PLASTIC FOUND IN SMALLMOUTH BASS IN RIVER
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salvelinusfontinalis
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"Both the DEP and Fish and Boat Commission declined to comment on the findings. Spokesmen for both said they had not yet read the full study. “We are interested in the results if the findings reveal a threat to aquatic life,” said the commission’s Mike Parker."
salvelinusfontinalis
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salvelinusfontinalis
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https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322106623_Microplastics_in_freshwater_systems_A_review_on_occurrence_environmental_effects_and_methods_for_microplastics_detection
Sounds like there is a ton to learn about this before finger pointing.
This is just the very end. All throughout it is very apparent we know next to nothing about microplastics in freshwater and even less on how to stop it.
Sounds like there is a ton to learn about this before finger pointing.
Sad news but not surprising. River SMBs are slow growing and this junk can build up
Microplastics are turning up all up and down the food chain in the oceans - that they are in estuaries and the river tributaries shouldn't be a surprise. While I think that have banned some of the typical tiny plastic "beads" used in soap and similar products, this stuff will probably be like PCBs and linger a long time.
Microplastics are turning up all up and down the food chain in the oceans - that they are in estuaries and the river tributaries shouldn't be a surprise. While I think that have banned some of the typical tiny plastic "beads" used in soap and similar products, this stuff will probably be like PCBs and linger a long time.
Baron
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Do degrading bottles and bags contribute to the micro-plastics? Or is it primarily manufactured goods?
Remember when you carried a canteen and or thermos bottle that lasted for years and years. All veggies were frozen in boxes and all meets were purchased and wrapped in waxed paper. I wonder if it wasn't better that way?
Remember when you carried a canteen and or thermos bottle that lasted for years and years. All veggies were frozen in boxes and all meets were purchased and wrapped in waxed paper. I wonder if it wasn't better that way?
salvelinusfontinalis
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Baron,
Absolutely degrading plastic are also contributing. I also agree with what you expressed.
Do you know you can but already peeled oranges wrapped in plastic? Wtf for ill never know.
Absolutely degrading plastic are also contributing. I also agree with what you expressed.
Do you know you can but already peeled oranges wrapped in plastic? Wtf for ill never know.
Baron
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Sal, also Peeled Harboiled egg.
In the 60/70's when I was a pup there was boxes all along the walls of supermarkets. They were from the stock workers. After stocking the shelves the boxes went up front and after paying for your order you boxed up instead if bagged up. When you arrived home the boxes went into the heater and contributed to the home heat. No Plastics were used. Today we can re-cycle the boxes instead of burning them and it seems a win win, but the boxes aren't available to us anymore.
In the 60/70's when I was a pup there was boxes all along the walls of supermarkets. They were from the stock workers. After stocking the shelves the boxes went up front and after paying for your order you boxed up instead if bagged up. When you arrived home the boxes went into the heater and contributed to the home heat. No Plastics were used. Today we can re-cycle the boxes instead of burning them and it seems a win win, but the boxes aren't available to us anymore.
Fly-Swatter
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I think it's human nature to do what is easiest and what has the highest perceived short term value. That most of the PaFlyFish community doesn't seems to think this way is a testament to them rising above their baser instincts (yea us!). 🙂
I struggle with this with my wife, although she is wearing down (or learning) after 25+ years of marriage. For example, she prefers already shredded carrots sold in printed ziplock-type bags over buying a bunch of carrots and shredding them as needed in a food processor. There is little chance that bag will be reused. Same goes for frozen foods, plastic milk containers (vs. waxed cardboard), etc. We are diligent about recycling, but that is not "the answer". It's, where reasonable, better to not use the plastic at all.
Don't get me started on the lunacy that is bottled water. You could buy a dozen awesome double-walled stainless bottles and a great filtrations system for less that the average person spends on bottled water each year. And that water is of questionable cleanliness. But, bottles water is WAY easier than the alternative I described.
One could apply the same kind of thinking to sports drinks. I promise you 99% of the population does not need more sugar and sodium in their diets. I see these and water bottles littering many places in parks along streams and on the sides of the road. THe silly thinks are a lot lighter after you drink the liquid. So, why not carry them out with you?
1. It's easier to drop it where ever you are done with it.
2. There is no perceived value in carrying out empty, "useless" plastic containers.
On a related topic, I wonder why those shredded carrots (and a host of other produce) lasts so long in trucks + stores a+ refrigerators. I'm sure the answer is bad.
