Mandatory Filters on Washing Machines - Get Synthetic Fibres Out of Our Waterways!
Mandatory Filters on Washing Machines - Get Synthetic Fibres Out of Our Waterways!
The issue
Micro-plastics are a huge problem in the marine environment. They absorb toxic chemicals and are then swallowed by animals like fish, crabs, shellfish, worms and even plankton. Once a particle is swallowed it is absorbed into tissues causing the animal health issues and sometimes death. Plastics can not be dissolved, so they accumulate up the food chain. A food chain that ends with humans! All toxins and particles eaten by fish can end up in our seafood.
The most numerous and damaging of all micro-plastics are synthetic fibres from our clothes. But they could be completely removed from the equation by fitting a simple filter to washing machine effluent pipes. Industry is uninterested so we want to pressure the government to make filters law.
For further information:
1. United Nations Environment Programme. Microplastics information brochure.
2. Andrady, A. (2011) Microplastics in the Marine Environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 62. pp. 1596-1609
3. Andrady, A. (1990) Weathering of polyethylene (LDPE) and enhanced photodegrateable polyethylenein the marine environment. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Volume 39. pp. 363-370
4. Bhardwaj, H., Gupta, R. and Tiwari, A. (2013) Communities of Microbial Enzymes Associated with Biodegradation of Plastics. Journal of Polymers and the Environment, Volume 21. pp. 575-579
5. Zettler, E., Mincer, T. and Amaral-Zettler, L. (2013) Life in the “Platisphere”: Microbial Communities on Marine Plastic Debris. Environmental Science & Technology, Volume 47. pp. 7137-7146
6. United Nations Environment Programme. Plastics in Cosmetics: Fact Sheet.
7. The White House Office of the Press Secretary (December 28, 2015). Statement by the Press Secretary on H.R. 1321, S. 2425
8. Trager, R. (2016) Article: US bans microbeads from personal care products. Chemistryworld. Retrieved from: http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/2016/01/us-bans-microbeads-personal-care-products
9. Isobe, A. (2016) Percentage of microplastics within Japanese coastal waters. Marine Pollution Bulletin: doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.06.030
10. Cheung, P. and Fok, L. (2016) Evidence of microbeads from personal care product contaminating the sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin: doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.05.046
11. Lusher, A., McHugh, M. and Thompson, R. (Occurrence of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract of pelagic and demersal fish from the English Channel. Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 67. pp. 94-99
12. Browne, M., Crump, P., Niven, S., Teuten, E., Tonkin, A., Galloway, T. and Thompson, R. (2011) Accumulation of Microplastic on Shorelines Worldwide: Sources and Sinks. Environmental Science & Technology. Volume 9. dx.doi.org/10.1021/es201811s
13. Ziccardi, L., Edgington, A., Hentz, K., Kulacki, K. and Driscoll, S. (2016) Microplastics as vectors for bioaccumulation of hydrophobic organic chemicals in the marine environment: A state-of-the-science review. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Volume 35. pp. 1667-1676
14. Rochman, C., Hoh, E., Kurobe, T. and The, S. (2013) Ingested plastic transfers hazardous chemicals to fish and induces hepatic stress. Scientific Reports, Volume 3. doi:10.1038/srep03263
15. Wright, S., Thompson, R. and Galloway, T. (2013) The physical impacts of microplastics on marine organisms: A review. Environmental Pollution, Volume 178. pp. 483-492
16. Thompson, R., Olsen, Y., Mitchell, R., Davis, A., Rowland, S., John, A., McGoligle, D. and Russell, A. (2004) Lost at Sea: Where Is All the Plastic? Science, Volume 304. pp. 838
17. Shaw, S. and Day, R. (1994) Colour – and form – dependent loss of plastics from the north pacific. Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 28. pp. 39-43
18. Wilson, D. (1973) Food Size Selection Among Copepods. Ecology, Volume 54. pp. 909-914
19. Guillette, L., Gross, T., Masson, G., Matter, J., Percival, H. and Woodwardff, A. (Developmental Abnormalities of the Gonad and Abnormal Sex Hormone Concentrations in Juvenile Alligators from Contaminated and Control Lakes in Florida. Environmental Health Perspectives, Volume 102. pp. 680-688
20. For more information and contacts visit ABC Catalyst: http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/4424996.htm
The issue
Micro-plastics are a huge problem in the marine environment. They absorb toxic chemicals and are then swallowed by animals like fish, crabs, shellfish, worms and even plankton. Once a particle is swallowed it is absorbed into tissues causing the animal health issues and sometimes death. Plastics can not be dissolved, so they accumulate up the food chain. A food chain that ends with humans! All toxins and particles eaten by fish can end up in our seafood.
