Explore the causes and effects of water contamination, including microplastics, chemicals, and stormwater runoff. Learn how to protect lakes, rivers, and freshwater resources.
Six decades in the making the man-made ecosystem known as the plastisphere began as particles of degraded plastic no bigger than grains of salt. When that debris washes into the ocean, it breaks down into bits that are colonized by microscopic organisms, many of them new to science. Researchers suspect that some of the denizens
Trash of all kinds exists in the ocean – clean-up crews have found cigarette butts, glass bottles and even mattresses. But the most common type of trash found in the ocean’s gyres (circular currents formed by wind patterns and the earth’s rotation) is tiny pieces of broken down plastics, known as microplastics. Microplastics, as well
A 2015 study led by the University of Georgia ranked India 12th among the top 20 coastal populations (and 192 countries) in the world that sent 0.60 million tonnes per year of mismanaged plastic waste into the ocean. Each time polythene covers, carry bags, or synthetic packaging materials are carelessly dropped on the streets or
Much of the trash and debris found in New York Harbor originated as litter discarded on city streets that was subsequently washed into the sewer system. The help prevent the litter from reaching the Bronx River, New York Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has installed $26 million of pollution control devices along the Bronx River.
A new bill introduced in the Senate would provide a route to funnel more money to states plagued by marine debris — the millions of tons of trash that drifts toward U.S. shores, littering coastlines and tangling in fishing nets. The bill focuses on using the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s authority to authorize more
Indian Kashmir used to be a place people compared to mythical Shangri-La–verdant and unspoiled. And Nigeen Lake, in a green valley surrounded by the Himalayas, is considered by waterways officials to be the least polluted waterway in the city of Srinagar (population 1.3 million). Nigeen is important for tourism, recreation, and the city’s image, but
Every year, about 8-million tons of plastic ends up in our oceans, which is equal to five bags filled with plastic going along every foot of coastline in the world, according to Plastic Oceans, a non-profit organization. By 2025, they estimate the annual input will be about twice that. But how exactly is so much
Microplastics are merging with bacteria and turning into large clumps in sea water, scientists have discovered. Glue-like molecules emitted by bacteria – called biopolymers – join with the plastic particles to form large masses. Scientists have warned that these ‘complex’ masses pose a threat to marine wildlife as they can easily mistake them for food.
Seabirds like albatrosses belong to the most threatened bird group in the world. Coincidentally, this group of birds (Procellariiformes) also ingests the highest amount of human garbage found in oceans around the world. At this very moment, 250,000 tonnes of garbage is drifting through the world’s oceans and threatening marine wildlife who mistake it for