Author: Jill Bartolotta

Lions, Tigers, and Bears Oh My! Have Nothing on the Plastics Invisible to the Naked Eye

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plastic wave

Our water quality reality if we do not change our plastic use practices. Credit: Bonnie Monteleone (Artist)

Sometimes the scariest things are not haunted houses, the black bear near our campsite, or the Lake Erie monster roaming our shores, but rather the things we cannot easily see. If you have been watching the news lately you may be aware of these tiny particles called microplastics. Although tiny in size (5mm or smaller), they are causing a global crisis. Each year we add 8 million tons of plastic to the ocean and 22 million tons to the Great Lakes, with this number expected to increase each year. It is estimated that by 2050 there will be more plastic in our ocean than fish, and most of these plastics can only be seen with the use of a microscope.

Several studies have been conducted over the past several years addressing microplastics in organisms such as zooplankton and fish. Zooplankton and fish are shown to eat microplastics. Some of the pieces leave the body through excretion but some remain. The most current research is showing that the plastic is starting to affect how these organisms behave. Plastic ingestion has shown to alter the feeding, growth, and reproductive patterns of copepods, one of the world’s most common types of plankton and the bottom of the aquatic food web. A study conducted on fish has shown that plastics in their brain cause them to eat slower and move less.

Plastic waste - where it comes from

A diagram showing where this plastic waste is coming from and how much is created and added to the ocean each year. (Credit: Ocean Conservancy)

So we know plastic is not healthy for fish and plankton, but what about us? I’m glad you asked. Plastic has recently been found in several foods such as salt (sea salt has the highest concentration of microplastics of any of the food or liquids tested) and honey. It has also been found in beer and most alarmingly our drinking water. Bottled water has twice as much plastic contamination as tap water. The added contamination in bottled water comes from the production and placement of a plastic cap on a bottle of water. Plastic is also in the air we breathe. So we know it is in our food, drinks, and air, but does that mean it is in us? You betcha! Plastic was recently found in human waste in a study conducted in Austria.

So is this bad? Good? Sorry I don’t have the answers for you yet since this research is being conducted right now. However, we do know plastics leach chemicals that are cancer causing and disrupt our hormonal balances. And we do know that plastic affects the day to day operations of other living organisms. So it is safe to say that having plastic in your body is most likely not a good thing.

I know I have given you a lot of bleak information about this plastic situation, but there are simple steps you can take every day to limit your plastic contamination.

How can you stay as safe as possible?

  1. If you have access to safe tap water, it is a better option than bottled water in regards to plastic contamination.
  2. Switch to glass or metal drinking and eating containers.
  3. If you do use plastic, make sure you do not put hot items in the container or heat the container. Heating plastic causes the chemicals in the plastic to leach into your food or beverage.
  4. Use reusable items as much as possible to prevent future contamination of our drinking water.
  5. Say “no” to unnecessary single-use items such as straws, utensils, and bags. Bring your own or simply don’t use the single-use plastic item.
  6. Share what you are learning with others.
Zero waste starter kit

Zero waste starter kit. Credit: The Green Bicycle Co.

Endnotes:

8 million tons: Ocean Conservancy. Fighting for Trash Free Seas. Website: https://oceanconservancy.org/trash-free-seas/plastics-in-the-ocean/.

copepods: Cole, M. 2014. The impacts of microplastics on zooplankton. Thesis for degree in Doctor of Philosophy for the University of Exeter.

study conducted on fish: Cedervall, T. 2017. Brain damage in fish affected by plastic nanoparticles. News and Press Releases. Lund University. Website: https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/brain-damage-in-fish-affected-by-plastic-nanoparticles.

drinking water: Bingham, M. 2018. Water: Tap, Bottled and Microplastics. Orb in the Word. Website: https://orbmedia.org/blog/water-tap-bottled-microplastics.

human waste: Parker, L. 2018. In a first, microplastics found in human poop. National Geographic. Website: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/10/news-plastics-microplastics-human-feces/

The content of this site is published by the site owner(s) and is not a statement of advice, opinion, or information pertaining to The Ohio State University. Neither text, nor links to other websites, is reviewed or endorsed by The Ohio State University.

