Plastic Pollution

Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution in ocean water has turned out to be one of the major concerns affecting the environment globally. The Biology Professor, Emeritus, from Howard University, has presented an excellent solution to this menace, which is the application of fungus. Emeritus argues that only the fungus can ‘eat’ the plastic present in the ocean, putting an end to this dreadful condition. Essentially, the idea of fungus in ocean water has positive effects on society as reduced plastic pollution saves the water and land animals from getting affected (Schwartzman). The application, however, when analyzed, has several limitations since the fungus is placed on water by the help of machines or humans, which at times might not be enough to ‘eat’ the overwhelming plastics in the ocean water.

Additionally, another remedy to plastic pollution includes the bioremediation approach that treats the accumulated plastic in the water system leaving it 90.45% clean for use. Pollutants such as leaking methane have been reported since time immemorial to have polluted the water in various ways. The products will often settle in the grounded water formulating toxins. The Yale researchers, for example, discuss how the fungus would be found and incorporating other substances such as pestalotiopsis microspora from Amazon could treat the condition (Emeritus).

Another recommendation suitable for plastic pollution is the argument brought in by the senior researcher, Wei-Min Wu, who is an engineer in the department of civil and environment Engineering. Wei-Min elaborates how plastics-eating, mealworm, could be of help in reducing the pollution, thus decreasing the total number of animals dying in the sea. Wei-Min Wu explains how plastic pollution intensely affects the environment based on the argument. Applying mealworms to save the surrounding is crucial as each mealworm can consume up to 12 to 100 milligrams styroxins present in seawater (Wei-Min Wu).

The third solution, which happens to be as important as the rest of the remedies present, is that explained by the Ocean Cleanup Boyan Salt CEO. He describes how incorporating u-shaped floating barriers would collect the waste “plastic” in water and provide free air circulation on fish. Once the plastics are accumulated, a productive room is left aside for the sea animals to survive. However, the CEO further explains how one would experience challenges as the U-shaped objects are likely to break out materials, especially the non-elastic ones (Schwartzman).

In conclusion, the proposed solutions for the plastic pollution issue present in the ocean water include the application of the U-shaped barriers, the use of fungus and the bioremediation approach, which saves the lives of animals living in water through their ability to treat the accumulated plastics in the water.

Works Cited

David Schwartzman. Bioremediation Approach in treating accumulated plastic waste in ocean water (2019):12-17. https://go.gale.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=T003&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&searchType=BasicSearchForm&currentPosition=2&docId=GALE%7CA398333581&docType=Article&sort=Relevance&contentSegment=ZCUC&prodId=PPCJ&contentSet=GALE%7CA398333581&searchId=R1&userGroupName=mlin_n_great&inPS=true

Emeritus,. Fungus that eats plastic and could help reduce or even slow down plastic pollution in ocean waters (2019): 103-291. https://go.gale.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=T003&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&searchType=BasicSearchForm&currentPosition=2&docId=GALE%7CA398333581&docType=Article&sort=Relevance&contentSegment=ZCUC&prodId=PPCJ&contentSet=GALE%7CA398333581&searchId=R1&userGroupName=mlin_n_great&inPS=true

Wei-Min Wu. Plastic eating mealworm can help reduce plastic pollution (2019): 56-345. https://www.npr.org/2019/01/05/682532583/an-engineering-wunderkinds-ocean-plastics-cleanup-device-hits-a-setback