Plastic Pollution |
Part 1: Source Evaluation [Explanation of why you have selected the sources for use.]
Complete the table below for FOUR sources you have found which are reliable and relevant for your essay. You should not use the sources you were given in this section.
EVALUATION 1
Reference: Wilcox, C., Van Sebille, E., & Hardesty, B. D. (2015). The threat of plastic pollution to seabirds is global, pervasive, and increasing. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(38), 11899-11904. |
How do you know this source is suitable for academic use? Refer to the currency, authority, purpose, reliability of evidence or data, objectivity, use of expected academic conventions.
The article is current since it was published in 2015; hence the information thereof is applicable today. The source is a proceeding of National Academy of Sciences, and the two authors are affiliated to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Oceans and Atmosphere Business Unit. Thus the evidence is reliable. The article examines the threat of plastic pollution to the seabird. Also, the article is credible since there are citations to external sources. |
How is the source relevant to your title? What are the useful points/arguments made in the text?
Plastic pollution has various impacts on sea life, and it is a threat to seabirds. Nearly half of the seabird species is becoming extinct since the ingested plastic materials terminate their life. The information provided in the article forms the foundation for championing the protection of marine life through the eradication of plastics in our seas. Useful points include: · Many sea birds are increasingly ingesting plastics · By 2050, about 95% of the sea birds will have ingested plastics · There is a need for effective waste management to eliminate this threat |
EVALUATION 2
Reference: Seltenrich, N. (2015). New link in the food chain? Marine plastic pollution and seafood safety. |
How do you know this source is suitable for academic use? Refer to the currency, authority, purpose, reliability of evidence or data, objectivity, use of expected academic conventions.
The article is current since it was published in the past five years. The author of the article is Nate Seltenrich, and the source was published in the government Environmental Health Services Website. The article links seafood safety and marine plastic pollution. The information in the source is reliable since the author incorporates the research done by others. However, the article’s credibility is lowered since there are no external sources. |
How is the source relevant to your title? What are the useful points/arguments made in the text?
The source is important since it shows the effect of plastic pollution on the seafood chain. Useful points include: · Marine plastic pollution contaminates seafood chain and hence leading to human health risks · When plastics reach the sea or ocean, they are broken down further through oxidation, sunlight exposure, and the physical action of currents and waves, as well as the grazing by birds and fish · Various chemicals are found in the seafood we consume. · However, there is no agreement as to whether marine plastic pollution poses a health risk to humans since there is no existence of evidence that links marine plastic debris and real-world human health risk. |
EVALUATION 3
Reference: Taylor, M. L., Gwinnett, C., Robinson, L. F., & Woodall, L. C. (2016). Plastic microfiber ingestion by deep-sea organisms. Scientific reports, 6, 33997. |
How do you know this source is suitable for academic use? Refer to the currency, authority, purpose, reliability of evidence or data, objectivity, use of expected academic conventions.
The article was published in 2016, and hence it is current. The article was published in a scientific report website and given article number 33997 by the three authors. Hence, the data or evidence in the source is reliable. The article intends to examine the ingestion of plastic microfiber by the deep-sea animals. Also, the article has external citations hence the source is credible. |
How is the source relevant to your title? What are the useful points/arguments made in the text?
Plastic pollution also affects deep-sea animals since these animals can ingest plastic microfiber. Even though the deep-sea organisms are thought to be less susceptible to plastic pollution, research shows that the deep-water organisms are ingesting micro-plastics. The important notes include: · Deep-water organisms are increasingly ingesting micro-fibers · The plastic micro-fibers ingested by these deep-water organisms include acrylic, polypropylene, modified acrylic, polyester, and viscose. |
EVALUATION 4
Reference: Sigler, M. (2014). The effects of plastic pollution on aquatic wildlife: current situations and future solutions. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 225(11), 2184. |
How do you know this source is suitable for academic use? Refer to the currency, authority, purpose, reliability of evidence or data, objectivity, use of expected academic conventions.
The source is current since it was published within the past five years. The source examines plastic pollution’s effect on aquatic wildlife; the existing situations together with the future solutions. The source uses scientifically researched data making the data/evidence thereof reliable. Additionally, the article is credible since there are citations to external sources. |
How is the source relevant to your title? What are the useful points/arguments made in the text?
The useful arguments include: · There is a growing concern that once the plastic materials get into the ocean, the sea animals ingest them and this may make them lose their lives. · Modern technology should be used to recycle and convert the plastics into soil, hence reducing their damage into the ecosystem. |
Part 2: Essay Outline
Provide a clear plan of your essay, including the key points you will include, and the sources you will use to support your points. You can use the sources you were given, as well as your sources.
