, one day, make the mighty ocean. The focus of both morals is on patience. Little things we do today, even initiating small changes, eventually will bring fruitful change for us someday. No matter how minor they are, there will be a reward someday in the future for those who keep their steadiness. In one corner of the world, small changes for the betterment of the marine environment are being triggered by local groups of people. All over the world, ocean plastic pollution is an urgent environmental threat. Even worse, global production of plastic, according to a study published in Science by Borrelle, et al., in 2020, is expected to double over the next decade, so aggressive interventions are vital.
South and Southeast Asia regions are one of the nations who especially are bearing the brunt of the problem, taking the initiative of others. In order to reduce such ocean plastic pollution, minor changes that were promoted by locally led initiatives have been catalyzing change in South and Southeast Asia. The study published in Science by Borrelle, et al. found that the amount of plastic estimated to enter aquatic systems annually
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by Sarah Choi Jeju Island, South Korea
from mismanaged waste is 11 million metric tons, and without an increase in our current mitigation efforts, the study estimates mismanaged waste to reach 20–53 million metric tons by 2030. According to 2009 UN/FAO report conducted by G. Macfadyen, T. Huntington, and R. Cappell, abandoned and discarded fishing gear have been contributing
to marine debris, and they concluded that plastics in the environment and ocean are heavily influenced by quantities of mismanaged waste on land. Multiple local, regional, and trans-national initiatives have been gathered to reduce plastic pollution on land through policy implementation, awareness campaigns, marine cont'd >
by Sarah Choi
Jeju Island, South Korea
plastic surveying and monitoring, and capacity building. Specifically, as examined by a new study in Marine Policy led by Jennifer Estelle Mathis, Indonesia and Vietnam established national action plans to reduce plastic pollution. Indonesia aims to reduce marine plastic debris by 70% by 2025 by focusing on improving public awareness to inspire social behavior change, reducing both land and seabased leakage, reducing plastic use and production, and improving existing infrastructure between 2017 and 2025. Vietnam’s ultimate goal is to build and develop mechanisms and policies on marine debris management that will eventually reduce marine plastic litter by 50%, collect 50% of abandoned or discarded fishing gear, eliminate single-use plastics and nonbiodegradable plastic bags in 80% of coastal tourist areas, conduct nationwide beach cleanup campaigns at least twice a year, and strive for at least 80% of marine protected areas to be free of plastic litter. Apparently, both of the regions prioritized making changes in specific local areas and civil society, not merely enforcing new policies. They were aware that new policies indeed make a larger contribution in the future, yet they believed stronger linkages among society and local governments would be much faster on making direct change at the local level.
by Sarah Choi
Jeju Island, South Korea
They believed stronger linkages among society and local governments would be much faster on making direct change at the local level. One of the Southeast Asia region's strategies was to formalize and gather informal waste collectors in order to mobilize an enormous labor force. Evidenced by the Philippines' Catholic Relief Services, through their training, social enterprise groups provided daily SWM services to 6,000 households and collected approximately 29,000 kg of recyclable household waste per month, says the informal sector. Not only collecting waste but also helping to recover all recyclables, a critical element, strengthened the recycling value chain. As one of the crucial components of local waste management in many of the Asian regions, it contributed to diverting plastic waste from the waste stream. However, there were some downfalls despite their hard work on managing plastic wastes in the ocean; one of them was COVID-19. Due to lockdowns for the prevention of spread of the COVID-19 virus, volunteers were prohibited from carrying out project tasks. Not only blocking the route among the
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volunteers, the pandemic also encouraged an increase in the usage of single-use plastics as cities struggled to cope with the surge in = online shopping, food delivery, and medical waste. Specifically, referring to a study in Environmental Pollution published by Justine Ammendolia, Jacquelyn Saturno, and Amy L. Brooks, the “COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the surge of production, consumption, and disposal of PPE such as face masks, disposable gloves, and disinfectant wipes which are often single-use plastic, resulting in leakage into the environment.” Overall, apparently, the efforts of local regions in Southeast Asia are conveying straightforward lessons. Instead of wasting your time, merely worrying and doing nothing, why don’t you go out and look around, see how polluted your marine environments are by plastics and pick up plastics if there is any. Many a little does make a mickle.
