Pacific Trash Vortex Aaron Kirby Kadori Ngirabakunzi Kevin Washington CHEM 4110 Dr. Hornbuckle Aaron Kirby Kadori Ngirabakunzi Kevin Washington CHEM 4110.

Presentation on theme: "Pacific Trash Vortex Aaron Kirby Kadori Ngirabakunzi Kevin Washington CHEM 4110 Dr. Hornbuckle Aaron Kirby Kadori Ngirabakunzi Kevin Washington CHEM 4110."— Presentation transcript:

1 Pacific Trash Vortex Aaron Kirby Kadori Ngirabakunzi Kevin Washington CHEM 4110 Dr. Hornbuckle Aaron Kirby Kadori Ngirabakunzi Kevin Washington CHEM 4110 Dr. Hornbuckle

2 Learning objectives Describe the pacific trash vortex Describe the conditions that made the formation of the trash vortex possible Describe the effects of plastics on a marine environment Describe the process of plastic degradation Name some proposed methods for cleaning up the trash vortex Describe the pacific trash vortex Describe the conditions that made the formation of the trash vortex possible Describe the effects of plastics on a marine environment Describe the process of plastic degradation Name some proposed methods for cleaning up the trash vortex

3 What is the vortex? A giant collection of floating trash in the Pacific Ocean Larger than the state of Texas Particles of plastic float below the surface of the ocean A giant collection of floating trash in the Pacific Ocean Larger than the state of Texas Particles of plastic float below the surface of the ocean http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/09/photogalleries/pacific- garbage-patch-pictures/index.html http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/09/photogalleries/pacific- garbage-patch-pictures/index.html

4 Where did it come from? 80% comes from pollutants dumped from the land 20% comes from ships dumping trash 80% comes from pollutants dumped from the land 20% comes from ships dumping trash

5 COnditions that make formation favorable Ocean currents cause the trash to collect at specific locations http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/Currents.svg/1000px-Currents.svg.png

6 http://www.5minutesforgoinggreen.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/pacific-garbage-patch30oct071.gif

7 What happens to plastic in the ocean? Photodegradation Absorption of UV light breaks down polymer chains of plastic Plastics break into small particles that float under the surface of the ocean Particles as deep as 300 feet Photodegradation Absorption of UV light breaks down polymer chains of plastic Plastics break into small particles that float under the surface of the ocean Particles as deep as 300 feet http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Polyethylene-repeat-2D.png

8 The plastic problem Plastics do not biodegrade Plastics act as a chemical sponge Breakdown can take hundreds of years Plastics do not biodegrade Plastics act as a chemical sponge Breakdown can take hundreds of years

9 Effects on marine life Plastic particles are sucked up by filter feeders Ingestion of plastics can lead to poisoning Chemicals are absorbed and concentrated by plastics Poison filled masses Seabirds found with cigarette lighters, toothbrushes inside of their stomachs Plastic particles are sucked up by filter feeders Ingestion of plastics can lead to poisoning Chemicals are absorbed and concentrated by plastics Poison filled masses Seabirds found with cigarette lighters, toothbrushes inside of their stomachs

10 Birds and mammals found dead from starvation with their stomachs full of plastics Fish are becoming so toxic that they will soon be too hazardous to eat 200,000 out of the 500,000 Albatrosses die due to being fed plastics mistakenly by their parents Birds and mammals found dead from starvation with their stomachs full of plastics Fish are becoming so toxic that they will soon be too hazardous to eat 200,000 out of the 500,000 Albatrosses die due to being fed plastics mistakenly by their parents

11 additional problems Damage to boats and submarines Litter beaches Discourage swimming Harm commercial and local fisheries The new sand is “plastic sand” Transplanting of nuisance species Harm life at the sea floor Damage to boats and submarines Litter beaches Discourage swimming Harm commercial and local fisheries The new sand is “plastic sand” Transplanting of nuisance species Harm life at the sea floor

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14 Ocean Trash Vortex Clean Up Prevention – Educating populations about the problem – International problem – Giving plastic a value for recycling Prevention – Educating populations about the problem – International problem – Giving plastic a value for recycling

15 Ocean Trash Vortex Clean Up Ships with nets to skim the waters while in transit across the sea. – Increase the drag therefore increasing cost – Burning more fossile fuels – May kill sea life Ships with nets to skim the waters while in transit across the sea. – Increase the drag therefore increasing cost – Burning more fossile fuels – May kill sea life

16 Ocean Trash Vortex Clean Up Microbes that eat plastics – Not proven – Problem with introducing foreign life into environments. Danial Burd Microbes that eat plastics – Not proven – Problem with introducing foreign life into environments. Danial Burd

17 http://www.barrhead.ca/UserFiles/Image/recycle%20symbol.jpg

18 References http://www.china- clamshell.com/clamshellblog/2010/03/photodegradation- mechanism-of-plastic.htm http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/campaigns/oceans/follow- the-journey/trashing-our-oceans http://www.china- clamshell.com/clamshellblog/2010/03/photodegradation- mechanism-of-plastic.htm http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/campaigns/oceans/follow- the-journey/trashing-our-oceans