junkride synthetic sea

Our Our SynthetiSyntheti

c Seac Sea

Our Our SynthetiSyntheti

c Seac Sea

Marcus Eriksen, PhDMarcus Eriksen, PhDAnna CumminsAnna CumminsAlgalita Marine Research Algalita Marine Research FoundationFoundation

1992199260 billion60 billionpoundspounds(EPA,1992)(EPA,1992)

20042004115 115 billionbillionpoundspounds(ACC, (ACC, 2005)2005)

21st Century = The Plasticene 21st Century = The Plasticene EraEra

Throwaway Living Throwaway Living Life Magazine, 1955Life Magazine, 1955

In a In a “Throwawa“Throwaway” society…y” society…

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to see this picture.

……where is “Away”?where is “Away”?

(California Integrated Waste Management Board, “Plastics White (California Integrated Waste Management Board, “Plastics White Paper” 2003)Paper” 2003)

QuickTime™ and a decompressor


Here is Here is “AWAY”“AWAY”

QuickTime™ and aH.264 decompressor


LAYSAN ALBATROSSLAYSAN ALBATROSS

Where Where does it does it come come from?from?

80% runoff - 20% maritime industry80% runoff - 20% maritime industry

United Nations ReportUnited Nations Report

Where is it going?Where is it going?

North Pacific GyreNorth Pacific Gyre(approx. 5 million sq.mi.)(approx. 5 million sq.mi.)

5 Subtropical Gyres5 Subtropical Gyres

(Maximenko, IPRC Climate, vol. 8, no. 2, 2008)

Expeditions to the Expeditions to the North Pacific GyreNorth Pacific Gyre

The Manta TrawlThe Manta TrawlSkims 20 cm of ocean surface

with a 333 micron mesh net.

The mass of plastic was The mass of plastic was 6 times6 times heavier than the heavier than the total bio-mass on the ocean surface in our study area. total bio-mass on the ocean surface in our study area.

Surface abundance was Surface abundance was .002 grams/m.002 grams/m22..

1999 1999 Plastic Plastic Density Density EstimateEstimate



2008 Expedition

2008 Expedition

Surface abundance today is Surface abundance today is .004 .004 grams/mgrams/m22, , doublingdoubling in 9 years. in 9 years.

2008 Plastic Density Estimat

e

2008 Plastic Density Estimat

e



2008 MYCTOPHID

STUDIES

2008 MYCTOPHID

STUDIES



Lowiena interrupta Hygophum reinhardii

Symbolophorus

californiensis

Myctophum

aurolanternatum

Astronesthes

indopacifica

Cololabis saira

Stomach AnalysisStomach Analysis

PLASTIC

PLANKTON

Plastic IngestionPlastic Ingestion

Record Holder - 84 fragments

Record Holder - 84 fragments


Alarming ResultsAlarming ResultsTotal Fish = 671 (46% Total Fish = 671 (46% immature)immature)

6 Species:6 Species: Count % with Count % with Ingested Ingested PlasticPlastic

Astronesthes indopacifica Astronesthes indopacifica 66 1616

Cololabis sairaCololabis saira 51 51 16 16

Hygophum reinhardiiHygophum reinhardii 43 43 2323

Loweina interrupaLoweina interrupa 26 26 8 8

Myctophum aurolanternatumMyctophum aurolanternatum 460460 3737

Symbolophorus californiensisSymbolophorus californiensis 74 74 565635% had plastic in the stomachs35% had plastic in the stomachs

www.junkraft.com

PHASE 2

Raft across Pacific Ocean

to get attention

PHASE 2

Raft across Pacific Ocean

to get attention

PHASE 3

Bicycle 2000 miles to give

samples away

PHASE 3

Bicycle 2000 miles to give

samples away

PHASE 1

Gyre expedition to get samples

PHASE 1

Gyre expedition to get samples

The Voyage of The Voyage of JUNKJUNKThe Voyage of The Voyage of JUNKJUNK

JUNK made from JUNKJUNK made from JUNK

QuickTime™ and aH.264 decompressor


Rainbow RunnerRainbow Runner 17 fragments of plastic in 17 fragments of plastic in its stomachits stomach

Polycyclic Aromatic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Hydrocarbons (PAH’s)(PAH’s)

PAH’s are a group of over 100 PAH’s are a group of over 100 different chemicals that are different chemicals that are formed during the incomplete formed during the incomplete burning of coal, oil and gas, burning of coal, oil and gas, garbage, or other organic garbage, or other organic substances like tobacco or substances like tobacco or charbroiled meat. PAHs are charbroiled meat. PAHs are found in coal tar, crude oil, found in coal tar, crude oil, creosote, and roofing tar, creosote, and roofing tar, plastics, and pesticides.plastics, and pesticides.

