Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Pacific plastic soup grew 100-fold
France 24 /International News ^ | May 9, 2012 | France 24

Posted on 05/08/2012 7:06:17 PM PDT by Brandonmark

The vast swirl of plastic waste floating in the North Pacific has grown 100-fold over the last 40 years, according to a research paper published Wednesday.

And scientists warned the killer soup of microplastic -- particles smaller than five millimetres (one inch) -- threatened to alter the open ocean's natural environment.

In the period 1972 to 1987, no microplastic was found in the majority of samples taken for testing, said the paper in the Royal Society journal Biology Letters.

Today, scientists estimate the swirling mass of waste known as the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG) or the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, is roughly the size of Texas.

"The abundance of small human-produced plastic particles in the NPSG has increased by 100 times over the last four decades," said a statement on the findings of researchers from the University of California.

The United Nations Environment Programme says around 13,000 pieces of plastic litter are found in every square kilometre of sea, but the problem is worst in the North Pacific.

The plastic particles are being vacuumed up by marine life and birds, and the mix is heavy with toxic chemicals.

(Excerpt) Read more at france24.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: emvironment; enviromentalists
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-29 next last
Just blame it on Bush....
1 posted on 05/08/2012 7:06:29 PM PDT by Brandonmark
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Brandonmark

Yuppies had to have their bottled water and plastic Starbucks coffee cups.


2 posted on 05/08/2012 7:14:18 PM PDT by airborne (Paratroopers! Good to the last drop!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Brandonmark
particles smaller than five millimetres (one inch)

I think that something may have gotten lost in translation.

Or else they must have really, really big millimetres in France.

3 posted on 05/08/2012 7:18:36 PM PDT by Zeppo ("Happy Pony is on - and I'm NOT missing Happy Pony")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Brandonmark
particles smaller than five millimetres (one inch)

Is this some new unit of measurement?

4 posted on 05/08/2012 7:19:02 PM PDT by Oztrich Boy (This world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel - Horace Walpole)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: airborne

And plastic shopping bags.

Go to the grocery, get five items, get five bags
you’re saving a tree remember.

Maybe if it gets thick enough some one will pitch
a floating recycling plant to go out and mine it.


5 posted on 05/08/2012 7:21:35 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Brandonmark

It now encompasses the earth 10 times over.


6 posted on 05/08/2012 7:21:46 PM PDT by DannyTN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oztrich Boy

Socialist math.


7 posted on 05/08/2012 7:22:48 PM PDT by jwalsh07 (.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Brandonmark
In real America tourists would drive 200 miles out of their way to see the NPSG.

8 posted on 05/08/2012 7:23:28 PM PDT by I see my hands (If you say what you think then no one will like you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Brandonmark

If it continues to grow at the rate of hyperbole, we’ll be soon be able to traverse the stars on a road of plastic.


9 posted on 05/08/2012 7:23:35 PM PDT by DannyTN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Brandonmark
A lot of disposable plastic products like foam cups and garbage bags for example are impregnated with bacteria derived enzymes that greatly speed up their environmental breakdown. Back in the 80’s and 90’s a disposable foam cup could last months. Now they fall apart after a week or so due to enzyme accelerated degradation.
10 posted on 05/08/2012 7:25:38 PM PDT by SpaceBar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Brandonmark

Note to self: Invest in Pacific Plastic Soup.


11 posted on 05/08/2012 7:26:36 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (I heard Osama was unarmed and carrying a bag of "Skillets candy" when Obama shot him.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Brandonmark

This is why whenever I see a sea turtle, I tie a plastic bag to one of its arms, so they can go help pick this up.


12 posted on 05/08/2012 7:31:02 PM PDT by Vince Ferrer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Brandonmark

Over the last 40 years?
Just one word...Plastics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSxihhBzCjk


13 posted on 05/08/2012 7:32:39 PM PDT by Deaf Smith (O. M. G.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Brandonmark

Sounds like the perfect spot for an algae farm!


14 posted on 05/08/2012 7:34:45 PM PDT by katnip ( Why Do Democrats Hate Babies?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Brandonmark

No mention of the one size fits all, ribbed for her pleasure sort of debris. I see them all the time on Lake Ontario where the Genesee River empties out. The border line is referred to as the scum line.


15 posted on 05/08/2012 7:39:05 PM PDT by printhead (Standard & Poor - Poor is the new standard.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Zeppo

Heh. You might suppose that originally somebody identified five millimeters as one fifth of an inch, and then some pointy haired editor decided that was too confusing.


16 posted on 05/08/2012 7:50:40 PM PDT by dr_lew
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: printhead
Dang!

I probably need to move North. Sounds like people are having a lot of indoor fun up there.

17 posted on 05/08/2012 7:52:26 PM PDT by elkfersupper ( Member of the Original Defiant Class)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Brandonmark

18 posted on 05/08/2012 7:59:53 PM PDT by agrarianlady
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Brandonmark

the story is from France....is that a legitimate news source???


19 posted on 05/08/2012 8:19:13 PM PDT by Nifster
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Brandonmark
Oergon State University: Oceanic “garbage patch” not nearly as big as portrayed in media
20 posted on 05/08/2012 8:23:50 PM PDT by iowamark
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-29 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson