Research Logs

Research Log #1 - Solutionary Project 2020
Date: Feb. 4, 2020

Name: Matthew Kojima
Essential Question: Why is it important to reduce the amount of plastic we use as a society?
 Three Points to Prove:

#1: Both humans and animals are negatively affected by plastic pollution.
#2: Plastic is not biodegrade, therefore posing further long-term environmental issues.
#3: Plastic releases toxic chemicals into bodies of water disrupting healthy fish.
 Point that this Source Proves: # 1: both humans and animals are negatively affected by plastic pollution
Excerpts (These should provide insight into the Point to Prove):
In the article, Federica explained that “Plastic pollution poisons the global supply of seafood”
Federica reported that “microbeads are very small and very toxic”
Federica explained that “Nearly 700 species of animals and seabirds face problems due to the intake of plastic on a
daily basis.”
Analysis (How does this source support the Point to Prove?):
This video provides information about that both humans and animals are affected by the action of plastic pollution.
Federica had explained that when the waves in the ocean crash onto the plastic in its way, the plastic breaks up into
micro sized pieces. Federica reported that “microbeads are very small and very toxic”. These little pieces are less than
5 millimeters. They are called micro beads. These are extremely small and very toxic to animals. They pass unchanged
through water ways into the ocean. Federica explained that “Nearly 700 species of animals and seabirds face problems
due to the intake of plastic on a daily basis.”
Federica also explains that many animals such as turtles and fish ingest these little plastics and its harmful for
them. They mistake these little plastics for food. The plastic itself contains the toxic chemicals, which will increase the
chances of disease and affect reproduction. After ingesting these microplastics, these species and animals can suffer for
months and even years before they die. The small plastics in the water dangers the fish also through plastic
entanglement. This will eventually cause choking and suffocation. In addition to this, problems like intestinal blockage
can occur, as well as starvation can take place. For example, through collected data on a handful of fish, there was 83
micro beads found that were not fully digested.
Plastic in not only negatively affective for the environment, but also for people. This affects the food chain. In
the article, Federica explained that “Plastic pollution poisons the global supply of seafood”. People eat seafood and
when fish eat these plastics, it affects humans. Previously said before, the plastics contain toxins and can get people
sick or even catch a disease. Some of the toxic chemicals consist of mercury, lead, and bisphenol-A. Lastly, it affects
human activities. For example, this affects the fishermen because they have to take the time to take out the plastic from
their nets. This affects the transportation because this will create mis direction for ships and boats.
Work Cited (correct MLA format):
YouTube, YouTube, 29 Nov. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFUHLtaTazQ.
This is a reputable and reliable article because the information was found through the ecology center. The ecology
center is a nonprofit organization that focuses on improving the health and the environmental impacts. The Ecology
Center’s mission is to inspire and build a sustainable, healthy, and just future for coastlines.
Date: 2/6/20
Three Points to Prove:

#1: both humans and animals are negatively affected by plastic pollution.
Point that this Source Proves: #2. Plastic is not biodegrade, therefore posing further long-term environmental
issues.

According to Steve, “plastic does not decompose, biodegrade or compost, rather it just breaks down into smaller and
smaller plastic pieces.”
This website reported that “Plastics don't biodegrade like organic matter, which means they can't be converted by
living organisms into useful compounds for life.”
Etee says stated that “plastic’s inability to biodegrade is definitely problematic, but just how problematic depends on
its use.”
This website specifies information about how plastic doesn’t biodegrade, decompose, compost in anyway.
Instead of biodegrading, the plastic will only break down into smaller and smaller plastic pieces. Plastic is not like an
organic matter that can just be biodegraded. Plastic can’t be converted by living organisms into useful compounds for
life. Instead, they photodegrade, a process by which photons from the sun's rays crush the plastic polymers until they
are broken into individual molecules. According to Steve, “plastic does not decompose, biodegrade or compost, rather
it just breaks down into smaller and smaller plastic pieces.” This is why there are huge masses of plastic floating
around our oceans. Some Scientists like Ellen MacArthur even believe that by 2050 there will be more plastic in our
oceans than fish and lakes, which will lead to a clogging our landfills and even leaching toxins into our waters.
In its science perspective, most plastic is manufactured from petroleum. This is the end product of a few
million years of natural decay of once-living organisms. Petroleum's main components come from lipids that were first
collected long ago in those organisms’ cells. Most plastics are originated from propylene, a simple chemical element of
petroleum. When heated up in the presence of a catalyst, individual chemical units called monomers of propylene, link
together by forming enormously strong carbon-carbon bonds with each other. This website reported that “Plastics don't
biodegrade like organic matter, which means they can't be converted by living organisms into useful compounds for
life.” This results in polymers long chains of monomers called polypropylene. This chemical doesn’t break down;
therefore, plastic is hard to decompose.
Decomposition, composability, biodegradability is essentially dependent on microbes, these microbes are tiny
organisms that are invisible to the naked eye. Etee says stated that “plastic’s inability to biodegrade is definitely
problematic, but just how problematic depends on its use.” Despite their small size, these play vast role in cleaning up
our planet. But because plastic is made up of compounds that don’t naturally occur in nature, microbes turn their nose
up at plastic, they simply won’t eat it. Plastic wrap, grocery bags, sandwich bags, Ziplock bags and produce bags are
more hurtful because they are used once or even twice and then it will be discarded, as it where was previously
established. They will wind up in a landfill or somewhere out in the wilderness where they will never biodegrade.
“How Long Does It Really Take Plastic to Decompose?” Eteeshop, Steve Reble, Nov. 2019,
www.shopetee.com/blogs/plastic-pollution/how-long-does-it-really-take-plastic-to-decompose.
This is a reputable and reliable article because the content on this website was used through the popular scientist.
The popular scientists is an organization that breakthrough research, and finding compelling science angles on
mainstream topics.