Jill BartolottaJill Bartolotta is an Extension educator for the Ohio Sea Grant College Program.

Beat the Heat, Get Out and Boat

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Learn how to boat safely. Photo Credit: Sarah Orlando

As Ohio moves from winter straight to a hot and sunny summer, I dream of days spent out on the water boating. I prefer the hand powered crafts such as kayaks and stand-up paddle boards to motorboats, but a quick spin on a Personal Watercraft will give me my adrenaline fix for the summer. Boating, whether it be canoeing, sailing, or powerboating is available to all Ohio residents and visitors because of the phenomenal water resources and public access points we have. Lake Erie and the Ohio River provide boating access for 3.1 million residents, and 99% of Ohio’s residents live within 36 miles of a water body large enough for powerboats, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

With these amazing recreational water activities, we must consider our safety and the safety of other people. Each year, more people are paddling, fishing from boats, or taking a day to chill on their pontoon boat. More people on the water means greater risk to water safety. Therefore, as a boater you must take responsibility and learn how to boat safely. Below are some tips to help you in your safe boating endeavor.

Equipment

Types of life jackets. Credit: US Boat Foundation

The type of equipment that is required for your vessel is determined by length, power source, and boating location. These requirements are established by the United States Coast Guard and the local Department of Natural Resources. Although equipment differs by vessel, all boats require the following four items.

  1. Type I, II, III or V type (see image) personal flotation device (PFD) for every person on the boat. If the boat is 18 feet or smaller and the person is 10 years or younger, the PFD must be worn. In all other cases, the PFDs must be on the vessel within arm’s reach. However, it is strongly encouraged to always wear your PFD.
  2. Sound signaling source such as a horn or whistle.
  3. Light signaling source such as a white light for paddle crafts and white, red, and green lights on sailing and motor vessels.
  4. Visual distress signals such as colored smoke flares or bright flags for daytime and burning flares for when it becomes dark.

Rules of Navigation

Rules of Navigation. Credit: safe-skipper.com

On the water, the least maneuverable boat has the right of way. Therefore, a large freighter would have the right of way since it cannot stop or turn quickly. If you see a freighter near your boat, you should give it plenty of space and stay out of its way. If you are paddling on a river that experiences a lot of boat traffic (Cuyahoga River for example) then you should treat it like the road.  Remain as far to the right of the river as you can and look both ways before crossing to the other side.

 

General Safety

Being on the water can take a physical toll on your body. Being in the sun and other elements quickly removes water from our body making it very important to drink lots of water and remember to replenish electrolytes. As a boater, you need to be aware of your surroundings at all times, so substances, such as alcohol, that reduce your ability to operate a vessel should not be used. Also, make sure you check the weather several times before you go out and while you are on the water. Weather can change quickly so it is important you are aware of your surroundings.

Lastly, you should ALWAYS BOAT WITH OTHER PEOPLE. Boating alone is very dangerous and should be avoided.

By reading this blog, you have received a basic understanding of safe boating, but I encourage you to learn more to make sure you and your loved ones will be safe on the water. Below are some materials that will help you in your safe boating quest, but taking the Ohio Boaters Education Course would be an important step and is required for anyone in the state of Ohio born after January 1, 1982 if they would like to operate a boat with a motor.

Additional Resources

  1. A BOATER’S GUIDE TO THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR RECREATIONAL BOATS AND SAFETY TIPS from the US Boat Foundation https://www.uscgboating.org/images/420.PDF
  2. Links to safe boating websites:
    1. http://www.safeboatingcampaign.com/
    2. http://www.safeboatingcampaign.com/news/dont-miss-these-2018-safe-boating-campaign-events/
    3. http://watercraft.ohiodnr.gov/requiredequipment

Endnotes

public access points: ODOR Office of Coastal Management, 2018. Website: http://coastal.ohiodnr.gov/gocoast.

