Plastic Pollution
Overview
Plastic is one of the most useful materials ever invented: cheap, light, strong and almost indestructible. That last quality is exactly the problem. The plastic bag you use for ten minutes may outlive your grandchildren, drifting in the ocean for centuries, breaking into ever smaller pieces but never truly going away. Today vast rafts of plastic circle the oceans, and tiny fragments turn up inside fish, seabirds and even ourselves.
In this lesson you will learn the difference between conventional, bio- and biodegradable plastics, and what microplastics are. You will see how plastic pollutes marine ecosystems, from tangling and choking wildlife to building up through the food chain, and study the strategies, from avoiding single-use plastics to recycling and tough laws, that could turn the tide.
Objectives
- 3.6.1 Describe conventional plastics as plastics made from fossil fuels that are generally non-biodegradable.
- 3.6.2 Describe bioplastics as plastics that can be biodegradable or non-biodegradable and are fully or partly made from biological raw materials rather than from fossil fuels.
- 3.6.3 Describe biodegradable plastics as plastics that: (a) are designed to decompose in water or soil (b) are decomposed by the action of bacteria and fungi into water, biomass and gases (carbon dioxide and methane) (c) decompose at different rates depending on biotic and abiotic factors.
- 3.6.4 Describe non-biodegradable plastics as plastics that break down over a long period of time.
- 3.6.5 Describe microplastics as plastics that are: (a) less than 5 mm in length (b) formed when larger plastics break down (c) used in commercial products.
- 3.6.6 Describe and explain the impacts of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems, limited to: (a) visual pollution (b) entanglement (c) risk of being mistaken for food by marine animals (d) bioaccumulation and biomagnification.
- 3.6.7 Describe and explain strategies for managing the impacts of plastic pollution, limited to: (a) alternative packaging (b) avoiding single-use plastics (c) safe disposal (d) recycling (e) legislation and enforcement.
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Plastic Pollution. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Microplastics are plastic pieces: A. larger than 5 cm B. less than 5 mm in length C. always biodegradable D. made only from plants Answer: B
- Conventional plastics are: A. made from biological materials B. always biodegradable C. made from fossil fuels and generally non-biodegradable D. decomposed quickly by bacteria Answer: C
- Which statement about bioplastics is correct? A. they are always biodegradable B. they are made only from fossil fuels C. they may be biodegradable or non-biodegradable D. they never break down Answer: C
- A turtle dies after swallowing a plastic bag. This is an example of: A. visual pollution B. plastic being mistaken for food C. recycling D. eutrophication Answer: B
- Which strategy reduces plastic pollution at its source? A. cleaning ocean gyres B. avoiding single-use plastics C. burning all plastic D. dumping it at sea Answer: B
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