Plastiback is a plastic-sensing system that gives feedback on where PET, a type of plastic, is located in the ocean. PET is (statistic that enumerates why PET is the best choice of plastic to detect). While PET pollutes both the land and sea, the majority of PET litter ends up in the ocean. (source) When plastic enters the ocean, it also becomes difficult to clean up and even more difficult to study. For researchers who are investigating the scope and map of where PET is, Plastiback presents a novel and sustainable way to track ocean PET. For the earth, Plastiback uses non-toxic methods to degrade PET. And for you, Plastiback has got your back!
The main problem: plastic in the ocean and why it matters
Plastic in the ocean has long been a problem for the environment. It is estimated that 80% of plastic debris in the ocean is from a land-based source, such as landfills, wastewater, coastal recreational activities, and littering (Li et al., 2016). The other 20% is ocean-based debris, mostly from the commercial fishing industry discarding fishing gear into the ocean (Li et al., 2016). When plastic litters the ocean, it can be ingested by numerous marine organisms from whales to plankton, causing health complications to individuals, and possibly affecting the ecosystem overall. Plastic also poses a threat to marine organisms that get entangled and die, either to suffocation, injury caused by entanglement, or reduced fitness. However, plastic is not only hazardous to marine life, but a certain type of plastics has potential consequences for humans: microplastics.
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