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BIOL 381 > 18 - Plastics > Flashcards

18 - Plastics Flashcards

1
Q

Most of the plastic we use is for… How long does it last?

A

Almost half is for packaging (lasts less than six months)

A lot is for consumer products (3yrs) and textiles (5 yrs)

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2
Q

What are plastics?

A

Polymers: long-chain molecules made of repeating links, or monomers

Common unit is polyethylene

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3
Q

Slides 11,12

A

Look

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4
Q

What is the plastic cycle?

A

Continuous and complex movement of plastic materials between different abiotic and biotic ecosystem compartments, including humans

Slide 14, 15

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5
Q

How much plastic is produced, used and what is the fate of plastic?

A

8300 million tones primary production

In-use 2500 MT

Discarded 4900 MT
Recycled 600 MT
Incinerated 800 MT

Secondary production 100 MT

Slide 16

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6
Q

Slides 17-25

A

Just figures and stuff

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7
Q

Give two examples of mechanisms by which plastic pollution affects marine wildlife

A
  1. Magellanic penguin ingests straws, line which perforates their stomachs
  2. Green sea turtles eat balloons and string which causes GI distress and starvation

Slide 22

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8
Q

What is a nanoparticle? Microparticle?

A

Nano = a particle <1 um in diameter across their widest dimension

Micro = a particle between 1-5000 um in size (5000 um = 5mm)

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9
Q

Primary and secondary sources of micro and nano plastics

A

Primary: nanoplastics made on purpose for industrial use

Secondary: breakdown of macroplastics

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10
Q

Three routes of plastic particle entry into the human body

A
  1. Ingestion of plastic particles (in food, drink)
  2. Inhalation of airborne plastic particles (fertilizers, wastewater treatm, synthetic textiles)
  3. Skin contact of plastic particles: water, health and beauty products on damaged skin
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11
Q

Slides 29-33

A

Look

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12
Q

What are microbeads? Problem?

A

Microparticles, usually made of polyethylene or can be made of other plastics or glass

Problem: they do not degrade, often too small/lightweight to be removed by standard wastewater treatment

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13
Q

How can microbeads affect wildlife

A
  • Easily ingested by filter feeders
  • Are not digested
  • Passed up the food chain
  • If large enough, can accumulate in the gut

Slide 41

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14
Q

Slides 42, 43

A

Confused

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15
Q

Source of plastic fibers? Problem?

A

Clothing

Similar issues to microbeads: consumed by filter feeders, move up food web, don’t degrade

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16
Q

What are degraded plastics?

A

UV light can degrade plastics, break them down into smaller pieces

These pieces can sometimes aggregate and precipitate out (sink and end up in sediment)

Slide 47

17
Q

What are benthic organisms? Effect on plastics?

A

Animals that live on the sea floor

Can influence the movement of microplastics between water column and sediments

e.g. particle capture and burial

18
Q

Where are most plastics in our oceans?

A

Most in pacific ocean (upper middle)

Lots in the Indian ocean (east cost of Africa)
Lots around Australia

19
Q

To lower your plastic foot print, look for certain ingredients in product labels:

A
  • polyethylene
  • polypropylene
  • nylon
20
Q

Why buy merino wool instead?

A
  • natural lanolin found in wool has antimicrobial properties
  • merino is soft and lightweight (like poly fibers)
21
Q

How to properly care for clothing to prevent plastic fiber loss

A
  • Use liquid detergent instead of powder
  • Wash in cold instead of warm/hot
  • Gentle cycle instead of heavy duty
  • Air dry instead of dryer
22
Q

Cooperation between what sectors is required to solve the plastic crisis? (5)

A
  • Governance (legislation, regulation, education)
  • Producers (investments, materials, practices)
  • Consumers (reduce, reuse, recycle. Responsible disposal, cleanup, awareness)
  • Waste management (zero waste, litter capture and removal)
  • Research (marine, health, environmental, social science)

Slide 56

23
Q

Six steps to strategy to reduce plastic pollution to near zero

A
  1. Reduce plastic production
  2. Innovative materials and product design
  3. Reduce waste generation
  4. Improve global waste management
  5. Improve litter capture
  6. Reduce input concentrations into ocean

Slide 57

24
Q

Slides 60-65

A

COVID plastic pandemic
Three R’s

BIOL 381 (18 decks)

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