Plastics on our face

PHOTO BY 5GYRES

Just today, during my environmental engineering lecture, a guest speaker came to talk to us about the micro plastics that is floating in our waters. These plastic particles are usually less than 5mm in size and are often mistaken as food (fish eggs) by birds, fishes and other wildlife. Wildlife researchers have found plastic pellets in  the bellies of fishes and birds. When ingested, it causes liver and stomach problems, fishes and birds feel full although they are not actually consuming actual food and eventually die from it. 

 Albatross with belly full of plastic bottle caps

This Rainbow Runner, was found in the mid-Pacific Ocean in 2008 with 17 micro plastic bits found in its stomach.

PHOTOS BY 5GYRES

So how did all these micro plastic end up in the ocean? One of the sources highlighted by the speaker today was the use of plastic beads in exfoliating face and body washes. While it removes dead skin cells and give consumers a clean feeling, it is particularly problematic as it so small and is hard to be effectively removed by water treatment plants. 

Facial scrub which contains micro beads with Neutrogena Deep Clean containing the most.

PHOTOS BY 5GYRES

As responsible consumer, we should help minimise the problem by switching to cosmetics products that uses natural exfoliating beads. We can also look out for other major companies like Unilever, The Body Shop and Johnson & Johnson that have agreed to remove micro plastics from their products by 2015! 

For those who wants to do more, you can take part in the consumer petition campaign by 5Gyres called "Get Plastic Off My Face And Out Of My Water Now!"

Deep Deep Trouble!

"Thousands have lived without love, not one without water" ( Auden, 2007). According to Fraser (2010) our ocean holds around 97.5 percent of all water on Earth, covering 71% of the Earth's surface. Due the vastness of the ocean, many people think that there is an unlimited supply we can take from the ocean without destroying it. However, the amount that we are fishing out or toxins that we are throwing in, together with climate change, is rapidly degrading our ocean. Ocean researcher Sylvia Earle ( TED 2009) stated that in 50 years time, there might not be fishes in our ocean anymore. While our forests and animals on land are also in danger, Sylvia highlights that since the problem is more obvious on land, there are more awareness and measures taken to protect them. However, more needs to be done to save our ocean before it is too late.

This blog aims to raise awareness on the harm that we humans are bringing to the ocean and what are its consequences. Hopefully, more people will response to it and start saving the ocean that we have destroyed.

References:

The Poetic Quotidian. 2007. W. H. Auden, "First Things First" / E K, "Second Thoughts". [ONLINE] Available at: http://thepoeticquotidian.blogspot.sg/2007/02/w-h-auden-first-things-first-evan.html. [Accessed 20 August 14].

Fraser Cain. 2010. What Percent of Earth is Water?. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.universetoday.com/65588/what-percent-of-earth-is-water/. [Accessed 20 August 14].

TED. (2009). Sylvia Earle: My wish: Protect our oceans. [Online Video]. February 2009. Available from:http://www.ted.com/talks/sylvia_earle_s_ted_prize_wish_to_protect_our_oceans. [Accessed: 20 August 2014].