Organo- Chlorine Organo- Chlorine PesticidesPesticides They include DDT which They include DDT which was a major pesticide used was a major pesticide used in agriculture until it was in agriculture until it was banned.banned.

Polychlorinated Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)biphenyls (PCBs)

They’re mixtures of up to 209 They’re mixtures of up to 209 individual chlorinated individual chlorinated compounds (known as compounds (known as congeners) used as flame congeners) used as flame retardants.retardants.

POPs QUIZPOPs QUIZ

One plastic pellet can have up to 1 One plastic pellet can have up to 1 (hundred, thousand, or million) (hundred, thousand, or million) times higher concentration of POPs times higher concentration of POPs than ambient seawater. than ambient seawater. (Takada, 2001)(Takada, 2001)

How synthetic are we?

How synthetic are we?

287 chemicals detected in 10 newborns 287 chemicals detected in 10 newborns umbilical cord bloodumbilical cord blood

134 known human carcinogens134 known human carcinogens

158 toxic to brain and nervous 158 toxic to brain and nervous systemsystem

186 linked to infertility186 linked to infertility

151 shown to cause birth defects151 shown to cause birth defects

*EWG: Ten Americans, 2004

*DANGERS FROM EXPOSURE TO COMBINATION OF THESE CHEMICALS HAS YET TO BE STUDIED



Can’t weCan’t weSCOOP IT SCOOP IT

ALL AWAY?ALL AWAY?

Imagine sifting Imagine sifting the Sahara.....the Sahara.....

What can we do?What can we do?

Is recycling the answer?Is recycling the answer?

• Inefficient recoveryInefficient recovery• Limited marketsLimited markets• ContaminationContamination• Low melting pointLow melting point• DowncyclingDowncycling

BioplasticBioplastic



We must redesign products…

We must redesign products…





Cradle to CradleCradle to Cradle

…and keep waste out of the sea.

…and keep waste out of the sea.



Structural Controls

Beach and Reef Clean-ups

We will continue research…We will continue research…

North Pacific Gyre 2009 North Atlantic Gyre 2009

Fish Tissue Studies

……and teach others.and teach others.*JUNKRIDE: Cycling 2000 MILES*JUNKRIDE: Cycling 2000 MILES

*35 TALKS, 100 GYRE SAMPLE *35 TALKS, 100 GYRE SAMPLE GIVEAWAYS GIVEAWAYS

We can end the Age of Throw Away

Plastic..

We can end the Age of Throw Away

Plastic..

…and demand industry cooperation.

…and demand industry cooperation.

SOURCE OF STUDY OUTCOME FUNDING HARM NO HARM

Government 138 (93%) 11 (7%) 149

Chemical Corporations 0 (0%) 12 (100%) 12

138 23 161

vom Saal and Hughes, 2005 Environmental Health Perspectives

MANUFACTURED UNCERTAINTYEVIDENCE FOR BIAS DUE TO SOURCE OF FUNDING IN ANIMAL STUDIES WITH BPA

AT HUMAN EXPOSURE LEVELS (1997 - 2004)

WHAT CAN YOU DO

TODAY TO RISE ABOVE

PLASTICS?

WHAT CAN YOU DO

TODAY TO RISE ABOVE

PLASTICS?

1) REDUCE YOUR 1) REDUCE YOUR FORKPRINTFORKPRINT

1) REDUCE YOUR 1) REDUCE YOUR FORKPRINTFORKPRINT

TO GO WARE ECOUSABLE BRING YOUR OWN

2) SUPPORT LOCAL 2) SUPPORT LOCAL GROUPSGROUPS

2) SUPPORT LOCAL 2) SUPPORT LOCAL GROUPSGROUPS

Education KitEducation Kit Atlantic Gyre Atlantic Gyre

ExpeditionExpedition JUNK RIDEJUNK RIDE Synthetic MESynthetic ME

Education KitEducation Kit Atlantic Gyre Atlantic Gyre

ExpeditionExpedition JUNK RIDEJUNK RIDE Synthetic MESynthetic ME

3) SUPPORT ALGALITA3) SUPPORT ALGALITA3) SUPPORT ALGALITA3) SUPPORT ALGALITANEW EDUCATION KIT INCLUDES:NEW EDUCATION KIT INCLUDES:



Let’s leave a better legacy.

Let’s leave a better legacy.

ALGALITA MARINE ALGALITA MARINE RESEARCH FOUNDATIONRESEARCH FOUNDATION

www.algalita.orgwww.algalita.org

junkride synthetic sea

Education

fragments of plastic

plastic pellet

fragments plastic ingestion

plastic density estimate

ocean surface

pacific ocean

surface abundance

thenorth pacific gyre