Activity 3.3.3.1 Current Events in Plastic Pollution

 

Current Event in Plastic Pollution 

1. Exploratory

Microplastics damage eating behavior and brain development in fish. Recent lab studies showed microplastics make rainbow trout more prone to salmonid disease, gill damage and other viruses. The fishes who were exposed to microplastics and carried the disease had a higher chance of dying. On the other hand, fish with the same disease who were not exposed to plastic had a slimmer chance of passing. With damaged gills it made it easier for the fish to get ill from many viruses. 

2. Diagnostic

Microplastics are the cause of fishes enduring change in their way of living. Microplastics are small pieces of plastic that are everywhere, because of the increased usage of plastic. They become small by the degradation of the sun overtime. Causing it to flow in all bodies of water. Making fishes to consume these small plastics. Research is still limited on how toxic it can be to living creatures. But in this case, they did notice the vulnerability the fishes inhabit from the constant consumption of microplastics. Furthermore, it causes the fishes to suffer from brain development and is prone to viruses causing a faster death.

3. Cause and Effect

If we continue to use more plastic more microplastics occur, adding more in water sources. If more microplastics get in water, fishes inject the plastic. If fishes consume plastic, they get vulnerable to diseases. With a higher chance of getting sick, fishes have a higher chance of dying.

4. Priority

The most important issue is that plastic pollution can do more damage than we really know. The research is limited, but the information getting released is concerning. This article specifically only covered plastic pollution effects on fish. I can only imagine how other living creatures get affected by microplastic. It is important to explore other effects, because one small change in the food chain affects everything else including us.

5. Application

This issue relates to me because it affects the food chain. If these viruses spread to other fishes, it can cause a decrease in fish. Not only that, but the water itself affects us. If the water is getting constantly polluted with plastic, it can create less drinkable water. There are no studies yet on the effects of microplastics, but we do know it is everywhere and unavoidable. 

6. Critical

It did not change my way of thinking or assumptions. I truly think plastic pollution is affecting our environment. We only see the big problems of plastic, like when people litter and a river once with clear water turns into a river full of water bottles. So, when it comes to microplastic I believe it can create just as big of an issue overtime. This article proves how a species of fish is uncovering some of the damage from microplastics.

References

“Home.” Microplastics, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004896972208295X?via=ihub. Accessed 6 April 2023.

Thornberg, Daniel, et al. “How Plastic Opens Fish Up to Disease.” Hakai Magazine, 5 April 2023, https://hakaimagazine.com/news/how-plastic-opens-fish-up-to-disease/. Accessed 6 April 2023.