by Sarah Choi
Jeju Island, South Korea
Works Cited/Image Credits Ammendolia, Justine, Jacquelyn Saturno, Amy L.Brooks, Shoshanah Jacobs, and Jenna R. Jambeck. 2021. “An Emerging Source of Plastic Pollution: Environmental Presence of Plastic Personal Protective Equipment Debris Related to COVID-19 in a Metropolitan City.” Environmental Pollution 269 (116160): doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116160. Borrelle, Stephanie B., et al. 2020. “Predicted Growth in Plastic Waste Exceeds Efforts to Mitigate Plastic Pollution.” Science 369 (6510): 1515-18, DOI: 10.1126/science.aba3656. G. Macfadyen, T. Huntington, R. Cappell. 2009. “Abandoned, Lost or Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear.” UNEP Regional Seas Reports and Studies 185: https://stg-wedocs.unep.org Mathis, Jennifer Estelle, Marianne Carliez Gillet, Henri Disselkoen, and Jenna R. Jambeck. 2022. "Reducing Ocean Plastic Pollution: Locally Led Initiatives Catalyzing Change in South and Southeast Asia." Marine Policy 143 (105127): 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2022.105127 Both figures from Mathis, et al.
The Social Life of Plastic in India
P
icture a mound of litter fragments of food containers, empty water bottles, and scraps of to-go wrappers. Maybe you envision this plastic accumulation on a beach or along a coastline. However, while we typically associate plastic waste with the degradation of marine ecosystems, the global plastic problem is not a distant phenomenon occurring in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Rather, the hazardous effect of plastic pollution extends beyond sea turtles, coastal birds, and other marine life; it is also happening to humans right before our eyes. Plastic is seeping into every part of our lives - our politics, our health, and quite literally our own backyards. In a recent article titled ''The Anthropology of Plastics: An Agenda for Local Studies of Global Matter of Concern,'' published by Gauri Pathak of Aarhus University and Mark Nichter of the University
by Vivian Goller Wisconsin, USA
of Arizona, the scientists analyze the effects of the Indian plastic industry since it began in the mid 1900’s to modern times. Based on their fieldwork and interviews, Pathak and Nichter note both the immense amount of good that plastic products have brought to India as well as the trail of waste that plastic has left behind over the years. Moreover, the researchers also explored the “social life of plastics” by examining the cultural and societal norms of India to understand why life almost seems to revolve around plastic. Their findings point towards the convenience and efficiency of plastic, which fuels its appeal to consumers. An easy and safe solution to water contamination, a problem that plagues many rural Indian communities, plastic water bottles help provide clean drinking water. Likewise, disposable plastic menstrual products, such as sanitary pads, ensure the safety of women’s reproductive health since these products are single-use. While plastic alleviated problem
cont'd >
after problem, immensely improving the standard of living in India since its introduction in the mid 1900s, plastic also created a multitude of new issues that deteriorate both
by Vivian Goller Wisconsin, USA
human and environmental health according to researchers. In particular, the plethora of chemicals, toxins, and additives found in plastic cont'd >
pose a threat to humans as they compromise various anatomical systems when ingested, such as the endocrine system through endocrine disruptors. Similarly, as discarded plastic items travel around the globe via waterways or wind, they collect pathogens and become “breeding sites for vectorborne diseases” (Banerjee et al. 2015; Mahfodz et al. 2017; Vezzani and Schweigmann 2002). Certain disposal methods, like the burning of plastics, are commonly practiced nearby or even inside Indian households, thus leading citizens to be directly exposed to toxins. Plastic accumulation around populated areas is another result of plastic pollution and results in clogged waterways and extreme flooding that wipes out houses and other inhabited buildings. With these plastic-related issues in mind, environmental activists and NGOs (non-government organizations) began pushing for reform, specifically in the form of a ban on single use plastics in 2016. The logic behind the ban was that it was feasible considering plastic’s central role in India; a plastic bag could easily be replaced with a reusable tote or another more environmentally conscious alternative. Likewise, environmental activists also hoped that the ban would also function as a segue into future plastic reforms made by
Despite [the ineffective singleuse plastic ban]... there is still a silver lining for India and other areas around the globe that are affected by plastic. policymakers in the future. However, discourse arose between citizens in favor of the ban and industrial manufacturers, who did not support the ban as it harmed their business and profit. Moreover, leaders of industry highlighted how plastic, specifically plastic packaging, was crucial for providing necessities to all people of India, especially fresh produce to those in poverty. After the ban's implementation was delayed for nearly two years, policymakers utilizing this time to edit and rework the legislation in order to appease all stakeholders, the ban proved to be largely ineffective. Despite this outcome, which environmentalists found disappointing, the study by Pathak and Nichter argues that there is still a silver lining for India and other areas around the globe that are affected by plastic. cont'd >
by Vivian Goller Wisconsin, USA
Plastic is a product of human intellect and innovation, created by humans to help humans. Its anthropogenic roots prove that humans can once again create a = solution to global plastic pollution, such as by “designing, implementing, and monitoring interventions aimed at mitigating risks” caused by plastics. Through a unified, collaborative initiative, we can work towards preserving both the health of humans and the health of the planet we share.