Introductory paragraph structure | |
Background | · Rising cases of marine plastic pollution
· The common ocean plastic pollutants · Marine plastic pollution and seafood chain · Plastic pollution management |
Outline | The essay examines the effect of plastic pollution on the environment and the seas and the human health risks it poses. |
Thesis statement | The government and companies have the responsibility of reducing marine plastic pollution |
Paragraph 1 Topic sentence
Marine plastic pollution and marine life |
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Supporting points | Evidence / example/ data | Citation |
Plastic pollution affects marine life such as seabirds. Many seabirds will be extinct by 2050 | About 59% of the studies done between 1962 and 2012 shows that seabirds had ingested plastics. Of these, 29% of the seabirds had plastic materials in their gut | Wilcox, Van Sebille, & Hardesty (2015) |
Marine plastic pollution contaminates seafood chain and hence leading to human health risks. Various chemicals are found in the seafood we consume | Seltenrich (2015). | |
The deep-sea organisms also ingest micro-fibres | The studied organisms were found to have ingested acrylic, polypropylene, modified acrylic, polyester, and viscose. | Woodall (2016 |
Concluding / linking sentence
Marine plastic pollution affects the seabirds and seafood chain. |
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Paragraph 2 Topic sentence
There are various reasons why plastic pollution is common. It is estimated that there are over 12.7 million tonnes of plastic pollutants in the ocean. |
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Support | Evidence / example/ data | Citation |
Plastic wraps in various foods and equipment often find their way into the sea. Approximately 80 percent of marine plastics are from the land. | In 2010, 192 nations that have bordered the coastal areas of the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic ocean, or the black and Mediterranean seas produced over 2.5 billion tonnes of waste of which 8 million tonnes of plastic waste found their way into the sea. | Moore (2019) |
There is an increased production of plastics by the fossil fuel industry | Center for Biological Diversity (n.d.) | |
Concluding / linking sentence
There is increased pollution of the seas due to the increased production of plastics. There is a need for the government to regulate the usage of plastic bags. |
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Paragraph 3 Topic sentence
Although plastic pollution has been a menace to marine life, the government and industrial approach in limiting their usage have been wrong. |
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Support | Evidence / example/ data | Citation |
There is weak enforcement of regulations governing the usage of plastics. | In Morocco, the government has taken a long time to enforce regulations concerning the ban on plastics. A policy which was formulated in 2009 was implemented in 2016. | Sebastian Rosemont et al. (2018) |
There has been insufficient funding from the government and other corporations towards reducing plastic bags usage | Sebastian Rosemont et al. (2018) | |
Concluding / linking sentence
It the responsibility of both the government and corporations to ensure that the usage of plastic materials has been reduced and that appropriate and sustainable materials are used. |
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Paragraph 4 Topic sentence
Because the oceans and seas have been adversely polluted, there have been concerns that the seafood is not safe. The sea organisms ingest micro-fibers which get their way into the human table. |
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Support | Evidence / example/ data | Citation |
Marine plastic pollution poses health risks to people. The harmful chemicals in plastics find their way into the seafood chain. | Seltenrich (2015) | |
Marine plastic pollution does not pose health problem risks. No existence of evidence that links marine plastic debris and real-world human health risk. | Seltenrich (2015) | |
Conclusion
There is no agreement in the literature as to whether marine plastic pollution poses human health risks |
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Paragraph 5 Topic sentence
There is a need to address the issue of plastic pollution. Various strategies should be adopted to eliminate marine plastic pollution |
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Support | Evidence / example/ data | Citation |
The following strategy should be used in solving plastic pollution
· Reduce the usage of plastic materials · Reuse the plastic materials · Recycle the plastic materials · Educate the masses on the effects of plastic pollution |
Solar Impulse (n.d.) | |
· Imposing fines and fees
· Limiting the use of plastic materials |
Moore (2019) | |
Conclusion
Various strategies need to be adopted to prevent the escalating problem of plastic pollution |
Part 3: Sources
Center for Biological Diversity, (n.d.). How to reduce plastic waste? Retrieved April 16, 2019, from Efficient Solutions: https://solarimpulse.com/plastic-pollution-solutions
Moore, C. (2019, March 12). Britannica. Retrieved April 16, 2019, from Plastic Pollution: https://www.britannica.com/science/plastic-pollution
Sebastian Rosemont, B. S. (2018). Lessons from the Countries Fighting to Kick the Plastic Bag Addiction. Retrieved April 16, 2019, from Earthday.org: https://www.earthday.org/2018/04/20/lessons-from-the-countries-fighting-to-kick-the-plastic-bag-addiction/
Seltenrich, N. (2015). New link in the food chain? Marine plastic pollution and seafood safety.
Solar Impulse (n.d.). How to reduce plastic waste? Retrieved April 16, 2019, from Solar Impulse: https://solarimpulse.com/plastic-pollution-solutions
Taylor, M. L., Gwinnett, C., Robinson, L. F., & Woodall, L. C. (2016). Plastic microfibre ingestion by deep-sea organisms. Scientific reports, 6, 33997
Wilcox, C., Van Sebille, E., & Hardesty, B. D. (2015). The threat of plastic pollution to seabirds is global, pervasive, and increasing. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(38), 11899-11904.