The most numerous and damaging of all micro-plastics are synthetic fibres from our clothes. But they could be completely removed from the equation by fitting a simple filter to washing machine effluent pipes. Industry is uninterested so we want to pressure the government to make filters law.
For further information:
1. United Nations Environment Programme. Microplastics information brochure.
2. Andrady, A. (2011) Microplastics in the Marine Environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 62. pp. 1596-1609
3. Andrady, A. (1990) Weathering of polyethylene (LDPE) and enhanced photodegrateable polyethylenein the marine environment. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Volume 39. pp. 363-370
4. Bhardwaj, H., Gupta, R. and Tiwari, A. (2013) Communities of Microbial Enzymes Associated with Biodegradation of Plastics. Journal of Polymers and the Environment, Volume 21. pp. 575-579
5. Zettler, E., Mincer, T. and Amaral-Zettler, L. (2013) Life in the “Platisphere”: Microbial Communities on Marine Plastic Debris. Environmental Science & Technology, Volume 47. pp. 7137-7146
6. United Nations Environment Programme. Plastics in Cosmetics: Fact Sheet.
7. The White House Office of the Press Secretary (December 28, 2015). Statement by the Press Secretary on H.R. 1321, S. 2425
8. Trager, R. (2016) Article: US bans microbeads from personal care products. Chemistryworld. Retrieved from: http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/2016/01/us-bans-microbeads-personal-care-products
9. Isobe, A. (2016) Percentage of microplastics within Japanese coastal waters. Marine Pollution Bulletin: doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.06.030
10. Cheung, P. and Fok, L. (2016) Evidence of microbeads from personal care product contaminating the sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin: doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.05.046
11. Lusher, A., McHugh, M. and Thompson, R. (Occurrence of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract of pelagic and demersal fish from the English Channel. Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 67. pp. 94-99
12. Browne, M., Crump, P., Niven, S., Teuten, E., Tonkin, A., Galloway, T. and Thompson, R. (2011) Accumulation of Microplastic on Shorelines Worldwide: Sources and Sinks. Environmental Science & Technology. Volume 9. dx.doi.org/10.1021/es201811s
13. Ziccardi, L., Edgington, A., Hentz, K., Kulacki, K. and Driscoll, S. (2016) Microplastics as vectors for bioaccumulation of hydrophobic organic chemicals in the marine environment: A state-of-the-science review. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Volume 35. pp. 1667-1676
14. Rochman, C., Hoh, E., Kurobe, T. and The, S. (2013) Ingested plastic transfers hazardous chemicals to fish and induces hepatic stress. Scientific Reports, Volume 3. doi:10.1038/srep03263
15. Wright, S., Thompson, R. and Galloway, T. (2013) The physical impacts of microplastics on marine organisms: A review. Environmental Pollution, Volume 178. pp. 483-492
16. Thompson, R., Olsen, Y., Mitchell, R., Davis, A., Rowland, S., John, A., McGoligle, D. and Russell, A. (2004) Lost at Sea: Where Is All the Plastic? Science, Volume 304. pp. 838
17. Shaw, S. and Day, R. (1994) Colour – and form – dependent loss of plastics from the north pacific. Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 28. pp. 39-43
18. Wilson, D. (1973) Food Size Selection Among Copepods. Ecology, Volume 54. pp. 909-914
19. Guillette, L., Gross, T., Masson, G., Matter, J., Percival, H. and Woodwardff, A. (Developmental Abnormalities of the Gonad and Abnormal Sex Hormone Concentrations in Juvenile Alligators from Contaminated and Control Lakes in Florida. Environmental Health Perspectives, Volume 102. pp. 680-688
20. For more information and contacts visit ABC Catalyst: http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/4424996.htm
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Petition created on 11 September 2016