Date: 2/18/20

#1: both humans or animals are negatively affected by plastic pollution.
Point that this Source Proves: #3:Plastic releases toxic chemicals into bodies of water disrupting healthy
ecosystems
In the video, it explains that “Plastic is like a sponge for a lot of the chemicals that are already out there, the pesticides,
the flame retardants, and industrial chemicals”
Dr. Chelsea Rockman conveys that “plastic concentrates these chemicals of what we find in the water, PCB’s which
were banned in the 80’s, and DET’s which were banned in the early 70’s.”
According to Dr. Chelsea, she says that “I find these on every plastic that I take out of the ocean, metals such as
copper, lead, nickel, cadmium”
This documentary provides information about how plastic leaks toxic chemicals into the ocean and how it’s
affecting us and the marine life. Plastic contains unique chemicals of its own. It all starts from the manufacturing
process such as flame retardants and microbials. The big question was do these chemicals associate themselves with
the plastic debris and the animals when they eat them. According to Dr. Chelsea, she says that “I find these on every
plastic that I take out of the ocean, metals such as copper, lead, nickel, cadmium”. Many scientists have done research,
studies, and experiments on marine life to see if plastic has leaked inside their body.
For example, Dr. Chelsea Rockman at the University of Davis, held a study in a lab where they fed fish plastic
that had the chemicals associated with them. Dr. Chelsea had fed them environment relative levels. Dr. Chelsea had
also exposed Japanese midocean to plastic particles that have been soaked for three months in Sn Diego bay. Dr.
Chelsea Rockman conveys that “plastic concentrates these chemicals of what we find in the water, PCB’s which were
banned in the 80’s, and DET’s which were banned in the early 70’s.” After two months, high levels of what’s known
as PBT’s or Persistent Bio accumulative Toxic chemicals have been found in the flesh of the fish. Particularly, flame
retardants unique the plastic. In the video, it explains that “Plastic is like a sponge for a lot of the chemicals that are
already out there, the pesticides, the flame retardants, and industrial chemicals”. Most of the plastic are fat living and
don’t like the water. The fish with liver that might be overtaxed will have a harder time digesting the food down their
body, so in that sense the chemicals will just stay there.
Chelsea had predicted that signs of damage in the fish would be seen in the liver. She had observed cell death
and excess fat. For example, in her research, she had found that a fish had a live tumor. Even at low concentrations,
flame retardants are known to cause endocrindisruption, an affect observed in a fish. This is when there is a disruption
in the hormone system. This is what controls reproduction. If that’s not functioning correctly, then the fish
reproduction process will be disrupted. Lastly, Dr. Mark brown has also found chemicals from plastics transferred to
lung worms, a common marine animal. He saw a reduction in survival, reduction in immune system, and a reduction in
ability to feed and process sediment.
“Micro-Plastics | Toxins in Our Seafood?” ABC Science, 15 Mar. 2016,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpGt5L3GC7o&t=322s.
This is a reputable and reliable article because this documentary was made by ABC science. This is an official
Australian broadcasting corporation YouTube channel. They people understand how science affects our lives.

Date: 2/24/20

#2: Plastic is not biodegrading, therefore posing further long-term environmental issues.
Point that this Source Proves: #3: : Plastic releases toxic chemicals into bodies of water disrupting healthy fish.

