Microplastics and Their Environmental Effects

Microplastics are small fragments of plastic material, generally defined as smaller than what can be seen by the naked eye.  Our increased reliance on plastics for countless applications has negative consequences to the environment. For example, the plastic manufacturing process is associated with air pollution, and volatile organic compounds released over the life of the plastic have deleterious health effects for humans. Plastic waste takes up significant space in landfills. However, microplastics in the aquatic environment  has been a newly emerging concern in the public consciousness. As the name implies, microplastics are very small, generally too small to see although some scientists include pieces up to 5mm in diameter (about a fifth of an inch). They are of various types, including polyethylene (e.g., plastic bags, bottles), polystyrene (e.g., food containers), nylon, or PVC. These plastic items become degraded by heat, UV light, oxidation, mechanical action, and biodegradation by living organisms like bacteria. These processes yield increasingly small particles that eventually can be classified as microplastics. Microplastics On the Beach   It appears that the beach environment, with its abundant sunlight and very high temperatures at ground level, is where the degradation processes operate fastest. On the hot sand surface, plastic trash fades, becomes brittle, then cracks and breaks down. High tides and wind pick up the tiny plastic particles and eventually add them to the growing great garbage patches found in the oceans. Since beach pollution is a major contributor of microplastic pollution, beach cleanup efforts turn out to be much more than esthetic exercises.   Environmental Effects of Microplastics Many persistent organic pollutants (for example, pesticides, PCBs, DDT, and dioxins) float around the oceans at low concentrations, but their hydrophobic nature concentrates them on the surface of plastic particles. Marine animals mistakenly feed on the microplastics, and at the same time ingest the toxic pollutants. The chemicals accumulate in the animal tissues and then increase in concentration as the pollutants are transferred up the food chain.As the plastics degrade and become brittle, they leach out monomers like BPA which can then be absorbed by marine life, with relatively little known consequences.Besides the associated chemical loads, ingested plastic materials can be damaging for marine organisms, as they can lead to digestive blockage or internal damage from abrasion. There is still much research needed to properly evaluate this issue.Being so numerous, microplastics provide abundant surfaces for small organisms to attach. This dramatic increase in colonization opportuni ties can have population-level consequences. In addition, these plastics are essentially rafts for organisms to travel further than they usually would, making them vectors for spreading invasive marine species. Microbeads A more recent source of trash in the oceans is the tiny polyethylene spheres, or microbeads, increasingly found in many consumer products. These microplastics do not come from the breakdown of larger pieces of plastic but instead are engineered additives to cosmetics and personal care products. They are most often used in skin care products and toothpaste and wash down drains, pass through water treatment plants, and end up in freshwater and marine environments. There is increased pressure for countries and states to regulate microbead use, and many large personal care product companies have pledged to find other alternatives. Sources Andrady, A. 2011. Microplastics in the Marine Environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin.Wright et al. 2013. The Physical Impacts of Microplastics on Marine Organisms: A Review. Environmental Pollution.

