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Plastic pollution is an urgent environmental problem. - Coggle Diagram
Plastic pollution is an urgent environmental problem.
Global Dispersion of Pollution
Rivers: Transport waste to the sea
Ocean currents: Distribute plastic globally
The global problem
Effects
Harm to animal and human health
Causes
Increase in production of single use plastics
Inefficient garbage collection systems
Global Reaction
Proposed Global Treaty
Solutions to the problem
Difficult to recover plastic from the ocean
Reduce production of single-use plastics
Better product design
Improve waste management systems
Why was plastic invented?
1907: First synthetic plastic (Leo Baekeland)
USES: Medicine, Transportation, Drinking water...
Current problem: Disposable culture
Plastics in Figures
50% of all plastics were manufactured in the last 20 years
2.3 million tons (1950) → 448 million (2015)
8 million tons end up in the ocean each year
Microplastics and Human Health
Source: Fragmentation by sun, wind, and waves
Found: Oceans, air, drinking water, and in human bodies (blood, lungs, feces)
Consequences: Cellular damage, reproductive problems, ongoing research...