August, 2023 – Ecosystemic Magazine

National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution: EPA’s Objective C

26Aug

By Esme HyattNo Comments

Global News & Policy

National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution: EPA’s Objective C

Image by Warren Hansen Written by Esme Hyatt EPA released the draft “National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution” Focusing on Objective C of the plan, which has to do specifically with preventing trash from entering waterways The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently posted the Draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution. This report was derived from the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act passed in 2020. Title 3 of the act requires the EPA to create a plan to reduce consumer plastic released into the ocean. Additionally, the plan has been released to the states and the public for comment. (Toto, 2023) There are three objectives to the report. According to the EPA, Objective A addresses reducing pollution during plastic production, Objective B focuses on improvi...

How Plastic Dissolves Into Ocean and Animal Systems

26Aug

By Saanvi BapatNo Comments

Eco-STEM

How Plastic Dissolves Into Ocean and Animal Systems

Image by FLY Written by Saanvi Bapat Going to the beach to spend a relaxing day in the warm sand while gazing upon the vibrant blue ocean is something that many people look forward to. But below the surface, a disaster is slowly unfolding. Strolling along the shore and munching on snacks like chips, pretzels, and those mouthwatering sandwiches you packed in Ziploc bags may seem like a completely innocent act; however, if you forget to pick up one small runaway Ziploc or chip bag, it can contribute to a global crisis. There are about 75 to 199 million tons of plastic in our beloved oceans. All this plastic ends up here mainly because of three reasons: the lack of recycling, littering, and putting plastic products into toilets or washing machines. Of the total annual ...

How Genetic Engineering in Microbiology Can Create Climate Change Solutions

26Aug

By Annika LinnetNo Comments

Eco-STEM

How Genetic Engineering in Microbiology Can Create Climate Change Solutions

Image by CDC Written by Annika Linnet Normally when people hear the word “genetics'', they think of gene therapy or oncology. Genetic engineering is usually associated with the medical field but has several uses. A growing prospect in genetics is its use in agriculture and microbiology. GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, are a great example of genetic engineering in agriculture. Often misperceived as toxic, GMOs are actually just fruit and vegetable seeds that are slightly altered to thrive in different environments, creating more food for more people. One concern when it comes to GMOs is the risk that comes with monocultures, or crops with limited genetic diversity that can eventually become more susceptible to extinction and cause habitat loss. While concerns such as...

26Aug

By Amelia PNo Comments

Global News & Policy

A New Solution to End Pollution

Image by Anupa Uthsara Written by Amelia Petty At UC San Diego, researchers have developed a new type of plastic material that can biodegrade in a natural ocean environment. This material, called polyurethane foam, could potentially replace petroleum-based plastics that end up in our oceans and pollute the water for centuries. The popular commercial plastic used today does not break down naturally for hundreds of years, leaking toxins into the water, as well as breaking off into microplastics which are dangerous to ocean life, and eventually humans. While this groundbreaking invention gives an optimistic view on the future of ocean pollution, its commercial use across the world is still a long way off. What makes this polyurethane foam so innovative is its ability to brea...