Ocean Debris Summary

How often do you think about the issue of ocean debris? Ocean debris is an environmental issue that continues to be discussed today. There is much debate over the amount of detriment ocean debris, including ocean plastic has on the environment. The Atlantic article “How Bad Is Ocean Garbage, Really?” by Elizabeth Preston examines whether or not the problems associated with ocean debris are as disadvantageous as they appear. The New York Times article “Trillions of Plastic Bits, Swept Up by Current, Are Littering Arctic Waters” by Tatiana Schlossberg more specifically discusses the accumulation of plastics in the ocean over time, and whether or not this is a problem that deserves acknowledgement. Perceptions regarding the effects of varying-

Preston says that “a lot of ocean debris is ‘microplastic,’ or pieces smaller than five millimeters. These may be the beads from a facial scrub, fibers shed by synthetic clothing in the wash, or eroded remnants of larger debris” (Preston). She goes on to say that “compared to the number of studies investigating large-scale debris, Rochman’s group found little research on the effects of these tiny bits. There are a lot of open questions still for microplastic” (Preston). This indicates that the information used to inform the public about the effects of ocean plastic widely focuses on larger pieces of debris rather than smaller ones. This is negative because the debris which average individuals have the most power to control are usually microplastic and come from objects such as facial washes, etc. This is problematic because if a lot of the plastic in the ocean is smaller, but only the effects of large pieces of debris are being reported, not all of the possible effects are presented. Therefore, the harm done by these smaller pieces (facial beads, etc) will continue because people will not be informed about the negative impacts and won’t know that they could improve the issue by changing their

The ability to correctly understand and differentiate between the areas which need the most help is important in order to make effective change. People have ideas about where they think the a lot of ocean trash is located, but are not actually certain that the information is true. For example, Preston asserts that “the name of the ‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch,’ a collection of marine debris in the northern Pacific Ocean, might conjure up a vast, floating trash island. In reality, though, much of the debris is tiny or below the surface; a person could sail through the area without seeing any garbage at all.” This demonstrates how a majority of people have a specific image about what the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” is even though the actuality drastically differs. It is imperative that scientists and other researchers ensure that the information provided is as extensive as possible so people are certain about which areas are highly concentrated with debris. As a result of more thorough information, people would know where to focus their efforts to more effectively solve the