Works Cited/Image Credits Nichter, Mark, and Pathak, Gauri. 2019. "The Anthropology of Plastics: An Agenda for Local Studies of Global Matter of Concern" Medical Anthropology Quarterly 33 (3): 307-26. DOI: 10.1111/maq.12514. Banerjee, S., G. Aditya, and G. Saha. 2015. "Household Wastes as Larval Habitats of Dengue Vectors: Comparison between Urban and Rural Areas of Kolkata, India." PLoS One 10 (10): doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0138082. Mahfodz, Z., N. N. Musa, N. A. Hasmi, H. N. Ismail, and F. Pardi. 2017. "Potential Breeding Sites for Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti: Assessment against Different Container Types." Journal of Fundamental and Applied Sciences 9 (6S): 778–87. DOI: 10.4314/jfas.v9i6s.58. Vezzani, D., and N. Schweigmann. 2002. "Suitability of Containers from Different Sources as Breeding Sites of Aedes aegypti (L.) in a Cemetery of Buenos Aires City, Argentina." Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 97 (6): 789– 92. DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762002000600006
Watercolor image by the author.
by Vivian Goller Wisconsin, USA
The United States Contribution of Plastic Waste
T
his study is by Kara Lavender Law, Natalie Starr, Theodore R. Siegler, Jenna R. Jambeck, Nicholas J. Mallos, George H. Leonard. This study is about what the US is doing about the plastic problem and how much of a problem it has gotten. It’s clear that plastic is bad for the environment. Something has to be done in order to protect the homes of the animals. The US has to take action due to the fact that some of the activities people are doing are illegal. If the US government jumps in, people are sure to follow the law. The research team found that the amount of plastic has increased globally by 26% over time. There are more actions needed in order to make the environment safer. But even with the laws in place, people still choose to do illegal activity.
Garbage and waste has come here in many different ways. Ways like exporting, importing, trash were just left behind by importing areas. An example of the US law is that there are zones in the waters, and there are limits between the zones. I believe that this is great, because it gives further protection to these oceans from the people. Governments should make more serious laws as well as the punishment for breaking those laws. This is because more of the crimes related to littering have increased according to a 2010 analysis. There were also solutions to all of the garbage such as sanitary landfills and incarnation. Many factors have changed the amount of waste compared to the past. Not just the US, but other countries also had increased plastic waste in the environment. The other countries are having the same effort as the US trying to clean up the environment. Despite all of the effort, it genuinely isn’t possible to get rid of all of the cont'd >
by Eric An California, USA
e waste. Since some of the methods right now are inadequate or not good enough, scientists are researching new and effective ways to manage waste. Some of the methods such as incineration and recycling were able to manage 100 percent of the waste. Compared to the other countries, the US has the most waste production. The US probably has
Compared to the other countries, the US has the most waste production.
cont'd >
by Eric An California, USA
the most illegal dumping, and other objects discarded and turned into plastic waste. Even though most of the waste can be recycled, people = choose not to. The biggest problem is illegal dumping, because although littering is bad, it has a 2 percent rate while illegal dumping has a much higher waste production. More types of waste and more in quantity are included in illegal dumping. Items such as household items, car parts, and appliances can be seen at those sites. Some other methods that were used just released the waste into the environment instead of getting rid of it.
by Eric An
California, USA
Works Cited/Image Credits Lavender Law, Kara, et al. 2020. “The United States’ contribution of plastic waste to land and ocean.” Science Advances 6 (44): 1-7. eabd0288 Both figures from Law, et al.
