Oil Giants Invest $180B in Plastics, Pushing Oceans Toward ‘Near-Permanent’ Pollution

“We could be locking in decades of expanded plastics production at precisely the time the world is realizing we should use far less of it.”

(COMMONDREAMS) — Scientists and environmental protection advocates are warning that a coming plastics boom could lead to a permanent state of pollution on the planet—and denouncing the fossil fuel industry for driving an increase in plastics production amid all that’s known about the material polluting the world’s oceans.

“We could be locking in decades of expanded plastics production at precisely the time the world is realizing we should use far less of it,” Carroll Muffett, president of the Center for International Environmental Law (CEIL), told the Guardian. The CEIL has compiled several reports about the plastics industry since September.

The American Chemistry Council, a trade organization, has acknowledged that fossil fuel companies including Exxon and Shell Chemical have poured more than $180 billion into the creation of plastics facilities that are expected to create a 40 percent rise in production of the material over the next decade.

The rise in shale gas exploration in recent years has caused the price of natural gas liquids, used to make plastic, to drop significantly, causing companies to begin more than 300 plastics production projects since 2010.

“Around 99 percent of the feedstock for plastics is fossil fuels, so we are looking at the same companies…that have helped create the climate crisis,” said Muffett. “There is a deep and pervasive relationship between oil and gas companies and plastics.”

The report follows the CEIL’s recent study, released earlier this month, which showed that the plastics industry has known its products were polluting the world’s oceans since the 1970s and has spent decades fighting regulations that aim to keep the crisis from getting worse.

“We are already producing more disposable plastic than we can deal with, more in the last decade than in the entire twentieth century, and millions of tons of it are ending up in our oceans,” Louise Edge, senior oceans campaigner for Greenpeace UK, told the Guardian.

Another study by researchers at the University of California at Santa Barbara, published earlier this year, warned that excessive plastic production could lead to “near-permanent contamination” of the earth since the material is not biodegradable.

By Julia Conley / Creative Commons / Common Dreams / Report a typo

This article was chosen for republication based on the interest of our readers. Anti-Media republishes stories from a number of other independent news sources. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect Anti-Media editorial policy.

What Are Obesogens?

Obesogens is an umbrella term given to the dozens of endocrine disruptors that play a role in obesity. Chemicals from plastics, like BPA, are known obesogens, and these chemicals pollute our waterways and pervade our homes. The effects of obesogens have been studied intensely over the past few years and the research shows that they have a hand in uncontrolled weight gain.

Obesogens: A Worldwide Issue

A closer look at amphibians and the endocrine disrupting chemicals in their environment is showing how obesogens translate to human health, particularly when it relates to metabolic disorder. ^[1] Since many chemicals from pollution and man-made items end up in the water supply, it isn’t surprising to see drastic changes in fish and other aquatic mammals. These life forms receive abundant doses of PCBs, PBDEs, and other chemicals, much more so than we receive, but it does lead us to some insight into their effects. Some obesogens not only contribute to altered lipid metabolism in ocean dwellers, but it has also shown gender-bending qualities among fish. ^[2]

The Health Effects of Obesogens

Research is showing that obesogenic effects can be transferred from mother to child, revealing why some people may be born with metabolic problems from the start. Findings like this display the importance of avoiding chemicals during pregnancy. ^[3] The plastics industry is a heavy user of obesogenic chemicals, many of which are used in furniture, food storage, and building materials. ^[4] While completely eliminating chemical exposure is difficult, incorporating detoxification strategies can be helpful.

How to Combat Obesogens

Fortunately, obesogens may not be permanent in their effects. Avoidance of chemicals as much as possible, eating an organic diet, and drinking pure, filtered water goes a long way. Definitely avoid all plastics, including those that use BPA or BPS. Performing a regular cleansing protocol may also be helpful for relieving the toxic burden that ineluctably accumulates over time. Taking a high-quality probiotic could also strengthen defenses against invasive endocrine disruptors.

References:

1. Lindsey Konkel. A Closer Look at Obesogens: Lipid Homeostasis Disruption in Daphnia. Environ Health Perspect; DOI:10.1289/ehp.123-A219.


