Seabirds Study Shows Plastic Pollution Reaching Surprising Levels Off Coast of Pacific Northwest

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120704124321.htm

ScienceDaily (July 4, 2012) — Plastic pollution off the northwest coast of North America is reaching the level of the notoriously polluted North Sea, according to a new study led by a researcher at the University of British Columbia.

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The research group performed necropsies on 67 beached northern fulmars and found that 92.5 per cent had plastics -- such as twine, Styrofoam and candy wrappers -- in their stomach. An average of 36.8 pieces per bird were found. The average total weight of plastic was 0.385 grams per bird. One bird was found with 454 pieces of plastic in its stomach.

"The average adult northern fulmar weighs five pounds, or 2.25 kilograms," says Avery-Gomm. "While 0.385 grams in a bird may seem inconsequential to us, it's the equivalent of about five per cent of their body mass. It would be like a human carrying 50 grams of plastic in our stomach -- about the weight of 10 quarters."



http://patriciashannon.blogspot.com/2011/08/we-cant-really-throw-things-away.html

The preceding link is to the lyrics of my song "We Can't Really Throw Things Away", and contains a link to the sheet music which I have posted on-line. There is also a link to the my Reverbnation, where the melody is available.