Mass Prouduction

Mass production of plastics begin in the 1940's and since then they have become an essential part of society's around the world. This inexpensive lightweight material has unlimited uses and next year it is estimated that over 300 million tons will be produced worldwide. 

As new uses for plastics are found and production increases so does the threat to marine life and our oceans. Almost 90% of all the trash on the oceans surface are plastics but unlike the other trash they are not biodegradable. As the plastic breaks down into larger pieces they are often mistaken for food by birds and have even been found in the stomachs of dead sea lions, dolphins,sea turtles, and whales.

Over a longer period of time plastics will break down into smaller pieces reverting back to their original form of plastic pellets commonly known as nurdles that look like fish eggs. Attracting toxic chemicals like DDT and PCBs these nurdles in essence become a poison pill to marine life and have even been found inside plankton the keystone of marine food throughout the oceans.

Oceans of the World