Craig Leeson stated that “These had dangerous cancer-causing dioxins” and was referring to the plastic that was found.
In the Ted Talk, Craig said that “the government knew that those certain plastics were dangerous, but they hadn’t
informed the public.”
Craig explains that “plastic chemicals phthalates and bisphenol A’s contain compounds which are detrimental to
humans and fish.”
This Tedx Talk explained about the toxic chemicals that are found in the ocean and the different types of
studies that have been done to further the information about the compounds that are in the ocean. In this sense, Craig
Leeson, a well-known journalist, has done studies in a laboratory to test the waters around Burnie (Australia). He
found that the outfall from the pulp and paper mill had and contained organic chlorines. They contained dangerous
cancer-causing dioxins. As a result of his findings, he put it to the state government and the minister for the
environment. He had admitted for the first time that they knew about the organic chlorines and the dioxins. He also
knew that they were dangerous and detrimental effects. In the Ted Talk, Craig said that “the government knew that
those certain plastics were dangerous, but they hadn’t informed the public.” Craig had eventually published his studies
to the public in the newspaper and it caused a storm of protest across Australia.
Fifteen years ago, the United States center of disease control had released a major study in which that more
than 92% of all Americans contain chemicals related to plastic in their blood and their urine. The study that was more
disturbing than that was that the children between the ages of 6 and 11 have twice as much. There are many plastic
chemicals but to name a few, such as phthalates and bisphenol A’s contain compounds which have estrogenic activity.
Craig Leeson stated that “These had dangerous cancer-causing dioxins” and was referring to the plastic that was found.
This then mimics and sometimes blocks the natural hormonal production of our bodies. Craig explains that “plastic
chemicals phthalates and bisphenol A’s contain compounds which are detrimental to humans and fish.” Recent
research has shown that these can cause endocrine disruptive disease. To name a few diseases it can cause, such as
cancer diabetes, fertility, and other reproductive issues.
Plastic has become an integral part of our society. The cameras we use, the cars we drive, the computers, all
contain plastic components. But our habitual consumption of single use plastic is destroying life giving environments.
Its killing other species and its polluting our food source. In 2015, since the plastic production has begun in the 50’s,
8.3 billion tons of plastic has been produced. 6.3 billion tons of that has become waste. Of that 6.3 billion tons of
waste, only 9% has been recycled. Eventually and by 2050, 12 billion tons of plastic will be sent to landfill and to the
environment.
Leeson, Craig, director. Plastic Oceans: a True Global Emergency | Craig Leeson | TEDxPitic. Plastic
Oceans: a True Global Emergency , TedX Talks, 30 Aug. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?
v=geSNK5pqT7s
This is a reputable and reliable article because TedX Talks has provided this information and has been trusted for
years.

Date: 2/3/20

Point that this Source Proves: ##1: both humans or animals are negatively affected by plastic pollution.
In this academic article, Marie Y. Azzarello and Edward S. Van Vleet stated that “Most investigators strongly caution
that sea birds are likely to be injured by ingested plastic.”
They explain that “consumption of plastic particles could result in blockage or internal injury”
Marie Y. Azzarello and Edward S. Van Vleet convey to their readers that “birds that do not regurgitate solid matter can
accumulate plastic which may interfere directly with their ingestion”

The academic article focuses on the effects of plastic pollution on animals such as in this case, seabirds. In this
academic article, Marie Y. Azzarello and Edward S. Van Vleet stated that “Most investigators strongly caution that sea
birds are likely to be injured by ingested plastic.” When plastics are consumed by the animals, it can cause negative
long-term effects. They also explain that “consumption of plastic particles could result in blockage or internal injury”.
However, only some seabirds will regurgitate the plastic pellets with other ingestible matter.
An experiment was held among 4 young albatross. They confirmed that the regurgitation of the plastics from
adult to chick occurs in this species. Plastics have been found in each chick. For example, in one of the young birds,
the large quantity of ingestible matter contributed to intestinal obstruction, while another bird had very bulky plastics
in the digestive system. The retention of relatively small, smooth surfaced plastics indicate that even small, hard
objects don’t ordinarily pass through the adult bird’s digestive system and gizzard to enter the lower digestive tract.
Marie Y. Azzarello and Edward S. Van Vleet convey to their readers that “birds that do not regurgitate solid matter can
accumulate plastic which may interfere directly with their ingestion”
The presence of non-food items in birds’ gizzards may not only cause blockage, but it may also be directly
related to feeding and activity. The hunger within the bird are controlled by receptors in the bird’s brain where its
perceived by the central nervous system regulate food intake. The factors stimulating the hunger and appetite include
contraction of an empty stomach, low temperatures, and the sight of food. Large quantities of plastic in a bird’s
stomach could depress the feeding activity by sustaining stomach distension or by preventing stomach contraction.
Moreover, the presence of a large number of particles in the stomach may impede the secretion of gastric enzymes or
the movement of food into the small intestine.
Azzarello, My, and Es Van Vleet. “Marine Birds and Plastic Pollution.” Marine Ecology Progress Series,
vol. 37, 6 May 1987, pp. 295–303., doi:10.3354/meps037295.
This is a reputable and reliable article because this information was researched through the marine ecology and
was found through google scholar.