3.1 million residents: Ohio Division of State Parks and Watercraft, 2018. Website: http://watercraft.ohiodnr.gov/statistics.

Ohio Boaters Education Course: Ohio Division of State Parks and Watercraft, 2018. Website: http://watercraft.ohiodnr.gov/coursesearch.

Type I, II, III or V type: Boat US Foundation, 2018. Website: https://www.boatus.org/life-jackets/types/.

Jill BartolottaJill Bartolotta is an Extension Educator for the Ohio Sea Grant College Program.

Party without the Paper or Plastic

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The holidays are just around the corner and I am so excited!!!!! I love the holidays, and no matter which ones you celebrate in November and December, they all involve spending time eating the most delicious food with friends and family. They often involve some gift giving too.

Despite the feel-good atmosphere and carefree nature of the holidays, I am always drawn to how much garbage we create during this time. Information from the California Department of Conservation/Division of Recycling states that we generate 25% more trash during this time, creating 7 million pounds of waste between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. Large parties often lead to disposable cutlery being used to save time with kitchen cleanup. Or the giving of gifts leads to bags of wrapping paper being thrown away. So when you are spreading cheer over the next couple of months, remember the planet and give her a gift, too. The gift of less garbage.

Are you hosting one of the holiday meals?

Last year was my first time hosting my family for Thanksgiving in my home and I was stressed. But I made it a priority to reduce the amount of garbage our meal created by recycling cans and boxes from the food purchased, using only reusable glassware, plate ware, cutlery, and napkins. I also made to-go meals for everyone in reusable plastic Tupperware. There was so little waste generated, it made the day even more special.

Have a friend who loves games? Wrap their gift with the crossword sections of the newspaper. Photo credit: Damien Nelson.

Are you giving gifts?

Giving gifts has become the norm for many of the holidays we celebrate in December. Think about what material you use to wrap or package the gifts. I love to use newspaper or magazines as my gift wrap. The material is free, and save you the trouble of purchasing wrapping paper; a product which takes many resources such as trees and fossil fuels to create. You can also gift items in reusable bags or cute baskets, completely avoiding the need to wrap anything.

Homemade extracts and flavored oils are super popular right now. They would be a great gift for the chef in your life. Photo credit: HGTV.

Are you doing all of your shopping online?

Do you have to do all of your shopping online? Think of all the material that is required to ship the item to your house. Instead make homemade gifts. One year I decided to make candles for family and friends. I used glass jars I had collected over the year and made these super cute gifts that people loved. I did make the mistake of putting pine cones in the candles, which turned out to be a really bad idea. (Let’s just say pine cones make great fuel!)

Are you sending gifts through the mail?

My mom would always make me the best gift boxes when I was in college. I would get them around holidays or near big exams. If there was too much space left in the box, instead of using plastic wrap or plastic packing peanuts, she would put a fluffy pair of socks or a bag of popcorn instead. I was able to use the items meant to stuff the package instead of throwing them away.

I hope some of my personal experiences have given you some new ideas about how to reduce the amount of waste you produce during the holiday season. And remember, when you go to the store to shop for food or gifts, bring those reusable bags!

Endnotes:

 

Jill Bartolotta is an Extension Educator for the Ohio Sea Grant College Program.

Sea Grant Rocks Cleveland

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The Cleveland Cavaliers weren’t the only thing bringing people to Cleveland in early June. Ohio Sea Grant hosted seven other Great Lakes Sea Grant Programs and the National Sea Grant Program during the 26th Great Lakes Sea Grant Network Meeting. Over 80 scientists, educators, and communicators from all over the Great Lakes came together to provide program updates, share project ideas, and discuss future collaborations.

