Round the World - eXXpedition

~ As part of our Science Spotlight series we are d

~ As part of our Science Spotlight series we are diving deeper into the first scientific paper to come out of eXXpedition Round the World - Source, Sea and Sink – a holistic approach to understanding plastic pollution in the Southern Caribbean ~

We set out on eXXpedition Round the World to pinpoint where the solutions to plastic pollution lie on land by better understanding the sources.

Off the coast of five Caribbean countries, we identified 18 types of plastic – including synthetic fibres, paint flakes and acrylics. Paint flakes may arise from the maritime and tourism industries, both of which are major contributors to the economies of the Caribbean region.

The highest concentrations of microplastics were located off the San Blas islands in Panama and likely arose from mainland Panama, which has some of the highest levels (around 44%) of mismanaged waste in the region.

By contrast, Antigua had among the lowest quantities of terrestrial and marine plastics, yet the greatest diversity of polymers. Computer modelling suggests these plastics may have been transported by currents generated in the wider North Atlantic Ocean, even originating from the so-called North Atlantic garbage patch.

Tobacco products, plastic fragments and food packaging were consistently the top three categories of litter recorded in land-based surveys in every country.

Very few plastic bags or polystyrene foams were found as litter in countries which had a ban on these items (Antigua, Aruba). However polystyrene foam was identified within surface water samples. This suggests policy works - but it needs to be cross-border and at a global scale.

#eXXpedition #sciencespotlight #Caribbean #plasticpollution #marinescience #marineresearch #wastemanagement #seatosource

There is a growing concern that plastic may be har

There is a growing concern that plastic may be harming our health.⁠

We know that the presence of persistent particles that the body can’t break down, including micro- and nano-plastics, is associated with chronic disease including diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.⁠
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So many unanswered questions on the impacts of plastic and human health were the catalyst to the creation of #eXXpedition in the first place. But research into plastic’s impact on our health is still drastically underfunded.⁠
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Along with more than 80 NGOs, scientists and MPs, @commonseas is asking the UK Government to allocate £15 million towards urgent research into the human health impacts of plastic. This would represent just 0.1% of Whitehall’s total R&D spend.⁠
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Join the call and sign the petition! #linkinbio

#plastic #microplastics #plasticpollution #humanhealth

~ As part of our Science Spotlight series we are d

~ As part of our Science Spotlight series we are diving deeper into the first scientific paper to come out of eXXpedition Round the World - Source, Sea and Sink – a holistic approach to understanding plastic pollution in the Southern Caribbean ~

During eXXpedition Round the World, our fantastic crew sailed from Antigua to Panama via Bonaire, Aruba and the San Blas Islands in November and December 2019. To study the distribution of microplastics within the Caribbean holistically, we collected samples from surface water, subsurface water and sediment to examine the abundance and distribution of microplastics in each part of the marine environment, and conducted a number of land-based surveys. We also used computer simulations to predict where plastics collected in the samples may have come from.

By collecting data in this way, we can build a better picture of what types of plastic are present in the Caribbean, what the products may have been, and where the litter may have come from, to help us move towards meaningful solutions.

#eXXpedition #sciencespotlight #data #datacollection #fieldwork #boat #survey #microplastic #sampling

Increasingly large spillage events of nurdles are

Increasingly large spillage events of nurdles are occurring on land and at sea, causing overwhelming economic, social and environmental impacts around the world. In May 2021, 1,680 tonnes of nurdles plunged into Sri Lankan waters as a result of the cargo ship, the X-Press Pearl, sinking. With plastic accumulating on beaches up to 2 metres high, it is one of the worst environmental disasters in the country’s history and will continue to have profound and enduring impacts for many generations to come.

Whilst it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the plastic pollution crisis in our ocean, there is hope and environmental organisations, community groups and individuals are working hard to create positive change.

Read our latest blog to learn more about nurdles, why they are a problem and what you can do to help. #linkinbio

Photo credit: Centre for Environmental Justice, Sri Lanka

#nurdles #plastic #pollution #plasticpellets #shipping #marineconservation

~ As part of our Science Spotlight series we are d

~ As part of our Science Spotlight series we are diving deeper into the first scientific paper to come out of eXXpedition Round the World - Source, Sea and Sink – a holistic approach to understanding plastic pollution in the Southern Caribbean ~

The Caribbean is renowned globally for its stunning beaches and crystal clear ocean. However, its islands and the surrounding sea are being contaminated by plastics, posing a potential future threat to its diverse marine life and the tourism industry on which its economy depends.