Legalization For Hard Working Immigrants - 890 Words

Immigration has become a very relevant topic in the past few years and has sparked various arguments between Americans. No agreement has been reached regarding immigration reform, possibly because many people view it as an immediate amnesty rather than a possibility of legalization for hard-working immigrants. Despite of the negative meaning associated with it, an immigration reform would be beneficial to the U.S. in social aspects, such as having undivided families, and by stimulating economic growth. A common misconception is that legalizing illegal immigrants would just result in â€Å"criminals† running around the streets causing disturbances. Who is ignored is the benefit of a very specific population of Americans, the sons and daughters of illegal immigrants. American children are harmed every time one or both of their parents is deported as a result of the lack of an immigration reform. In the article, â€Å"Children of Illegal Immigrants Struggle When Parents Are Depo rted† Valbrun states that â€Å"the government deported more than 46,000 parents of children with U.S. citizenship in the first half of 2011, according to the ARC report.† In these conditions, jailed parents cannot fight for their children’s custody and at times lose it to the government who then puts the children out for adoption or in foster care when they already have loving parents. Properly legalizing immigrants would improve the lives of many American children and improve the American social aspects with moreShow MoreRelatedResearch Paper On Illegal Immigrant1314 Words   |  6 PagesJoaquim B. Amado Composition I December, 3 Research Paper on Illegal Immigrant The immigration is an important phenomenon that exists throughout human history and the United States of America is not an exception of this â€Å"rule†. People leave their motherland to travel to different continent, country, island or state for many different reasons. Among these reasons (business, education, asylum and so on) it is very important to highlight one of the most sensitive: the economic reason or theRead MoreNeighbor Relations:. An Immigration Problem Between The1215 Words   |  5 PagesVI. Illegal Immigration problem VII. Conclusion I. Introduction The United States has always been considered a country of immigrants; immigrants from all the parts of the world have come to America in search of the â€Å"American Dream.† In recent years, there has been an increase in immigration coming from Mexico. Mexican immigrants come in search of better opportunities for them and their families. There are two types of immigration: legal and illegal. Legal immigration is mostlyRead MoreUndocumented Immigrants Should Not Be Illegal1082 Words   |  5 Pagesreform was passed. It claimed that US create a tough but fair path to citizenship for unauthorized immigrants currently living in the US. Since then the problem â€Å"Should Undocumented Immigrants Have a Path to Citizenship?† has been risen to the stage of politics. Many governor and citizen think there should have some path for undocumented immigrants to gain citizenship. By helping the undocumented immigrant to get citizenship could boost the United Stated economy developme nt, bring in more talent peopleRead MoreWhy Immigration Is Responsible For Crime Essay1586 Words   |  7 Pagesunder what circumstances, it does. People migrate for various reason, such as working, studying and asylum seeking. In 2014, OECD data display the inflow of foreign population to the UK is 504,000; US has 1,016518; Canada has 260,411. It is a double-edged sword – productive immigrants contribute to the economic growth of the country and do not threaten the welfare of the natives. On the contrary, if the immigrants find it hard to adapt to the country, they would increase the cost of the country(BorjasRead MoreBenefits Of Immigration Reform During The United States Essay1651 Words   |  7 Pagesup a large portion of the people impacted by the outcome reform bill. The Migration Policy Reports, â€Å"Of the 53 million people who identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino, 36 percent (18.9 million) were immigrants.† This brings Latinos to a contributing 46 percent of the entire immigrant population in the United States in 2012, making them the most impacted demographic of this reforms outcome. Young Lat inos continue to fight at the forefront of the battle for immigration reform today, and itRead MoreLegalizing Undocumented Immigrants : America1692 Words   |  7 PagesLegalizing Undocumented Immigrants America, the land of possibilities and greatest nation in the world. 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Illegal immigrants come to the USA, land of freedom, where they think they can makeRead MoreThe United States and Illegal Immigration Essay1086 Words   |  5 Pagesconsciously employed illegal immigrants (Nadadur 1037-1052). The United States’ Government Immigration Reform and Control Act has been unsuccessful in controlling illegal immigration. It is estimated that illegal immigration into the U.S. has a yearly interval of three hundred fifty thousand people (Rousmaniere 24-25). It is apparent that the 1986 act was not able to keep a handle on illegal immigration. Illegal immigration continues due to t he fact that immigrants only take the jobs availableRead MoreThe Immigration Of The United States895 Words   |  4 Pagesas we citizens go to the store to purchase food, clothing, and other basic needs, illegals immigrants do the same exact thing. This means just as we pay sales tax, so do they. 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A Discussion on Georgia OKeeffes Paintings Essay Example For Students

A Discussion on Georgia OKeeffes Paintings Essay Georgia Coffees work was so great because she painted things in an abstract way, but they were still familiar to the viewer. She used vivid, bold colors and shapes of nature. She would change the scale of an object 50 much that it would fill up a whole canvas. Like tort example trot the tramway nearby, witch is a painting of a deers skull. The title of this painting refers to the faraway, a location that the artist once said was a beautiful, untouched lonely-feeling place. Georgia Coffees painted familiar things of nature that were around her, such as flowers. In 1929 when she visited a friend in Mexico, her life and art changed. She painted objects found in the desert such as: a sun bleached animal skull and dessert sky. She used the colors of the Southwest in her paintings- tans, grey, reddish browns and whites. She was also interested in painting negative space, such as the hole in a pelvis bone or the space between clouds. Pelvis, red and yellow, 1960. Is one of many examples Of this, In this painting, Coffees interprets the pelvis bone With a fiery palette of reds and yellows, differentiating it from the more naturalistic coloring Of the Other pelvis pictures. Like Georgia Coffees paintings because of the beautiful colors and oversized objects. When I look at one of her flower paintings, such as Red Poppy, I could stare at it for a long time and find so much detail. Georgia Coffees made a simple object that normally take for granted and turned it into something really important and beautiful. Personally think that Coffees was an artistic genius. She created a new way to look at objects that we take for granted, and paved the way for many women artists.

