2. 8 million tons of plastic
enter the ocean every
year
This causes many serious
issues throughout the
Hawaiian islands
Plastic covering
once pristine
beaches
3. Plastic: the silent
killer of marine
life
Over 100 million marine
animals are killed each year due
to plastic debris in the ocean.
4. Doesn’t just hurt marine species
• Also harmful to humans
• Plastic absorbs highly toxic
pollutants and has a wide range
of chronic effects, including
cancer-causing mutations that
affect the fish we eat.
6. VOG is harmful to the environment
“Hawaii island received a failing
grade for particle pollution in the
air, according to an American Lung
Association report card released
today”
7. For people with asthma and other respiratory
problems, it can be a lot more serious, causing a
tightening of the airways in the lungs and making
it hard to breathe.
In healthy people can cause headaches,
watery eyes, sore throats, flulike symptoms, a
lack of energy and breathing problems
Health risk
8. The ocean’s currents and powerful trade winds
deposit thousands of pounds of man-made trash on
this beach each year.
Hawaii’s garbage patch on Kamilo
beach
Kamilo Point, on the big island known as one of
the dirtiest beaches in the world
9. In just a few months, the
Hawaii Wildlife Fund
(HWF) collected and
hauled away 15,000
pounds of trash, nylon nets
and fishing line from
Kamilo Beach.
12. Sources
• h t t p s : / / w w w. w a s h i n g t o n p o s t . c o m / n e w s / e n e r g y -
e n v i r o n m e n t / w p / 2 0 1 6 / 0 6 / 0 4 / h a w a i i s - b e l o v e d - b e a c h e s - a r e -
c o v e r e d - i n - h u g e - a m o u n t s - o f - p l a s t i c - s u r v e y -
f i n d s / ? u t m _ t e r m = . e 9 4 1 7 e c d f 7 a e
• h t t p : / / w w w. b i o l o g i c a l d i v e r s i t y. o r g / c a m p a i g n s / o c e a n _ p l a s t i c s /
• h t t p s : / / w w w. c l e a n w a t e r . o r g / p r o b l e m - m a r i n e - p l a s t i c - p o l l u t i o n
• I M A G E :
• h t t p s : / / w w w. g o o g l e . c o m / s e a r c h ? q = k a m i l o + b e a c h & r l z = 1 C 1 C H B F
_ e n U S 7 6 9 U S 7 6 9 & s o u r c e = l n m s & t b m = i s c h & s a = X & v e d = 0 a h U K E w j
n h 5 m 2 v 4 b Z A h U E x W M K H T Q r C 2 s Q _ A U I C y g C & b i w = 1 7 0 7 & b i h = 7 3 5
# i m g r c = z U O 2 V 1 3 v m q K 9 W M :
h t t p s : / / w w w. g o o g l e . c o m / s e a r c h ? q = p l a s t i c + o n + h a w a i i a n + b e a c h
e s & r l z = 1 C 1 C H B F _ e n U S 7 6 9 U S 7 6 9 & s o u r c e = l n m s & t b m = i s c h & s a =
X & v e d = 0 a h U K E w i r s _ -
Editor's Notes
plastic use has increased twenty fold in the past 50 years and is expected to double again in the next 20 years.
8 million tons of that plastic goes into the ocean every year
If we carry on that rate there will be more plastic by weight in the ocean than fish
Plastic pollution in the oceans is a rising concern among environmentalists because of the serious harm it can cause to marine organisms. Plastic debris is frequently found tangled up in the stomachs of birds who mistook it for food or wrapped around the bodies of drowned sea turtles and other swimming animals.
Plastic pollution doesn't just hurt marine species. It's also harmful to people. As plastic debris floats in the seawater, it absorbs dangerous pollutants like PCBs, DDT and PAH. These chemicals are highly toxic and have a wide range of chronic effects, including endocrine disruption and cancer-causing mutations.
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/ocean_plastics/
Volcanic gas emissions from the Big Island’s Kilauea volcano create vog. If the trade winds stop or if wind blows in the opposite direction, other islands including Oahu, Maui and Kauai, experience the condition. Kilauea has been in constant eruption since Jan. 3, 1983.
Most authorities indicate that the people most risk for health hazards around vog are those with lung problems, infants and young children. Some also say people with heart problems and pregnant women should also be cautious.
One idea to help the problem is to prevent the use of as much plastic waste. Preventing the generation of disposable products as much as possible reduces the amount of money needed for controlling and managing trash and litter. Prevention is both cost-effective and better for the environment.
Educating parents and young people about the harmful effects of plastic waste can greatly help solve the issue.
Plastic water bottles and bags are some of the most common harmful plastic waste. We can help solve this issue by using reusable containers for everyday things like grocery shopping.