Julia fish

Photo credit: Tory Gabriel

The conference began with field trips showcasing some of the amazing educational and tourism opportunities in Ohio. Trips included a fishing charter where participants caught walleye (one of the most important sportfish in Lake Erie helping to contribute to a 1 billion dollar industry), a tour of Stone Laboratory (the oldest continually operational freshwater field station) and a bike tour of sustainable business on Cleveland’s famous West 25th Street. Sustainable business practices include:

  • Water reduction practices
  • Solar panels to heat water
  • Pervious parking lots
  • Rain gardens

Speakers included Jonathon Pennock, the recently appointed National Sea Grant Director, who discussed the new vision for the National Sea Grant Program and Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor who spoke about the great work being done in Ohio and the Great Lakes to improve water quality, foster sustainable development, and continued work to improve the health of the Great Lakes.

Educational field trips on the second day showed participants some of the issues facing Lake Erie and offered on-the-ground solutions to solve problems. A boat tour of the Cuyahoga River led by Scott Hardy, Sea Grant Extension Educator in Cuyahoga County, showcased the work being done by local organizations in Cleveland and Ohio Sea Grant to remove the river from the Area of Concern list. Areas of Concern are highly impaired rivers as a result of industrial use over the past century. Local organizations work together to remove contaminated sediment, improve water quality, and repair fish, bird, and mammal habitats to improve the benefits offered by the river.

Boat tour

Photo credit: Todd Marsee

A second boat tour led by Sarah Orlando, Ohio Clean Marina Program Manager, took several people to the Emerald Necklace Marina in Rocky River. The Emerald Necklace Marina is one of Ohio’s many Clean Marinas. Cleans Marinas are marinas that have gone through the certification process through Ohio Sea Grant and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to adopt business and property management practices that improve water quality, lessen a marina’s environmental impact, and work with their boaters to educate on safe and clean boating best practices.

Cleveland skyline

Photo credit: Jill Bartolotta

Some of these practices include:

  • recycling when possible
  • using living shorelines instead of hardened shorelines along the water to improve fish habitat
  • using cleaning products such as vinegar to clean their boats instead of synthetic chemicals
  • educating others about safe and clean boating practices

All in all it was a great few days filled with new project ideas, network visioning, and lots of fun in some of Coastal Ohio’s most beautiful areas.

 

Endnotes:

Ohio Sea Grant. Ohio Sea Grant Website. 2017. https://ohioseagrant.osu.edu/

National Sea Grant Program. National Sea Grant Program Website. 2017. http://seagrant.noaa.gov/

Stone Laboratory. Stone Laboratory Website. 2017.  http://stonelab.osu.edu/

1 billion dollar industry American Sportfishing Association Report January 2013. http://asafishing.org/uploads/2011_ASASportfishing_in_America_Report_January_2013.pdf

Area of Concern. EPA Areas of Concern Website. 2017. https://www.epa.gov/great-lakes-aocs

Cleans Marinas. Ohio Clean Marina Program Website. 2017. https://ohioseagrant.osu.edu/clean

Jill Bartolotta is an Extension Educator for Ohio Sea Grant.

The Plastic Paradise: STOP!

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LIFE Magazine: Throwaway Living

Credit: Life Magazine, 1955.

If you took a moment to look around you right now, how many items would you see made of plastic? As I sit in my office, I have counted at least 30 such items. Fortunately, nearly all them are recyclable. Did you find any items made of single-use plastic, only useful for a few hours, a few minutes, or maybe even a few seconds? These single-use plastics are becoming increasingly more common in our everyday lives, having catastrophic effects on our natural environments, the health of wildlife, and maybe even the health of humans. So the big question now is how did we get here? How did we become a throwaway society that embraces “throwaway living” as Life Magazine called it on their 1955 cover?  Well, for one, throwaway plastics make our lives so much easier. But, are you still willing to take the easy way out when you know of the negative impact our everyday plastic decisions make on our natural resources?

Chart

Data Source: Hardy and Bartolotta, unpublished.

To better understand the answer to this question, Scott Hardy, Ohio Sea Grant Extension Educator in Cuyahoga County, and I conducted a study in Northeast Ohio to understand how often people use single use plastics, the barriers to using reusable alternatives, and what reminders to encourage reuse people prefer for plastic bags, plastic water bottles, and plastic cigar tips. (For this blog, I will just focus on the plastic bags.)