2. Catherine A. Harris, Patrick B. Hamilton, Tamsin J. Runnalls, et al. The Consequences of Feminization in Breeding Groups of WIld Fish. Environ Health Perspect. 2011 Mar; 119(3): 306-311.


3. Endocrine Society. Exposure to endocrine disruptors during pregnancy affects the brain two generations later, rat study shows. ScienceDaily. 5 March 2015.


4. Wendee Holtcamp. Obesogens: An Environmental Link to Obesity. Environ Health Perspect. 2012 Feb; 120(2): a62-a68. doi: 10.1289/ehp.120-a62.

The post What Are Obesogens? appeared first on The Sleuth Journal.

Plastic Patch Bigger Than Mexico Just Discovered in the Pacific—Humans Now Eating Plastic in Their Salt

In January 2016 we reported on a scientific analysis finding that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish. Right now, one garbage truck of plastic is being dumped into the ocean every minute.

This disturbing reality is underscored by the recent discovery of another giant patch of plastic—bigger than Mexico—floating in the South Pacific Sea. It was discovered by Captain Charles Moore, who found the North Pacific Garbage Patch in 1997.

“A team of scientists has confirmed the existence of another ocean garbage patch, this time in a remote area of the South Pacific. Unlike the famous patch in the northern Pacific Ocean, which has long been one of the world’s most recognizable symbols of pollution, the new patch is in an area that had previously been largely unstudied.

The high degree of plastic pollution was uncovered by captain Charles Moore and his team of volunteer researchers on a six-month voyage: ‘We discovered tremendous quantities of plastic. My initial impression is that our samples compared to what we were seeing in the North Pacific in 2007, so it’s about ten years behind,’ said Moore, who has worked to raise awareness about plastic pollution since he stumbled across the North Pacific patch while captaining a racing yacht in the 1990s. Moore says the southern patch could be as big as a million square kilometers, 1.5 times the size of Texas.”

The size is estimated by collecting samples along transects crossing the study area. This is only the second time plastic pollution has been studied in this remote area, with the first sampling done in 2011. Not much plastic was found in the single transect sampled in 2011, but the latest, more comprehensive study—involving many transects over multiple months—reveals that the South Pacific Gyre has quickly become yet another symbol of the plastic problem.

READ MORE:  Major Coal Company Seeks to Use State Power to Force People to Pay for Its Energy

The South Pacific plastic patch is comprised mostly of microplastic particles resembling confetti. While it’s not as readily visible as other ocean garbage patches, the small size of the plastic particles makes them more of a threat to marine life because the particles are easily swallowed and can accumulate in the gut, while passing along toxins.

Advertisment

One million seabirds die each year from ingesting plastic, and up to 90 percent have plastic in their guts. Microplastic (resulting from the breakdown of larger pieces by sunlight and waves) and microbeads (used in body washes and facial cleansers) are the ocean’s smog. They absorb toxins in the water and enter the food chain, from the smallest plankton to the largest whales, as well as humans.

A healthy ocean ecosystem is essential to the well-being of the human species, and Captain Moore is working to get the message out about his unsettling discovery.

“Having spent so much time there, I feel like an ambassador,” Moore said. “There’s a sense of urgency to get information out about this area, because it’s being destroyed at an enormously accelerated rate. For much of the unexplored ocean, we will never have pre-plastic baseline data.”

If the threat to ocean ecosystems is not enough to cause alarm, consider that if you eat salt derived from the sea, you are probably eating microplastics.

A study of 17 commercial salt brands from eight different countries found the presence of plastic in all but one brand. The others contained 1 to 10 microplastics/Kg of salt, with the most common being polypropylene.

READ MORE:  Regardless of Your Stance on Bundy Ranch 2.0, Supporting the Bureau of Land Management is Wrong

The study authors note that “the low level of anthropogenic particles intake from the salts warrants negligible health impacts” at the size they studied, but “to better understand the health risks associated with salt consumption, further development in extraction protocols are needed to isolate anthropogenic particles smaller than 149 μm.”

Considering that the rate of plastic being dumped into the ocean is expected to double by 2030 and quadruple by 2050, there is increasing urgency to address this problem. The discovery of the South Pacific plastic patch is the latest alarm bell.

