plastic pollution – Aquarius-Systems

Water Hyacinths May Help Remove Microplastics From Water

Thu, 01 May 2025 17:15:16 +0000

Water hyacinth is often seen as a serious problem in lakes and rivers around the world. The fast-growing invasive plant can clog waterways, block sunlight, reduce oxygen levels, and harm native wildlife. Managing large infestations is difficult and expensive, especially in tropical and subtropical regions where the plant spreads quickly.

Now, researchers are exploring whether this problematic plant might also offer some benefits. A new study suggests that water hyacinths could help remove microplastics from freshwater. Scientists found that the plants trapped tiny plastic particles in their roots, potentially helping clean up polluted waterways.

In the experiment, researchers placed water hyacinths in tanks containing microplastics and observed how the particles clung to the plant roots. After just four days, the plants removed more than half of the microplastics from the water.

While more research is needed, this study adds to the growing interest in finding new ways to manage invasive aquatic plants and fight plastic pollution in lakes and rivers.

Marine Plastic May Affect Growth Rates and Health of Fish

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 20:52:33 +0000

Plastic is the predominant type of manmade debris found in rivers and oceans today. Between 60 and 80% of all marine debris is comprised of petroleum based plastics.

Despite the fact that plastic pollution is a relatively recent phenomena, the problem has reached the far corners of the global oceans. Most of the obvious plastic pollution is inshore, such as those seen on beaches and intertidal area, but most of the plastic is out of sight in remote locations.
We all know that plastic pollution has impacted marine life through entanglement or ingestion, but what impact does it have on fish?

Most fish start out as planktonic larvae that need to feed on other planktonic organisms to survive and grow, but in some parts of the world there is more plastic than plankton. Mistaking the plastic for zooplankton, fish will feed on the plastic which provides no nutritional value for the fish, potentially reducing growth rates.

Plastic Debris in the Charlestown Harbor Negatively Impact Marine Life

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 17:38:29 +0000

The “pristine” Charleston estuary waters in South Carolina, are in worse shape than most people think. At least 7- ½ tons worse.

That’s how much plastic is estimated to be breaking down in the tide and waves of Charlestown Harbor, its tidal rivers and creeks. The total comes from a study by a research team from The Citadel. The assessment doesn’t even gauge how much of that plastic already has come apart into microscopic fragments, fibers or balls.

Nobody knows yet how far the wastes degrade water quality or human health, but troubling studies of the impact on marine life are starting to emerge. Sooner or later, a portion of the plastic waste gets eaten by marine critters such as shrimp. It can kill them, or be eaten by humans.

Bag Bans Will Keep Harmful Plastic Out of the Ocean

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 16:40:45 +0000

Around the world, people dump about 20 million tons of plastic into the ocean every year, much of it in the form of flyaway plastic bags. This waste doesn’t get magically swallowed by the ocean–it lingers indefinitely, posing a threat to marine life and to human health.

Picking up garbage in the ocean is an expensive proposition, so the smart solution is to stop this waste at its source. That’s why California—with its 840-mile coastline and a 13-billion-bag-a-year habit, just became the first state in the nation to ban single-use plastic bags.

Plastic in the ocean doesn’t disappear; it can stay intact for decades in the ocean, where they can hurt marine life as well as human health. Whales and turtles mistake floating bags for squid or jellyfish, and seabirds, like albatross, feed bits of plastic to their chicks—eating plastic can lead to starvation, malnutrition, or internal injuries. Some plastics contain toxic substances that can kill or harm reproduction in fish, shellfish, or any marine life.

Read More https://www.nrdc.org/bio/peter-lehner/bag-bans-will-keep-harmful-plastic-out-ocean

Formosa Plastics Agrees to Settle Lawsuit for Illegally Dumping Plastic

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 19:15:58 +0000

Petrochemical manufacturer Formosa Plastics has agreed to pay $50 million to settle a lawsuit in which a judge ruled the company illegally dumped billions of plastic pellets and other pollutants into Lavaca Bay and other Texas waterways, according to the settlement.

In addition to the financial settlement, the company agreed to comply with “zero discharge” of all plastics in the future and to clean up existing pollution.

July 2022 Newsletter

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 17:00:51 +0000

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

A Message From Our Leader: The more I learn about plastic pollution, the more remorse I have about all the plastic supporting my very existence.

Oil Sold the World on Plastics Recycling

Will Plastic Pollution Save Our Lives?

Upcoming Conferences:

Aquatic Plant Management Society 62nd Annual Meeting
Florida Lake Management Society 33rd Annual Technical Symposium

March 2022 Newsletter

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 22:28:54 +0000

Trash Talk

A Message From Our Leader: Aquarius Systems First in the Game to Produce Marine Debris Collection Equipment

The Pollution Solution

Plastic Pollution in Oceans to Rise

Global Ban on Single-Use Plastic

Yeti Coolers Wash up on Shore

Upcoming Conferences

Illinois Lake Management Association Annual Conference
Wisconsin Lakes & Rivers 44th Annual Conference
Indiana Lakes Management Society 33rd Annual Conference
Michigan Lakes & Streams Association 61st Annual Conference
Consortium of Aquatic Science Societies Meeting

July 2020 Newsletter

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 21:35:42 +0000

More People Than Ever Appreciate Lakes

Aquatic Plant Fertilizer

Appreciated Like Never Before

Plastic Pollution Still Fully Intact After Years Underwater

Water Hyacinth a Natural Sorbent

July 2019 Newsletter

Fri, 30 Dec 2022 16:12:50 +0000

Rain, Rain Go Away

July is Lakes Appreciation Month

Invasive Nile Perch on Brink of Extinction

Plastic Bans Proliferate in 2019

Rain, Rain Go Away

Re-Launch

January 2019 Newsletter

Fri, 30 Dec 2022 15:58:01 +0000

From Loss to Hope

What’s on Your Plate?

Environmental Losses Spark Hope in 2019

New Blade Technology Reduces Salt Use

Texas Coast Overwhelmed with Plastic Debris