Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Plastic pollution in marine ecosystems and in the atmosphere - Coggle…
Plastic pollution in marine ecosystems and in the atmosphere
Narrative Component: Narration of the harm caused to marine populations through plastic consumption
Option 1: Seabirds
Option 2: Sea turtles
Facts to incorporate into my narrative :
1.) 6 out of 7 species of sea turtles are currently threatened with extinction
2.) Plastic consumption and climate change are driving factors of the decline in sea turtles.
3.) Turtles may confuse the plastic in the water as food, and it ends up building up in their digestive track.
Main Idea: The exponential rise of greenhouse gases that is produced by the production and consumption of plastic products.
Throughout the life cycle of plastics, they contribute to the production of greenhouse gases. (
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969721054693?via%3Dihub
)
As plastic consumption continues to rise, so do the amounts of emissions.
There are many types of plastics that break down differently, and even types of biodegradable plastics need to be disposed of properly in order to avoid them ending up directly in the environment.
Main Idea: The build up of plastic waste in marine ecosystems
Plastics don't just get destroyed when we throw them away. Macro plastics will break into smaller micro-plastics that end up in the environment.
Animals will consume these plastics which has impacted animal populations such as the turtles and sea birds.
The additives that are used in certain plastics may leak out and be released into the water. This is an important aspect to be regulated in order to protect humans and animals.
Main Idea: The proposed solutions for individuals and industries to reduce the plastic pollution problems.
Industries should continually use new methods for
Individuals can make swaps in their usage and be more mindful of products. Individuals also have a voice on laws passed to regulate this system.
Share the message that individual changes can make positive impacts.
Regulations of plastics that acknowledge it as something that we can't get rid of, but we can control our use of it.
Recycling as an energy-saving method is important when the materials allow it.
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rstb.2008.0304#d1e775
Background information:
The different types of plastics in the environment. (Micro, Macro)
Lifecycle of plastics.
https://digitalcommons.salve.edu/env434_justice/7/
(Good source on this)
Importance of plastics in society, and high rates of production.
There are positive aspects of our plastic consumption, such as medicine, but there is overconsumption of materials that don't leave the ecosystem.
