Cleaning Clothes Dirties Oceans

Title- Cleaning Clothes Dirties Oceans
Author- Stephen Orwen
Date Published- October 5th, 2011
Posted by- Ajda Mozetic
Website- http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2011/10/cleaning-clothes-dirties-oceans/

It doesn’t take much effort to pollute coastal areas, even for people who live miles and miles away from the beach. All that it takes for it to happen is a washing machine and polyester clothes. Polyester is everywhere: The plastic fabric can be used to make fleeces, shirts, pants, furniture and blankets. It is synthetic, which I think it means that it is made from different kinds of chemicals in a lab to resemble something that is natural. Not a while ago scientists found that polyester clothes shed plastic fibers while they are in the washing machine. During this process or a cycle, the microscopic threads wash down the drain, zip through water treatment plants and end up on the coasts. L This amount of plastic pollution is spreading all over the world. In a study a while ago, scientists collected samples from the shores of six continents. After scientists found those plastic threads they went out looking for sources. Previous studies showed that the wee bits of plastic show up near where water exists treatment plants. With that fact scientists went back in the water- treatment process and took an even closer look at laundry. Scientists worked constantly on cleaning synthetic clothes, and blankets inside washing machines.  Polyester fibers aren’t the only tiny polluters.  Another study which was published in November 2010, in Portugal showed that tiny plastic pallets appeared in every single sample of sand taken form 2 beaches. These kinds of small plastic balls give a rough texture to products like skin cleaners and paint removers. Even though the plastic pieces are very small they can still cause trouble in a watery habitat. Polymers are materials, including plastic, made from long chains of molecules bonded to each other. The evidence scientist collected proves that plastic pollution could point to huge problems down the road.  As you can see washing machines can cause more trouble then good!