There are solutions.

The New Plastics Economy describes how to move from the ‘take, make, dispose’ economic model to a circular plastics economy, which is both environmentally sustainable and profitable for business.

And let’s not forget, there is an alternative with massive potential which is currently prohibited by federal government: hemp. One of the most useful plants on the planet, hemp has thousands of applications, including making plastic that is biodegradable and non-toxic.

But standard plastic is made from petroleum, and the fossil fuel industry has long had a stranglehold on government and the economy. So hemp—used by humans for thousands of years—was banned by the U.S. government (along with all forms of cannabis), even though it can’t get anyone high.

Several states have legalized or are in the process of legalizing the production of hemp, despite federal prohibition. Only days prior to this writing, a bipartisan bill was introduced in the U.S. Congress to legalize industrial hemp nationwide and bring this amazing plant back onto American farmlands.

READ MORE:  In 2016, Solar Employed More People in Electricity Generation Than Gas, Coal, & Oil COMBINED

We need an ‘all of the above’ approach to combat the fast-growing problem of plastic waste and protect the marine environment that sustains us.

Brewery Develops Edible 6-Pack Rings to Save Marine LIfe, Reduce Plastic Waste

Delray Beach, FL – A Florida microbrewery has adopted a novel way to not only reduce plastic waste but also give a little something back to the environment. Saltwater Brewery, located on the Atlantic coast, uses barley and wheat leftover from the brewing process to produce biodegradable six-pack rings that serve as food for wildlife.

Plastic six-pack rings and other forms of plastic waste kill millions of seabirds, marine mammals and sea turtles every year. At the current rate, scientists predict that by 2050 there could be more plastic than fish in the oceans.

Problems like this one, demand creative solutions, and Saltwater Brewery has delivered. Instead of posing a massive threat to marine life, the compostable beer packaging either biodegrades or becomes a safe snack for fish and other sea creatures.

While the process is slightly more costly at this point, wider adoption of the process would bring down costs for the industry. Their produce has the full support of locals who recognize the importance of environmental stewardship.

“The creative solution we bring forward has the potential to influence how we do sustainable packaging with zero waste and no impact on wildlife,” said Marco Vega, co-founder of We Believers, which partnered with Saltwater Brewery to produce the six-pack rings.

The noble founders of Saltwater Brewery, made up of “fisherman, surfers and people that love the sea,” are passionate about preserving marine ecosystems, and also show it by donating to charities – all the while producing great-tasting craft beers. Caution: looking over the “on tap” list at Saltwater’s website may compel you to book a trip to Delray Beach.

“Using only pure and natural ingredients, each style of handcrafted beer and corresponding name is inspired by the ocean to reflect the lifestyle and passion of the Founders. Saltwater’s goal is to maintain the world’s greatest wonder by giving back through ocean based charities (CCA, Surfrider, Ocean Foundation, MOTE) and the Edible Six Pack Rings.”

The peril faced by marine life is hard to fathom for most, as humanity has become disconnected from that which sustains us. Whales dying from bellies full of plastic, turtles and birds choking on debris – it’s all ‘out of sight, out of mind’ for most people.

READ MORE:  WATCH: Brave Cop Refuses to Arrest Teen for Smoking Weed, Lets Him Do Push-ups Instead

Healthy marine ecosystems are essential for the continuation of stable human life. Ecosystem collapse would have real effects on our lives, not to mention the tragedy of extinguishing species that have evolved to wondrous and incredible forms over millions of years.

Dilution is NOT the solution to pollution. The oceans are not inexhaustible and are not endless dumping grounds. Corporations and government obfuscate the real effects of rampant consumerism – such as plastic waste – knowing full well that an informed populace poses a threat to their profits and power.

Saltwater Brewery’s compostable, edible six-pack rings are one of many technologies available to reduce the environmental impact of human activity as the population grows. One day there could be boats that turn plastic waste into diesel fuel. Researchers are exploring how to use wax worm caterpillars to eat plastic waste such as shopping bags.

While scientists work on those things, let’s use our hard-earned money to support companies that work toward a more sustainable future, such as Saltwater Brewery.