KEY FACTS
How many metric tons of plastic were produced worldwide in 2012?
→ 288 million metric tons
What does it mean when plastic does not “degrade”?
→ It does not break down easily
What causes plastic to break into smaller pieces in the ocean?
→ Sunlight (UV rays) and wave action
Why might scientists be worried about “missing plastic” in the ocean?
→ It may have been eaten by marine life
What is one way people can reduce plastic pollution?
→ Use less plastic packaging
About what percent of plastic is estimated to end up in the ocean?
→ About 10%
What are microplastics?
→ Tiny pieces of plastic that come from larger plastics breaking down
Why is smaller plastic more dangerous than larger plastic?
→ It can enter living organisms more easily
Why would zooplankton eating plastic affect larger animals like whales?
→ They are part of the food chain, so effects spread upward
What can people use instead of plastic bags?
→ Reusable bags
How many metric tons of plastic entered the ocean in 2010 alone?
→ About 8 million metric tons
What are gyres?
→ Circular ocean currents that move plastic around
How does plastic enter the ocean from land?
→ Storms wash it into rivers and streams
Why is cleaning up microplastics nearly impossible?
→ They are too small and widespread
Why is preventing plastic waste better than cleaning it up?
→ Because microplastics cannot be removed from oceans
What percent of ocean plastic originally came from land?
→ 80%
What does “hydrophobic” mean?
→ Repels water but attracts oil and pollutants
What happens to animals that eat plastic instead of food?
→ They get less nutrition and may starve
What can be inferred about human impact on the ocean ecosystem?
→ Human actions are harming the entire food chain
What type of containers should people avoid using?
→ Polystyrene foam containers
How much plastic did scientists estimate was actually floating in the ocean?
→ 7,000 to 35,000 tons
What does “glom” most closely mean in the text?
→ To stick or attach to something
Why do toxic chemicals become more dangerous as they move up the food chain?
→ They build up and become more concentrated
Why might plastic pollution eventually affect humans?
→ Plastic and toxins move up the food chain into food people eat
What mindset change do scientists suggest about plastic use?
→ View plastic as reusable, not disposable