The Impact Of War On Art Essay Example For Students

The Impact Of War On Art Essay The three painting I will discuss in this essay are Memories of a Civil War painted by Earnest Meissonier in 1849, Third of May 1808 painted by Francisco de Goya in 1814, and Liberty Leading the People painted by Eugene Delacroix in 1830. Even though all three painting are done in different styles the messages remain the same. All three paintings depict the brutalities of war. Francisco de Goya, began is artistic career in 1760 when he was just 14 years old. He was trained by Jose Luzan, a lesser known painter, in the Rococo style of painting. Early in his career Goya worked as a court painter for King Charles III. It was during this time that Goya painted tapestry cartoons, that revolutionalized the tapestry industry. (Goya, 2007). It was also during this time that he painted some of his most beautiful portraits of friends, family, court members, and nobility. We will write a custom essay on The Impact Of War On Art specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now In the winter of 1792, Goya contracted an illness that left him totally deaf. It was after this illness that an air of pessimism entered his work. (Goya, 2007). It was during this time that Goya witnessed, first hand, the battles between the Napoleons invading armies and the Spanish street fighters. It was these scenes that promoted him to paint the Second of May, 1808 and Third of May, 1808. In the painting Third of May, 1808, Goya depicts an unarmed Spanish citizens execution at the hands of Napoleons army. This painting shows the mans inevitable fate by the mass of bloody bodies off to his left, while other citizens await their turn in front of the firing squad. The painting is shrouded in darkness, except for the man, illuminated by the light of his inner peace. Although he knows that he is going to die, he doesnt try to flee. He stands in a pose reminiscent of Jesus on the crucifix. However, by shrouding the church in the corner in darkness, Goya symbolizes there will be no salvation for this man. Eugene Delacroixs painting career began in 1815 when he began apprenticing under Peirre Narcisse Guerinithe. Although he was trained in the Neo-classical style of art, he was soon influenced by the colorful and rich styles of Romanticism. Many of his early paintings expressed sympathy for the Greeks during their war with the Turks. In his painting Massacre at Chios, he depicted the suffering of the wounded and dying Greeks being slaughtered by the Greeks. Delacroixs most famous and influential painting is Liberty Leading the People. He was inspired by contemporary events to invoke the romantic image of the spirit of liberty. (Delacroix, 2001). He painted this painting to represents of July 1830. He depicted Liberty as a woman of almost goddess nature. She is standing on a pedestal made of mens corpses, leading the men into war waving the Flag. Most of the painting is done in dark colors with Liberty being highlighted in the center of the painting. Ernest Meissonier was also influenced by the wars going on around him. He began his artistic career at a young age at Leon Cognients art studio. His early art work was in Religious painting, which he did not do well in. He then turned to the French-classical style of painting, in which he excelled. In his later life Meissonier became part of Napoleons Imperial Staff. He accompanied him during the campaign in Italy, and was there at the beginning of the war. It was these first hand experiences of war that prompted him to paint Memories of a Civil War. .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765 , .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765 .postImageUrl , .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765 , .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765:hover , .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765:visited , .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765:active { border:0!important; } .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765:active , .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765 .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u8f1d07587882db14360b3fe319f6b765:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Art Of Research EssayIn Memories of a Civil War, Meissonier depicts the reality of men strewn across an empty barricade. You can not tell which side of the war the men we fighting on, which is the point of the painting. Meissoniers view was that neither side of the war could really win when fighting countryman against countryman. Even the French Flag is depicted as torn and bloody, only being seen as the raggedy clothing of the dead men.