Arctic Seabirds and Microplastics
W hen
people think about plastic pollution, the images that are usually imagined are large swaths of plastic floating in the ocean, species such as turtles suffocating on straws, images of seabirds such as albatrosses with stomachs full of plastic, or beaches covered in garbage. However, not all examples of plastic pollution are easily visible. Microplastics are defined as pieces of plastic that are five millimeters or smaller, and can be either primary (originally produced as pieces of such a size) or secondary (tiny pieces that came from larger plastic objects). In some situations, microplastics can be more dangerous and easily dispersed than their larger pieces, resulting in them showing up in some peculiar places, such as Arctic seabird guano. Despite the Arctic being relatively separate in location to the places
where plastic pollution originates, plastic is still carried into Arctic ecosystems. This can be from currents carrying the plastic, organisms carrying plastic inside of them moving into the Arctic, litter from ships such as shipping vessels that are traveling through the Canadian Arctic, or other sources. Seabirds such as fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) in the Qaqulluit National Wildlife Area in the Canadian Arctic have been found by researchers from
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by Harry Kim Texas, USA
Canadian Universities, led by Bonnie M. Hamilton of the University of Toronto, to contain amounts of microplastics in their digestive systems. The consumption of macroplastics by organisms is an issue mainly due to the fact that macroplastic takes up space in the digestive system, acting as a clog and/or resulting in less food to be able to be consumed and digested. Plastic consumed by organisms can also result in microplastics being released via excrement due to pieces being broken off of microplastic pieces in the digestive system or from consuming microplastics or prey containing microplastics. Plastic has been documented by the Canadian researchers in the digestive systems of fulmars since the 1970s, and since the 1980s,
fulmars have been considered and used as biological indicators to aid in showing the overall health of their environment. The discovery of microplastics in fulmar guano in the Arctic could display a way that microplastics have been entering remote Arctic ecosystems where microplastics could otherwise be rarer. The fact that no microplastic gradient was found in environmental systems relative to the area that the seabird colony occupied gives further credence to the idea that the microplastics are being delivered primarily by seabirds from the plastic they consume with or instead of food (not necessarily limited to fulmars). Although further research is warranted due to the fact that the full range of sources for the cont'd >
by Harry Kim Texas, USA
microplastic pollution that appears in the seabird colony is still not fully known, it is plausible to assume that fulmars and other seabirds are =
Everyone has a role to play, and it is possible that plastic pollution could be limited to the point where it no longer serves as much of a threat to organisms such as the fulmars.
How can the feeding grounds of migratory seabirds be controlled when they travel great distances? transportation vessels for microplastics, being at least one source of the microplastics. Due to their vast traveling distances and migrations, birds are able to bring contaminants and pollutants from one area to another, even if those areas are separated by large distances. This causes one of the main issues in solving such a dilemma: how can the feeding grounds of migratory seabirds be controlled when they travel great distances? Plastics, both macro and micro, have become such an intertwined aspect of the environment that such a feat is practically impossible. However, steps can instead be taken to reduce the amount of plastic in the ocean in general, taken by both governments and individuals.
by Harry Kim Texas, USA
Works Cited/Image Credits Hamilton, Bonnie M., et al. 2020. “Microplastics around an Arctic Seabird Colony: Particle Community Composition Varies Across Environmental Matrices.” Science of the Total Environment 773 (145536): 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145536 Both figures from Hamilton, et al.