Until now, little work has quantified plastics within the Caribbean marine environment or examined their potential sources. We aimed to address this during #eXXpedition Round the World by conducting the first holistic assessment of marine and land-based plastic pollution in the Southern Caribbean, alongside scientists at @plymuni in conjunction with @universityofga, Plymouth Marine Laboratory and @utppanama.

Stay tuned to find out more!

Photos by @sophiedingwall

#sciencespotlight #Caribbean #marine #research #conservation #tourism #plastic #microplastics #plasticpollution

Media coverage can be a powerful way to share your

Media coverage can be a powerful way to share your story, project or campaign and to inspire others to create positive change.

But how do you get it?

#eXXpedition Head of Communications @rissyclark led a #SHiFT Community Hub session to share her top tips and tricks for generating effective media coverage whether you’re an individual or organisation. You can read her advice through the ‘New Blog’ link in our bio!

Thanks to @11thhourracing for supporting these hub sessions!

#PR #publicrelations #media #communications

Citizen science provides a way for individuals and

Citizen science provides a way for individuals and communities to gather valuable data that adds to global data sets and can inform policy, but starting your own project can seem daunting and it can be difficult to know where to start. In a recent #SHiFT Community Hub session, eXXpedition Ambassador and @livingriverfoundation founder Tanya Ferry and Madeleine Berg from Fidra and @greatnurdler shared their experiences.

Last week, Madeleine shared how you could use The Great Nurdle Hunt model to integrate citizen science into your work. This week, we learn more from Tanya Ferry who launched her own citizen science project on the Thames in London and Medway in Kent. Click the ‘New Blog’ link in our bio to find out more!

Thanks to @11thhourracing for supporting these hub sessions!

Photo credit: Holly Vint

#eXXpedition #citizenscience #microplastics #RiverThames #womeninoceanscience

We are thrilled to announce that eXXpedition Ambas

We are thrilled to announce that eXXpedition Ambassador, Science Writer and Artist @erica.cirino has published her first book, Thicker Than Water: The Quest for Solutions to the Plastic Crisis!

In ‘Thicker Than Water’, Erica brings readers on a globe-hopping journey to meet the scientists and activists telling the real story of the plastic crisis. New technologies and awareness bring some hope, but Erica’s book shows that we can only solve the problem if we reevaluate and shift away from our modern throwaway culture, and rectify long standing injustices.

Thinking about picking up a copy of ‘Thicker Than Water’? Do it this week on the Island Press website or buy it on Amazon, Canio’s Books, Audible, Barnes and Noble Booksellers or IndieBound.

#eXXpedition #sciencecommunication #plasticpollution #storytelling

Citizen science provides a way for individuals and

Citizen science provides a way for individuals and communities to gather valuable data that adds to global data sets and can inform policy, but starting your own project can seem daunting and it can be difficult to know where to start. In a recent #SHiFT Community Hub session, eXXpedition Ambassador and @livingriverfoundation founder Tanya Ferry and Madeleine Berg from Fidra and @greatnurdler shared their experiences.

This week, we want to share some of Madeleine’s top tips for using The Great Nurdle Hunt model to integrate citizen science into your work. You can read Madeleine's advice by clicking the 'New Blog' link in our bio!

Thanks to @11thhourracing for supporting these hub sessions!

Photo credit: Madeleine Berg

#eXXpedition #citizenscience #oceanoptimism #bethechange

Trying to clean up ocean plastic won’t work alon

Trying to clean up ocean plastic won’t work alone. What’s needed is multidisciplinary action working from every angle to explore solutions that stem the flow of plastic at the source, before it reaches the sea, in new and innovative ways.

At the end of her voyage, Leg 4 Round the World Crew member @ladaanakanhai reflected on the importance of an ‘all hands on deck’ approach.

#eXXpedition

Follow our Journey#exxpedition