Date: 3/11/20
Point that this Source Proves: ##2: Plastic is not biodegrading, therefore posing further long-term environmental
issues.
In the EBSCO article it states that “the majority of biodegradable plastics have been designed to degrade in the aerobic
environment of an industrial composing plant”
The article states that “they can be disposed in landfills due to deficient management practices, misinformation, and
lack of infrastructure”
According to Polymers it says that “plastics can take many years to biodegrade”
In this EBSCO article, it explains about the biodegradability of the different types of plastics. Plastic waste is an issue
of global concern because of the environmental impact of its accumulation in waste management systems and
ecosystems. Biodegradability was proposed as a solution to overcome the problem. However, most biodegradable
plastics were designed to degrade under aerobic conditions, ideally fulfilled in a composting plant. In the EBSCO
article it states that “the majority of biodegradable plastics have been designed to degrade in the aerobic environment
of an industrial composing plant”. These new plastics could arrive to anaerobic environments, purposely or frequently,
because of their mismanagement at the end of their useful life.
Plastic products are very common in our modern life. According to estimates, every year we use
approximately 1.6 million barrels of oil jus for producing plastic water bottles. Plastic waste is one of many types of
wastes that take too long to decompose. Normally, plastic items can take up to 1,000 years to decompose in landfills.
Even plastic bags we use in our everyday life take anywhere from 10 to 1,000 years to decompose, and plastic bottles
can take 450 years or more. According to Polymers it says that “plastics can take many years to biodegrade”. Plastic
bottles are made with kinds of compounds and elements. The article states that “they can be disposed in landfills due to
deficient management practices, misinformation, and lack of infrastructure”. While some plastics degrade into smaller
and smaller particles in sunlight, others like polypropylene (number five plastic) can stay intact for millennia.
Bottles that are made with Terephthalate (PET or PETE) will never biodegrade. This compound is a polymer,
just like the main composition of cellulose. The main mechanism that degrade the plastic is photodegradation, where
UV rays from the sunlight (or other light) break down the bonds holding the molecular polymer chain together. This
breaks it down into many smaller pieces, and eventually into very small molecules that can be used by plants or
microorganisms. A big problem with the photodegradation is that it requires sunlight, so if the plastic is buried it could
potentially stay there for a while.

Yurtoğlu, Nadir. “Http://www.Historystudies.net/dergi//birinci-Dunya-Savasinda-Bir-Asayis-Sorunu-
Sebinkarahisar-Ermeni-isyani20181092a4a8f.Pdf.” History Studies International Journal of History,
vol. 10, no. 7, 2018, pp. 241–264., doi:10.9737/hist.2018.658.
This is a reputable and reliable article because this information was used from EBSCO. EBSCO contains articles
from credible and vulnerable sources.

Date: 3/18/20
Essential Question:

Point that this Source Proves: ##3: Plastic releases toxic chemicals into bodies of water disrupting healthy fish.
During our interview, Tara has stated that “large amounts of plastics are making its way into the oceans”
Tara claimed that “the one way for reducing the amount of plastic that we use as a whole, is to reduce the
amount of plastic being produced and consumed”
In the interview, Tara said that “we quantified and looked at which micro-organisms were colonizing the
plastics, were they using this as a habitat? Was it found in other organisms bellies, etc”

Plastics are made from different chemicals and have different effects on different things. During our interview,
Tara has stated that “large amounts of plastics are making its way into the oceans”. From some studies where they
have done incubations with plastics that have formaldehydes or different types of toxins, they do end up killing the
organisms that are nearby that’s in a closed ecosystem, so in this case, it’s harder to extrapolate that to the whole
ocean.
Plastics have been invaluable in our development as a society. They’re especially needed when it comes to
hospitals. Incubations and emergency rooms use and rely on plastic incubators in babies. Overall, it depends on the
overall level that you are talking about. It’s not necessary for grocery bags or plastic wraps to wrap your food in. Tara
claimed that “the one way for reducing the amount of plastic that we use as a whole, is to reduce the amount of plastic
being produced and consumed”. In that sense, it’s like overkill. Plastics for the health and the well-being of our society
is extremely important.
Large and small plastics will have the tendency to affect overall marine life and the whole ecosystem. In the
interview, Tara said that “we quantified and looked at which micro-organisms were colonizing the plastics, were they
using this as a habitat? Was it found in other organisms bellies, etc.”? The small plastics especially the microplastics
have made it into the food chain. People have to worry about the fish, the small cocoa pods, and the phytoplankton
ingesting these things, which are then being eaten by fish and then slowly moving up the food chain. The plastics that
are in the ocean definitely have a major impact on the foods we eat, mainly because us humans eat the fish from the
ocean.

