IGCSE Marine 6 6 plastic pollution

Plastic pollution

Candidates should be able to: 

1 explain that plastics are very slow to break down but can do so over very long time periods releasing toxins and tiny pieces of plastic called microplastics

 2 describe the potential impacts of plastics on marine ecosystems

 3 explain how ocean gyres cause the formation of plastic garbage patches, of which the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the largest 

4 describe and evaluate strategies for reducing the size of plastic garbage patches 

5 discuss strategies for limiting the impacts of plastics on marine ecosystems