16 Questions
What phrase was used a lot in the 1950s when mass-produced plastic items started to become part of our everyday lives?
Plastic is fantastic
What is the estimated percentage of single-use plastics in all plastic pollution globally?
40%
How much plastic waste is estimated to be dumped into the oceans every year?
11 million tonnes
What are the tiny plastic pieces known as that have been found inside the human body?
Microbeads
What is the potential route by which microbeads can be passed from mother to child?
Through breast milk
What environmental issue has led to the questioning of our love for plastic?
Climate change and pollution caused by single-use plastics
What was the original purpose of inventing plastic?
To replace the decreasing supply of natural materials like metal, wood, and glass.
What did Dr. Sherry Mason's research into microplastics in rivers lead to?
The US Congress banning microbeads.
According to Dr. Sherry Mason, why doesn't nature know what to do with plastic?
Because it is a synthetic material and nature hasn't evolved to break it down.
What happens to natural materials like paper when they decay?
They harmlessly turn back into soil.
What is responsible for the waste we see in the environment?
The fact that plastic doesn't decay.
What is the name of the plastic-eating microbe mentioned in the text?
Rhodococcus rube.
What is needed in addition to plastic-eating microbes to address plastic waste?
An emphasis on reducing plastic production, especially packaging and other single-use products, rather than simply recycling.
Why was plastic invented to replace natural materials?
Due to the decreasing supply of natural materials like metal, wood, and glass.
What is the problem with plastic in aquatic systems?
Few organisms can use it as a food source due to its synthetic nature.
What is the main difference between plastic and natural materials like paper in terms of decay?
Plastic doesn't decay and get broken down by microbes and bacteria, while natural materials like paper do.
Study Notes
The Rise of Plastic
- The phrase "better living through chemistry" was used extensively in the 1950s when mass-produced plastic items became part of everyday life.
Plastic Pollution
- An estimated 80% of plastic pollution globally comes from single-use plastics.
Plastic Waste
- Approximately 8 million tons of plastic waste are dumped into oceans every year.
Microplastics
- Microplastics are tiny plastic pieces found inside the human body.
- Microbeads can be passed from mother to child through the placenta.
Environmental Impact
- The environmental issue of plastic pollution has led to a reevaluation of our love for plastic.
Origin of Plastic
- Plastic was originally invented to replace natural materials.
Dr. Sherry Mason's Research
- Dr. Sherry Mason's research into microplastics in rivers led to a deeper understanding of plastic pollution.
Nature and Plastic
- According to Dr. Sherry Mason, nature doesn't know what to do with plastic because it's a foreign substance.
Natural Materials
- Natural materials like paper decay into organic compounds.
Human Responsibility
- Humans are responsible for the waste seen in the environment.
Plastic-Eating Microbe
- The plastic-eating microbe mentioned in the text is Ideonella sakaiensis.
Addressing Plastic Waste
- In addition to plastic-eating microbes, a change in human behavior is needed to address plastic waste.
Origins of Plastic
- Plastic was invented to replace natural materials, which were becoming scarce.
Plastic in Aquatic Systems
- Plastic in aquatic systems is a major problem because it doesn't decay like natural materials.
Decay of Materials
- The main difference between plastic and natural materials like paper is that plastic doesn't decay naturally.
Test your knowledge of the history and impact of plastic in modern life. Explore how plastic became a widely used material and its prevalence in everyday items.
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