Effect of Plastic Additives on Fin Whales and What This Could Mean in the Future
Y
ou are probably familiar with the bad effects of plastic on marine animals. Animals, such as sea turtles and seabirds, eat plastics under the impression that they are food, and end up choking on them. Along with that, when animals eat the plastics, the plastics can stay in their stomachs because they cannot digest them. Because their stomachs are full of plastic, the animals end up believing that they are full and don’t need to eat anymore, essentially weakening themselves. There are other bad things that happen to animals when they eat plastics; for example, their stomachs can rupture, and toxins in the plastic can move from their stomachs to other places in their bodies. While plastics themselves are dangerous, little is known about plastics additives, also known as phthalates. Phthalates are added
to plastics to give them characteristics, such as color and flexibility. A recent study conducted by a team of biologists, led by Odei Garcia-Garin, researched the effects of these potentially dangerous plastic additives on North Atlantic fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus). From 1986 to 2015, they monitored plastic additive concentrations in fin whale muscle and the effects of the plastic additives on the whales. The study found that the plastic cont'd >
by Nora Prather Virginia, USA
additive concentrations did not vary much during the study, which was not expected because plastic concentration in seas is rising. (The plastic additive concentration of the ocean was 1.8 million tons in 1975; in 2011, it was 8 million tons). Additionally, the research team found that plastic additives had no harmful effects on the whales. However, the researchers concluded that they must still further monitor the plastic additives in fin whales to find out what adverse effects they might have on the whales later on. The researchers mention that there were a few things they did in their study that may have impacted their results. One of those variables is the type of tissue they tested from the fin whales. They tested the same type of tissue from each whale, but it is possible that the tissue was in a place that just did not have an increase in plastic additives–it
Just because these materials do not accumulate in animals does not mean that they are not harmful. could’ve been in a place that did not receive any toxins moving out from the stomach. While the researchers did have doubts as to whether plastic additive concentrations had actually stayed the same in the whales, they did soundly conclude that the concentration did not vary in the whales based on their sex and age. With the support of other studies, it was concluded that there is no correlation between plastic additive concentration in marine fauna and the biological conditions (e.g. age, sex, length) of the animals.
cont'd >
by Nora Prather Virginia, USA
It was also concluded that plastic and plastic additives do not build up in tissue; they are instead excreted. However, just because these materials do not accumulate in animals does not mean that they are not harmful. We need to continue efforts to stop plastic from reaching the ocean to keep animals safe from them.
by Nora Prather Virginia, USA
Works Cited/Image Credits Garcia-Garin, Odei, et al. 2022. “Intrapopulation and temporal differences of phthalate concentrations in North Atlantic fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus).” Chemosphere 300 (134453): 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134 453 Both figures from Garcia-Garin, et al.
How Does Plastic Get into the Arctic?
U
ntouched vast expanses of ice as far as the eye can see. A pristine wilderness that appears clean and pure, completely untouched by human influence. Did you also just immediately think of the Arctic? The one place on earth that belongs entirely to animals and where it is a rarity to stumble across traces of human life? Then I am sorry to disappoint you. The first impression is deceptive. Led by Dr. Melanie Bergmann, researchers at the German Alfred Wegener Institute published a study in April 2022 in which they report finding microplastics both on the Arctic seafloor and in icebergs. But how can that be, since so few people live there? In fact, the low population density in Arctic regions
by Solveig Schneider Gießen, Germany
contributes to the problem. In small Arctic communities, recycling facilities are rare and waste management is handled inadequately. Often plastic waste is simply collected by self-haul at the edge of the sea in large dumpsites. More effective community-haul systems are limited to larger communities, such as Greenland's capital, Nuuk. This can lead to higher microplastic densities in certain areas. "In the Canadian Arctic,” the
cont'd >
report states, “plastic litter densities were seven times higher near communities compared with more remote locations. Open dumpsites and winter travel activities were identified as potential sources.’’ As a result of this loose handling of waste, much of it enters the oceans and is widely dispersed via currents, winds, and animals. For the
researchers it was hard to differentiate where a piece of plastic exactly came from. But in general they were able to make a distinction between two main sources – local sources and distant sources, which they subdivided into land-based and sea-based sources. According to the study, those local sources notably include key cont'd >
by Solveig Schneider Gießen, Germany
sectors of maritime activity, such as aquaculture, offshore industrial activity, cruise tourism and fisheries, but the plastic can also be from domestic origin, such as insufficient waste water treatment. To demonstrate that inadequate wastewater treatment is a major contributor to microparticle emissions, the study consulted the following example. A wastewater treatment plant in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, was able to cut 99% of local human-induced microparticle emissions, by implementing both mechanical and biological treatment of the wastewater. Another of the main sources of microplastic debris in the Arctic, a local sea-based source, are fisheries. According to the study, fibers and threats from discarded fishing gear accounted for 27-100% of the beach litter in Svalbard and represent the most important microplastic source in the Barents Sea. Those fragments are buoyant, are caught by currents, and are eventually washed ashore. But microplastic does not necessarily have to come from Arctic regions. Most of the washed up plastics float with ocean currents from the Atlantic and Pacific into more northern, Arctic waters, such as the Bering Sea, Chukchi Sea, or Barents Sea. This transport can be accelerated
by storms, waves and eddies, and the spread of plastic moves through ingestion and excretion by biota. Seabirds in particular play a major role in the process of carrying microplastics over hundreds, if not thousands, of miles.