We learned that people in northeast Ohio use reusable bags about 30% of the time and plastic bags about 28% of the time. The most common reason for not using reusable bags is people either forget them at home or in the car. So how do we remind people to bring their reusable bags? Most prefer an incentive, such as money off their purchase, to encourage them to use reusable. Seventy-five percent were also in favor of either a ban, fee, or both a ban and fee on plastic bags.

So how do you fit into the equation? Do you shop? Do you use bags to carry your things from the store? Do you throw those plastic bags away when you get home?

Credit: New Scientist.when you get home?

Fact Check! The average use-time of a plastic bag is 12 minutes. Yet, the lifespan of a bag in the environment is, well… a really long time. Plastic never degrades. It becomes smaller and smaller pieces of plastic that get eaten by our tiniest animal zooplankton making its way up the food web to the fish you like to eat like salmon and perch. “What can I do” you ask? Make it a habit to bring your own bags to the store. It takes 66 days to form a new habit.

Your challenge: For the next 66 days, use ONLY a reusable bag. Come May you will be a reusable bag-toting champion! If you forget your bag at home say “No thank you” to a plastic bag and hand carry it out. Lake Erie thanks you, the zooplankton thank you, and I thank you.

Jill Bartolotta is an Extension Educator with the Ohio Sea Grant College Program.

Endnotes:

catastrophic effects: Bartolotta, J. 2016. You are the solution to the “Eww”. The Ohio State University Community Development Extension Blog.

Website: https://u.osu.edu/extensioncd/tag/marine-debris/.

1955 cover: 2016. The Macro Cost of Micro Contamination. Zero Waste in Action.

Website: http://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-macro-cost-of-micro-contamination.html

12 minutes: Save the Bay. Reducing Single-Use Plastic Bags in the Environment. Fact Sheet. Website: https://www.savesfbay.org/sites/default/files/news_release/Fact%20Sheet%20single%20use%20bags_MASTER%205-9-14.pdf

get eaten by our tiniest animal zooplankton: New Scientist Magazine. 2015. Plankton snacking on plastic caught on camera for the first time. Website: https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn27849-plankton-snacking-on-plastic-caught-on-camera-for-the-first-time/.

66 days: Lally, P. van Jaarsveld, C.H.M., Potts, H.W.W., and J. Wardle. 2009. How are habits formed: Modelling habit formation in the real world. European Journal of Social Psychology. 40:6, pp. 998-1009. Website: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ejsp.674/abstract.

You are the Solution to the “Eww”

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I love going to the beach to swim, paddle, or chill out, but my recent visits to the beach have begun to look different. I notice more trash and it’s gross. It could be my increased awareness as a result of my work in the field of marine debris, but I think it is a result of more “single-use stuff” being purchased and then improperly disposed. Most of what is found along beach cleanups is single-use, mostly plastic, items. Common marine debris items include cigarettes, straws, and plastic bottle caps.

Marine Debris 2016-07-21 #2So how are we affected by marine debris? Marine debris harms humans by:

  • Reducing beach aesthetics, making a beach visit less pleasant or reducing the number of tourists coming to our beaches.
  • Causing dangerous and costly-to-fix boating situations when boat propellers become entangled in rope or other debris.
  • Harming human health through leaching of toxic chemicals as plastics degrade.
  • Entangling other animals or hurting animals that mistake trash for food.

