Plastic Water Bottles MayPost Health Hazard

This Discovery News report describes how scientists in Germany have found that PET plastics -- the kind used to make water bottles, among many other common products -- may harbor hormone-disrupting chemicals that leach into the water.

Source: Discovery Channel - April 2009

Brochure: Plastics Are Forever

This excellent and informative brochure (pdf) explains that "Plastics, like diamonds ... ARE FOREVER", and goes on to explain and discuss the impact on our oceans and their creatures.

It explains why plastic in the ocean is a problem, and provides some harrowing statistics on the American peoples use of plastics, and how so much of it makes its way to the ocean.

Source: Algalita Marine Research Foundataion

Video - Poisoned Waters

In this PBS Frontline special, Hedrick Smith shares startling new evidence ...

that today's growing environmental threat
comes not from the giant industrial polluters of old,

but from chemicals in consumers' face creams,
deodorants, prescription medicines and household cleaners

that find their way into sewers, storm drains,
and eventually into America's waterways and drinking water.

Source: PBS - Frontline

Poster - Marine Debris

Download this colorful poster from NOAA to hang on your wall.

The poster highlights the impacts of marine debris, particularly entanglement and ingestion in marine species such as the humpback whale, green sea turtle, and Hawaiian monk seal.

Source: NOAA - Marine Debris

Oprah Winfrey - Earth Day 2009

See this article about Oprah's interview with Jacques Cousteau's grandson Fabien on Earth Day 2009.

See also the video - "What Happens to Our Garbage", shown the same day.

Source: Oprah Winfrey Show

Overview - Marine Debris

This overview of Marine Debris, from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), covers these topics:

• The Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act (BEACH)
• The International Coastal Cleanup
• National Marine Debris Monitoring Program
• Other Floatable Debris-Related Legislation
• Debris Hazardous for Marine Animals
• Polluted Waters Make Trouble for Humans, Too
• Fishing Industries and Communities Hit Hard by Marine Debris
• Beach Raking
• Unseen Consequences
• Trash In
• What You Can Do

Source: US Environmental Protection Agency

Audio - Talking Flotsam ...

Dr. Curtis Ebbesmeyer is the oceanographer who first started tracking the flow of debris around the oceans in order to understand the ocean currents.

Listen to these Seattle KUOW radio programs where he discusses his work.

Video - The BAY vs the BAG

This is a fun video which brings home the fact that what we each do adds up to a much larger impact than we might imagine.

Source: savesfbay.org

Audio: Beached Trash Tells A Story About the Oceans

Hear this entertaining interview with Curtis Ebbesmeyer (17 minutes) about his tracking of 'flotsam', including nike shoes, and rubber duckies.

Source: NPR - Science Friday