A wastewater treatment plant in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, was able to cut 99% of local humaninduced microparticle emissions.
Another distant transport route for microplastics is actually the air, or more specifically winds, which carry the small plastic particles into the atmosphere and from there spread them across the globe. Through precipitation they finally reach the ice of the Arctic and even gather in icebergs. As icebergs continue to float, the plastic spreads even further. Due to the distribution of winds, eddies and currents, some special accumulation areas have emerged, such as in the Eurasian basin or on beaches of the Norwegian Sea. cont'd >
by Solveig Schneider Gießen, Germany
However, no final statement can be made regarding the exact number of plastics contributed in each case, because of too little field data. But how does the whole thing now affect the Arctic ecosystems? Recent data says that a total of 131 species are affected by plastic pollution in the Arctic. It enters the food web through ingestion and affects a whole range of species, including humans. There is still data needed to make general statements about exact effects, but animals that have consumed plastic may starve to death or they get choked by getting tangled in larger plastic pieces. Furthermore, well-traveled plastic pieces also serve as a transport route for other species to the Arctic or as habitat for organisms such as bryozoans. There is still research required on multi-stressor effects, changes in gene expression, and reduced growth in Arctic organisms ingesting plastic. Even though plastic pollution and climate change seem to have little to do with each other at first glance, it appears that plastic contributes to the fast warming of the Arctic. Icebergs are rapidly melting, releasing more and more frozen plastic into the environment. The rising microplastic concentration might function as small ‘‘solar panels,’’ which contributes to even further melting of Arctic ice. Since plastics travel so far and affect
by Solveig Schneider Gießen, Germany
regions all over the globe, countries have to work together to successfully mitigate the consequences of plastic pollution. With this in mind, think twice before throwing your plastic waste into nature. You don't know whether it might end up in the Arctic and cause an animal to choke on it.
Works Cited/Image Credits Bergmann, Melanie, et al. 2022. ‘‘Plastic Pollution in the Arctic.’’ Nature Reviews 3 (May): 324-37. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-022-00279-8. Map from Bergmann, et al. Photograph by Subhankar Chatterjee and Shivika Sharma, Wikimedia Commons
Beach Clean-up in Tarawa, Kiribati
K
iribati is an independent island nation in the central Pacific Ocean. Tarawa is a small island and is the capital of Kiribati. It has many villages on the island. It is a place where culture and traditions are held and bonded strongly by its people. Tarawa has more than half of the country’s 119,000 people (2020). This island is known as a tour place for fisher-
men or guides from other countries. You may know more about this island if you follow up with pages on Facebook or just watch any post on Youtube. During our beach clean-up, which was our Oceanography project for this “Plastics and Oceanography” SEA Quest seminar, we found many kinds of waste or rubbish which are located on Tarawa. We decided to split or separate our ways to clean our different sides, so each of us picked our area from the
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by Luciana Tooma, Winnie Elliot, and Joseph Morimai Ratinteraoi Tarawa, Kiribati
following: the Betio side, Ambo side and Eita side, and from our beach clean-ups we collected our data from each kind of rubbish in different locations. Also we collected our data and resources from an environmental ministry. Data description Referring to figure 1.1, it indicates or shows the number of any kind of rubbish found in three different locations, but this graph or table shows the majority of any item found on beaches that was collected by the group members or collected by our groups as a project and as a community function. In this beach clean-up the majority item or rubbish is plastic in this
year (2022). We found about 100 % of the remaining of plastics since it has the highest number found on different selected beaches. In figure 1.2, this graph or data was collected from the ministry that deals with Kiribati or Tarawa environment; also, it shows the majority of items within years from 1994 to 2017, but the majority of items or rubbish that is mostly found or the common one is the organic waste; it has the highest number found. cont'd >
by Luciana Tooma, Winnie Elliot, and Joseph Morimai Ratinteraoi Tarawa, Kiribati
Comparison of different locations
Eita side is known as the local zone because there are not many people living there, but at this side it has been found out that there is less rubbish or plastic lying around on the beach. Also, this side is cleaned
because there is less people so the fewer people the less plastic found, so positively Eita is a nice and clean place. (photos of Luciana and her young cousin)
Ambo side is different from Eita side because Ambo side has more population than Eita side; also Ambo side has many items found on the beach, the common item
found at Ambo side beach is plastic, like on the Eita side, so the main issue here at this side is plastic as well. (Photos of Winnie) cont'd >
by Luciana Tooma, Winnie Elliot, and Joseph Morimai Ratinteraoi Tarawa, Kiribati
Betio side is a crowded place, used for picnics and other occasions, so this place is positively polluted with every kind of rubbish, so the majority of rubbish commonly found is plastics. This area is more polluted than the other locations. (Photos by Joseph) Conclusion The prediction for this project is that it was expected to be polluted, so the thesis was correctly stated. So far this project shows the majority of plastic in different locations in Tarawa. Each data collection shows or indicates the number of plastics or rubbish found in different locations for each year, therefore in 2022, we found about 100% of plastics in our selected area.