Shocked yet? I know I am and saddened by this trashy reality. But have no fear! There are many actions you can take in your everyday life to reduce the amount of waste generated. For example, consider:

  • Marine Debris 2016-07-21 #3Volunteering! Host a beach cleanup through Alliance for the Great Lakes, Adopt-a-Beach
  • Spitting the straw out! Kindly refuse single-use plastic items such as straws or silverware when away from home.
  • Using reusable! Bring a reusable bag when you go shopping for food, clothes, or other items. Also bring a reusable water bottle with you. Ohio generally has lovely tasting tap water and it’s much cheaper than buying bottled water.
  • Covering up! Make sure trash cans and recycling bins are covered to avoid wind or critters taking your trash somewhere it doesn’t belong.
  • Flicking it right! Smoking items are the #1 item found on beach cleanups around the world. Cigarettes have plastic in them, so they never truly disappear when they get in the natural environment. They degrade into smaller fibers of plastic. Use an ash tray or smoking receptacle to avoid littering.
  • Stinking it up! Synthetic clothing such as fleece shed fibers through wear and tear and especially through washing. You can choose to wash less or invest in a microfiber catcher.

Jill Bartolotta is an Extension Educator with the Ohio Sea Grant College Program.

Endnotes:

marine debris: NOAA marine debris program. 2016. Website: https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/.

Adopt-a-Beach: Alliance for the Great Lakes, Adope-a-Beach. 2016. Website: http://www.greatlakesadopt.org/?gclid=CIfZidjT4c0CFQiQaQodl4UKJQ.

microfiber catcher: Rozalia Project. 2016. Website: http://rozaliaproject.org/stop-microfiber-pollution/.

Ahoy! Sea Grant goes to the Mid-America Boat Show

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What do you get when you combine the Ohio winter doldrums with a growing interest in boating and watersports? A ready-made audience at the Mid-America Boat Show.

Amidst freezing cold winds and heavy snowfall, Ohio Sea Grant Educators and thousands of others made their way to the IX Center in Cleveland for the Mid-America Boat Show a few weeks ago. It is an annual tradition, having taken place for over 25 years, bringing together water lovers, boaters, adventure seekers, and all facets of the boating industry to learn, buy, sell, trade, and catch up.

Boat Show 2016 #1 2016-02-18As one of the many educational exhibitors at this event, Ohio Sea Grant was thrilled to be able to teach about the importance of a healthy Lake Erie to the Boat Show 2016 #2 2016-02-18many visitors that attended. Stationed next to a singing pirate and personal watercraft simulator, we had some stiff competition. However, neither could stand up to the fright, ick, “Oh geez! That’s a live snake!” factor of our Stone Laboratory snakes and the al“lure” of tying your own hook for catching walleye. These were two of the many activities available to kids and adults at our Lake Erie information hotspot. Show wanderers could spin a prize wheel to be asked questions about general Lake Erie topics, decorate a fish to add to the #loveyourlake twitter campaign, sign up to be a clean boater, and peruse a selection of outreach materials and goodies rivaling the collections of the Library of Congress.

Boat Show 2016 #3 2016-02-18As you might imagine, visitors were mainly concerned about invasive species, harmful algal blooms (HABs), and actions they can take in their everyday life to reduce their footprint, houseprint, or boatprint on the lake. Below are some of the simple tips for keeping Lake Erie healthy that we shared with boat show visitors…they can apply to you as well…

  • Clean, drain, and dry your boat when you move it to different waterways.
  • Pick up trash as you see it and responsibly dispose of or recycle your own items.
  • Take aquarium pets and plants back to the pet store or offer them to a school if you no longer want them.
  • Reduce or eliminate the fertilizer you place on your lawn.
  • Plant a rain garden at the end of your driveway or near your gutter spouts to reduce the amount of water running off of your property.

(Submitted by Jill Bartolotta, Extension Educator for Ohio Sea Grant)

Endnotes:

al“lure”: Chis Pluntz, Pro Anglers. 2009. Tying hooks – Building Walleye or Trout Spinner Baits and Crawler Harnesses. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g19jh0cB4oA.

#loveyourlake: Twitter. 2016. #loveyourlake. Website: https://twitter.com/hashtag/loveyourlake.

HABs: Ohio Sea Grant. 2014. Harmful Algal Blooms. Website: https://ohioseagrant.osu.edu/research/issues/habs.

(Photo credits: Ohio Sea Grant)