I struggle with this with my wife, although she is wearing down (or learning) after 25+ years of marriage. For example, she prefers already shredded carrots sold in printed ziplock-type bags over buying a bunch of carrots and shredding them as needed in a food processor. There is little chance that bag will be reused. Same goes for frozen foods, plastic milk containers (vs. waxed cardboard), etc. We are diligent about recycling, but that is not "the answer". It's, where reasonable, better to not use the plastic at all.
Don't get me started on the lunacy that is bottled water. You could buy a dozen awesome double-walled stainless bottles and a great filtrations system for less that the average person spends on bottled water each year. And that water is of questionable cleanliness. But, bottles water is WAY easier than the alternative I described.
One could apply the same kind of thinking to sports drinks. I promise you 99% of the population does not need more sugar and sodium in their diets. I see these and water bottles littering many places in parks along streams and on the sides of the road. THe silly thinks are a lot lighter after you drink the liquid. So, why not carry them out with you?
1. It's easier to drop it where ever you are done with it.
2. There is no perceived value in carrying out empty, "useless" plastic containers.
On a related topic, I wonder why those shredded carrots (and a host of other produce) lasts so long in trucks + stores a+ refrigerators. I'm sure the answer is bad.
Baron
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Having worked in the trash business for a while I can tell you that re-cycling for the general residential trash is somewhat deceiving. Much of what could be recycled is missed. I'm not interested in doing more as it needs to happen at the landfill.
I assume that there is a multitude more plastic entering the environment through the manufacture of hardgoods, mixtures and oodles of non-domestic stuff.
If people had to carry their own food and water in their own containers I'd assume less of those containers would be left in our public spaces.
I am a conservative not an environmental eccentric. If I have something and I keep it then I'll not need more, common sense without being crazy.
I assume that there is a multitude more plastic entering the environment through the manufacture of hardgoods, mixtures and oodles of non-domestic stuff.
If people had to carry their own food and water in their own containers I'd assume less of those containers would be left in our public spaces.
I am a conservative not an environmental eccentric. If I have something and I keep it then I'll not need more, common sense without being crazy.
Bamboozle
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Ban artificial fly tying materials... ;-)
In all seriousness, there a zillion sources but here are two things that I am constantly beating the drum over:
LITTERING - It has never been worse in my lifetime and it isn't senior citizens doing it. Bring back the "Crying Indian" (oops, "Crying Indigenous Person"), quadruple the littering fines and suspend fishing, hunting and State Park/Lands usage as an additional penalty.
For Pete's sake, they suspend your privileges if you are a dead beat dad, why not a littering slob?
And how about a "Bottle Bill" in Pennsylvania already? Maybe start a trend and include plastic water bottles...
UNCOVERED RECYCLABLE BINS - Drive down any street on a windy trash day and look at all of the empty water bottles blowing down the avenue from the overfilled uncovered bins of people who pat themselves on the back because they recycle.
There should be a STATE law prohibiting small uncovered recyclable bins curbside. Users of them should be warned then fined and any municipality or trash hauler who furnishes bins and doesn't offer a large covered recyclable containers should be fined heavily by the State.
Townships & haulers make money from recycling so they should also be held accountable.
Neither of these ideas would alleviate the problem, but the issue isn't plastic as much as why it ends up the waterways.
Banning stuff just makes the slobs feel good.
In all seriousness, there a zillion sources but here are two things that I am constantly beating the drum over:
LITTERING - It has never been worse in my lifetime and it isn't senior citizens doing it. Bring back the "Crying Indian" (oops, "Crying Indigenous Person"), quadruple the littering fines and suspend fishing, hunting and State Park/Lands usage as an additional penalty.
For Pete's sake, they suspend your privileges if you are a dead beat dad, why not a littering slob?
And how about a "Bottle Bill" in Pennsylvania already? Maybe start a trend and include plastic water bottles...
UNCOVERED RECYCLABLE BINS - Drive down any street on a windy trash day and look at all of the empty water bottles blowing down the avenue from the overfilled uncovered bins of people who pat themselves on the back because they recycle.
There should be a STATE law prohibiting small uncovered recyclable bins curbside. Users of them should be warned then fined and any municipality or trash hauler who furnishes bins and doesn't offer a large covered recyclable containers should be fined heavily by the State.
Townships & haulers make money from recycling so they should also be held accountable.
Neither of these ideas would alleviate the problem, but the issue isn't plastic as much as why it ends up the waterways.
Banning stuff just makes the slobs feel good.
Baron
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I hear that with many recycling products its actually a loss to recycle. paper glasswork and plastic is at the top of that list. Metals fare better.