Clemente, Tara. Personal interview. 18 March. 2020.
This is a reputable and reliable article because the lady we interviewed is a biological oceanographer from the
University of Hawaii

Date: 3/18/20
Essential Question:

Point that this Source Proves: #: #2: Plastic is not biodegrading, therefore posing further long-term
environmental issues.
During our interview, Sara explained that “as of right now, plastic doesn’t exactly degrade but it only breaks
down into smaller pieces”
Sara claimed that “one big piece of plastic can just be broken down into a thousand pieces of plastic”
In the interview, Sara said that “plastic be broken down into such small pieces that it can’t be seen with the
naked eye”
In this interview, Sara Jeanne had conveyed all the points and covered the material that were needed to
be explained. Specifically, Sara explained about the plastics biodegradability. Plastic can’t exactly be
biodegraded so during our interview, Sara explained that “as of right now, plastic doesn’t exactly degrade but it
only breaks down into smaller pieces”. The degration of plastics is a major issue going on. For example, for
plastics to fully degrade, it will take up to 350 years or more. Sara claimed that “one big piece of plastic can
just be broken down into a thousand pieces of plastic”
However, there hasn’t been too much of a study on this because it takes so much time enough to
degrade. In the interview, Sara said that “plastic be broken down into such small pieces that it can’t be seen
with the naked eye”. Scientists can possibly put worms or bacteria that can eventually eat the plastics and
degrade it. The bacteria can eat the TEPS OR PET’s plastic bottles. But as of right now, there isn’t exactly a
bacteria or worm in the ocean already that can use the plastic as its nutrients because all plastic that’s being put
into a marine life’s animals’ body, can negatively affect them badly.
The negative affects both cause bad to humans and animals. The wildlife perspective on this is that they
can be ingesting these plastics or getting tangled in them. From human health perspective its harder because
there are no studies that’s being looked at the effects of plastic on human life to say that plastic is giving cancer
to humans or giving a disease to us. The health point of view is different than the sea animals, but there are
many studies on the effects of breastfeeding or the water that we drink that can have micro or Nano plastics in
it.

Jeanne Royer, Sara. Personal interview. 6 March. 2020.
This is a reputable and reliable article because the lady we interviewed is a oceanographer and studies the debris in
the environment from the University of Hawaii

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Research Log #1 - Solutionary Project 2020

Date: Feb. 4, 2020

 Three Points to Prove:

Excerpts (These should provide insight into the Point to Prove):

Work Cited (correct MLA format):

YouTube, YouTube, 29 Nov. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFUHLtaTazQ.

Three Points to Prove:

Excerpts (These should provide insight into the Point to Prove):

Work Cited (correct MLA format):

Research Log #3 - Solutionary Project 2020

Three Points to Prove:

Excerpts (These should provide insight into the Point to Prove):

Analysis (How does this source support the Point to Prove?):

Work Cited (correct MLA format):

“Micro-Plastics | Toxins in Our Seafood?” ABC Science, 15 Mar. 2016,

Research Log #4 - Solutionary Project 2020

Three Points to Prove:

Excerpts (These should provide insight into the Point to Prove):

Work Cited (correct MLA format):

Research Log #5 - Solutionary Project 2020

Three Points to Prove:

Analysis (How does this source support the Point to Prove?):

Work Cited (correct MLA format):

Research Log #6 - Solutionary Project 2020

Excerpts (These should provide insight into the Point to Prove):

Analysis (How does this source support the Point to Prove?):

Work Cited (correct MLA format):

Research Log #7 - Solutionary Project 2020

Three Points to Prove:

Excerpts (These should provide insight into the Point to Prove):

Analysis (How does this source support the Point to Prove?):

Work Cited (correct MLA format):

Research Log #8 - Solutionary Project 2020

Three Points to Prove:

Excerpts (These should provide insight into the Point to Prove):

Analysis (How does this source support the Point to Prove?):

Work Cited (correct MLA format):

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