top of page
Water Quality
Plastic pollution in the oceans has become an increasingly popular topic among both the media and the scientific community, as it is estimated that 8 million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year (3). Our project is to assess new technology that will allow these plastics to be retrieved from the ocean and ultimately improve the water quality. There has been a dramatic increase over the last few decades in our use of plastics, including single-use, non-biodegradable plastics, specifically.
Water Quality: Intro
This incredible amount of plastic causes a major health concern for the ecosystems in the ocean as well as for human health. One study showed that, “humans consume an estimated 39,000 to 52,000 microplastic particles per year from food and beverages alone” (13). These particles are not only bad to consume as a foreign substance, but they also contain harmful chemicals including: reproductive toxins, carcinogens, and mutagens (44).
Water Quality: Body
These toxins are extremely dangerous for humans, as well as animals, to consume. Objects such as fishing gear, plastic bags, and plastic utensils contain chemicals that are often lethal for animals to consume and can leave many animals to become choked or entangled (43). This project will attempt to provide a solution that will create a better water quality for humans to consume and for animals to live in. We hope to focus our efforts toward ocean waters, specifically coastal areas, as these have been proven to be good locations for technologies such as the Wasteshark to be implemented.
Water Quality: Intro
bottom of page