suggests to reuse the inorganic waste by making home decorations or many creative ideas that would go well with the reusing. Secondly, is to participate in any beach clean-up or gather your family and friends to help out or build or form community services to participate, as well, and, lastly, educate others by telling the importance of plastic or how to minimize the issue or the environmental issue in order for the next generation to know more and teach generation by generations.
Recommendation To solve or to minimize this problem or issue, our group
by Luciana Tooma, Winnie Elliot, and Joseph Morimai Ratinteraoi Tarawa, Kiribati
What We Can Do About Ocean Plastics Over the course of our two weeks we discussed potential solutions and heard from a range of guest speakers and experts. In the end, after a final vote, we arrived at the following as our seminar’s top priorities in order to solve this plastic crisis, a problem which requires both the reduction in the production of plastic and the better management of waste plastic, on land and at sea.
As individuals we can… *Purchase sustainable products whenever we can, researching the companies and what we’re buying, especially regarding packaging (with less plastic and types that are genuinely recyclable) and regarding clothing (wearing secondhand garments or buying new ones made from natural fibers). *Read and support journalism that investigates local and global waste management and the effectiveness of policies, treaties, and potential fixes.
We want companies to… *Operate in an environmentally-conscious way that will lessen their impact. This means in part making sustainable plastic alternatives more affordable, and using less or no plastic packaging. We want companies to allow customers who can afford it to have the choice to pay more for recycled or biodegradable packaging.
We want our governments to… *Ensure the proper enforcement of existing laws and regulations. *Continue to invest in city trash processing centers with the technology to properly separate different plastics and process waste safely with less loss into waterways. *Expand marine protected areas.
If we had money to donate, we would first consider giving to… *The Ocean Conservancy: Fighting For Trash Free Seas
We want to support further research especially on… *The production of plastics made of plant materials, which will reduce the use of fossil fuel products and increase their biodegradability. *Where in the world are the worst vectors for plastic pollution arriving into the ocean. *The toxicity of plastics and their impact on humans and marine life Icons from TheNounProject.com, introduced to us by guest speaker Skye Moret
Eric An is a high school student from Fresno, California, interested in environmental science. He hopes in the future that the amount of plastic can be drastically reduced. Sarah Choi is currently a rising senior from Jeju, South Korea, mostly interested in applied mathematics and environmental engineering. She hopes to bring a meaningful and contributive change to her marine community in Jeju by applying her STEM knowledge. Winnie Elliot is from Tarawa, Kiribati. Vivian Goller is a rising senior in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and loves music, chai tea lattes, and her dog, Winston. She hopes to major in Environmental Sciences in college and to somehow contribute to plastic-related research. Shoutout to her parents and friends for keeping it real. Harry Kim is a high schooler in Texas. He has been fascinated by the ocean from a very young age and is interested in marine biology as a possible career choice. Nora Prather is a high schooler in Virginia. She is interested in marine biology and hopes to be a marine biologist someday. Joseph Morimai Ratinteraoi is from Tarawa, Kiribati. Solveig Schneider is a rising senior from Gießen in Germany. She loves books, tea and hazelnut ice cream. In the future, she would like to see more affordable and sustainable everyday goods coming onto the market.
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Luciana Tooma is a senior student at King George V & Ellaine Bernacchi School in Tarawa, and she loves the sound of the ocean ever since she was little. She has always wanted to be a marine biologist, among her other choices.
