The Widening Gyre of Plastic Pollution in the Ocean
The North Pacific sub-tropical gyre has a massive spiral of floating plastic crap floating over an area estimated from the size of Texas to bigger than the continental United States. Most of this plastic is from run-off from rivers and streams from around the world, much of it gradually breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces that eventually become as small as plankton. Already in vast areas of the ocean these plankton-sized particles outnumber the real particles by greater than 7 : 1.
This plastic can also act as a chemical sponge soaking up and concentrating all kinds of nasty chemicals which then enter the food chain with devastating impact to all kinds of marine life, birds and perhaps eventually returning back to us in new deadly forms. This is an complex and urgent issue we should all learn as much as possible about and put pressure on politicians to reduce and eliminate plastic pollution as much as possible and to launch campaigns to start to clean up the oceans.
Here is a great video, The Sythetic Sea and below are some great links for information on this issue.
Synthetic Sea
World biggest garbage dump – plastic in the Ocean
Trashed great article and site by Mindfully.org on plastic in the ocean.
Plastic Soup Flash presentation on the Alguita oceanographic research voyage into the great pacific garbage patch.
The Trash Vortex Greenpeace article on this issue.
Great_Pacific_Garbage_Patch wikipedia
Sea of Trash – NYT article 6/22/08
April 22nd, 2009 20:35
This was brought to my attention today….I guess that we are just slowly exterminating our resources….What can be done? Do we need to start ridding the planet of people? What have we done? As of this moment, my life is different….
May 11th, 2009 12:24
[...] that you are thrilled with our pervasive use of plastic, especially the types that have collected in the Pacific Ocean in a no-man’s land twice the size of Texas and 90 feet deep, killing marine life and birds that venture into it and getting into the food supply, and toxic [...]
August 4th, 2009 16:39
[...] http://greatgreengadgets.com/gadgets/2009/02/16/the-widening-gyre-of-plastic-pollution-in-the-ocean/ [...]
August 28th, 2009 11:59
Where is this North Pacific Gyre plastic pollution (LAT,LON)? Can we see it on Google Earth/Maps?
It would be nice if Google put a high resolution of that area on Google Earth/Maps. That would make people see it more clearly and even chock them (and hopefully open their eyes).
September 11th, 2009 12:25
stop it
just
make
this
stop!
we can
yes we can
December 13th, 2009 21:14
The question here is not “they”! The question here is about “US”! We need to start doing something immediatly starting in our homes and with the changing of our habits (recycle!). We also can educate those near us who are not aware. A strong public opinion against those who pollute more (companies, factories, etc.) is also advisable.
WE all just need to find some common sense! It is this simple, but it needs work with changes!
January 17th, 2010 13:35
Thank you very much for sharing this great article. I am happy to read this post and come to know about the negative effect of Plastic bags pollution on our environment. And I am agree with your view that Plastic bag pollution is very deadly and we should try to use reusablecanvas bags it will be really helpful for environment protection.
February 24th, 2010 04:36
How long do you spend a day coming up with stuff like this?