Plastic Pollution

Why Plastic? What are the 5 Gyres?

A major goal for this journey is to raise awareness about plastic pollution.  I had been looking for a cause or theme for the trip in 2016 when I happened to hear Alyssum Pohl give a talk about her solo journey by kayak down the Mississippi River from source to sea, documenting plastic waste and water quality.  After hearing her talk, I looked into the issue more, and decided to take it on.

Following Alyssum’s advice, I contacted the 5 Gyres Institute and became a 5 Gyres Ambassador.  The Institute is dedicated to a world free of plastic pollution and its toxic impact on humans, animals, and the environment.  A gyre is a large-scale system of wind-driven surface currents in the ocean. The Institute’s name refers to the five main subtropical gyres—located in the North and South Pacific, the North and South Atlantic, and the Indian Ocean—which are massive, circular current systems.   Massive accumulations of plastic gets trapped within these currents, taking at least 10 years to cycle back out—if it doesn’t first get eaten by marine life or sink to the bottom. 

Plastic was first introduced in the 1950s as a miraculous substance that was cheap, lightweight and could be thrown away after use.  We didn’t realize until later that plastic can be toxic and it never really biodegrades—it remains in the environment for hundreds of years.  Most of the plastic that we have ever used is still in our environment today.  Eight million tons end up in the ocean each year, where plastic never biodegrades—it just breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces. In fact, pretty much all of the plastic produced since the 1950s is still in existence today, in one form or another.

You may have heard about a “floating island of plastic the size of Texas” or other similar stories.  To be sure, there is way too much floating plastic and trash, but the worst aspect of plastic pollution isn’t a floating island that can be captured and taken “away.”  In the ocean, plastic begins breaking down into smaller and smaller pieces.  These particles make “plastic smog” that permeates our ocean water just like particulate matter permeates our air.  It can’t just be scooped up and removed.  Plastic in the ocean can also become extremely toxic.  It has the unique ability to absorb and leach gnarly toxic chemicals like PBDEs, fire retardants, PCBs and phthalates.    

When small organisms and fish eat the plastic, and are then eaten by larger fish, the toxins in the plastics work their way up the ocean food chain—to us. 

We have to stop plastic smog at the source: Us.

Single-use plastics like cups, lids, and straws aren’t necessities.  Since I heard Allysum talk and did my own research on plastic pollution I have become painfully aware how often I use something made of plastic just once before throwing it away.  I’m now looking for opportunities to avoid single-use plastics and to reduce my use of plastic items in general. 

Yes, I do recognize the irony of raising awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution while travelling in a vessel made of…plastic!

#5gyresambassador
@5gyres