I still would like to know the percentage of micro plastic pollution is from domestic trash vs industrial sources.
I still would like to know the percentage of micro plastic pollution is from domestic trash vs industrial sources.
Bamboozle
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I will never believe to my dying day that a municipality or hauler would recycle if it was a losing proposition. Maybe the RETURNS on recyclable materials is lower but what "commodity" prices don't fluctuate?
Part of the problem profit-wise is people were willing to pay considerably higher prices for certain items made from recycled materials when it was a novelty. These days, recycled materials are finding their way into more and more goods, the novelty has worn off and cost of those items has gone down.
BUT, the municipalities & haulers ARE still making money or getting reimbursed from somebody for recycling or they would never bother.
Part of the problem profit-wise is people were willing to pay considerably higher prices for certain items made from recycled materials when it was a novelty. These days, recycled materials are finding their way into more and more goods, the novelty has worn off and cost of those items has gone down.
BUT, the municipalities & haulers ARE still making money or getting reimbursed from somebody for recycling or they would never bother.
PennypackFlyer
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I'm wondering what they found in the fish's poop?
Bamboozle
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A non-profit making proposition for some large cities or a break even or lost leader for huge haulers but trust me that no little burg is going to lose money recycling. They just can't afford to.
I'm glad there is an option where I live...
I'm glad there is an option where I live...
Recycling right now is definitely a money loser for municipalities. Things got worse when China passed environmental laws that limit what they could accept as far as paper goods.
Lots of items in peons recycling bins end up in landfills.
Here is a decent article
https://www.ocregister.com/your-recyclables-are-going-to-the-dump-heres-why
Lots of items in peons recycling bins end up in landfills.
Here is a decent article
https://www.ocregister.com/your-recyclables-are-going-to-the-dump-heres-why
larkmark
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We carefully clean out plastic containers and put them in recycling bins. I have suspected a lot of that stuff ends up in with the regular trash anyway. I even saw trash trucks empty the bins into regular trash.
Plastic. antibiotics, raw sewage, farm runoff, warming water would all be man made. I guess as a society we had better get our priorities in order? Elected officials and non elected officials with "no comment" and "further study is needed" are not helpful. Scientists and almost anyone can agree that these things are certainly not good.
Arway comments as a citizen which is interesting. I suspect he was booted for standing up to powers that be? I guess the people we trust to monitor our water cannot be trusted?
Plastic. antibiotics, raw sewage, farm runoff, warming water would all be man made. I guess as a society we had better get our priorities in order? Elected officials and non elected officials with "no comment" and "further study is needed" are not helpful. Scientists and almost anyone can agree that these things are certainly not good.
Arway comments as a citizen which is interesting. I suspect he was booted for standing up to powers that be? I guess the people we trust to monitor our water cannot be trusted?
Baron
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Remember that our lifespans average 15-20 years more than a century ago and so we must be doing something right. As of twenty years ago all recycling in my town was going into the landfill. The bulk recycling bins at the landfill were full and there was no market for the recycling. This must be approached from a manufacturing angle.
Lark, perhaps you may discontinue using precious water resources washing emptied containers. If or when they are recycled they are superheated for re-manufacturing and the tiny residue in of no concern but you can't get the water back that you used. Just a suggestion.
I'd love to hear from some supply-end professionals on this matter. As a conservative I've always looked at this subject as away for big Gov to keep us in line and on a leash. I'd love to hear from people that are in charge of distribution and sales of these by-products instead of the talking-heads government sponsored scientists.
I still feel that by using less of what I don't need and keeping and re-using that which I do need I'm doing more than most and need not be ashamed.
We can get our priorities pretty mixed up if not careful. An old book most of us have spent time in suggests that as humanity moves along that more and more they'll worship the creation and no longer the Creator. Not a good thing.
Lark, perhaps you may discontinue using precious water resources washing emptied containers. If or when they are recycled they are superheated for re-manufacturing and the tiny residue in of no concern but you can't get the water back that you used. Just a suggestion.
I'd love to hear from some supply-end professionals on this matter. As a conservative I've always looked at this subject as away for big Gov to keep us in line and on a leash. I'd love to hear from people that are in charge of distribution and sales of these by-products instead of the talking-heads government sponsored scientists.
I still feel that by using less of what I don't need and keeping and re-using that which I do need I'm doing more than most and need not be ashamed.
We can get our priorities pretty mixed up if not careful. An old book most of us have spent time in suggests that as humanity moves along that more and more they'll worship the creation and no longer the Creator. Not a good thing.
