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As human consumption and waste of

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plastic has steadily increased over time

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plastic particles have accumulated in

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our oceans.

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Micro plastics have been found in marine

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sediment worldwide. It's gotten to the

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point the National Geographic has

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described the state of our oceans as a

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plastic soup. In 2014 there were 15 to 51

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trillion pieces of plastic particles in

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our oceans weighing up to two hundred

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thirty-six thousand metric tons.

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Until recently micro plastics were

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thought to be mostly concentrated on

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coasts and continental shelves. The

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recent studies have shown that these

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particles have reached even the deep sea

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floor and the Arctic sea ice. But what

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exactly are micro plastics? Micro

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plastics are tiny particles of plastic

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typically less than five millimeters in

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diameter which come from larger pieces

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of plastic that break down into smaller

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fragments in marine ecosystems. There

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are two main sources of micro plastics:

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fragmentation from larger pieces of

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plastic and direct runoff from

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land-based sources. Landfill and litter

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that end up in our ocean includes

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plastic products such as coffee cups

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food packaging, plastic bags, and so on. As

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these larger pieces of plastic go

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through a combination of biological

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degradation, weathering, physical

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fragmentation, UV radiation and

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mechanical abrasion they create smaller

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and smaller particles which persist in

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marine habitats for long periods of time.

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Alternatively, runoff such as household

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sewage, contains compounds such as

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microbeads from cleansing and cosmetic

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products and microfibers from our

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clothes that filter into the ocean.

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Thirty five percent of the micro

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plastics in our oceans are from

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synthetic fibers like clothes.

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These fibers come off during washing,

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drying, and general wear and tear and are

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then released into the air or sewage

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systems. Since micro plastics are so

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saturated in our ocean, how is this

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affecting marine wildlife, ecosystems and

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even us humans? Marine life consistently

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ingests micro plastics.

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There are over 700 marine species that

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eat micro plastics including fish in

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remote areas of South Asia and Oceania

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far from where most ocean pollution is

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currently occurring. Because they are so

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small organisms can easily ingest the

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particles by accident. Studies have shown

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that as plastic breaks down they collect

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algae and develop a smell similar to

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marine animal food sources so some

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species mistakenly ingest the particles

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as food. Larger organisms ingest these

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particles either directly as mentioned

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or indirectly by eating the smaller

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organisms at lower trophic levels who

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already have the microplastics in their

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system. As more plastics and micro

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plastics continue finding their way into

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the oceans the chance of organisms

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encountering the particles will continue

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to increase.

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One of the biggest harms for micro

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plastics is that they act as a transport

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vehicle for pollutants and harmful

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chemicals and marine ecosystems. Micro

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plastics can absorb metals, toxic

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substances, and organic pollutants

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so once animals ingest these micro

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plastics these contaminants are released

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into their systems. These chemicals and

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pollutants disrupt physiological

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processes like blocking their digestive

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systems which then limits how much food

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they can ingest, leading to potential

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starvation and death. Studies have shown

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that there is micro plastic in various

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fish species that humans consume. A study

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concluded that humans ingest up to 90

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particles of micro plastics with a

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serving of mussels. Although there is no

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doubt at currently demonstrating how

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toxic micro plastics are to humans they

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can carry pathogens and other harmful

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substances. So with all of this gloom and

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doom how can you help save the ocean from

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micro plastics? Some of the best and

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easiest ways to make an impact as an

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individual include relatively easy steps:

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identify and eliminate the major sources

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of plastics and plastic waste in your

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life such as plastic packaging include

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coffee cups cutlery and grocery bags. Opt

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for the reusable version of all of these

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products and make sure that any plastic

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or materials that you are using are

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recycled properly and don't go to

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landfills. Try buying clothes made from

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eco-friendly and non-synthetic material

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and stop using the dryer which can

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accelerate the wear and tear of your

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clothes and release microfibers. Help in

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beach cleanup. Support local legislation

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for bans on plastic consumption and

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ocean dumping and spread awareness. Many

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people don't know how much plastic is in

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our oceans because these particles are

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so small and it can be hard to make the

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connection between takeaway boxes and

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coffee cups and the end result of micro

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plastics. So all in all try your best to

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reduce your plastic consumption and be

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more aware of how your daily lives

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impact even the deepest of marine

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ecosystems

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[Music]

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[Music]