Explorers Presentation What is Degradation_250915.pptx

Biodigradation

1. Degradation Explorers Education Programme: www.explorers.ie

2. Types of Degradation Biodegradation Photo degradation Thermal degradation Hydrolysis Explorers Education Programme: www.explorers.ie

3. What is biodegradation? Biodegradation is when items (including natural items and man-made products) decompose or ‘breakdown’ very slowly into very small parts by natural processes (bacteria, fungi, or other biological means). bio·deg·ra·da·tion \ noun bio·de·grad·abil·i·ty / noun bio·de·grade / verb bio·de·grad·able / adjective Explorers Education Programme: www.explorers.ie

4. Other types of degradation Photo degradation: action of sunlight in outdoor exposure. Thermal degradation: action of high temperatures (usually not environmental). Hydrolysis: reaction with water. Explorers Education Programme: www.explorers.ie

5. Materials on the Shore Natural Processed (not natural) Sand Water shells Plastic Bottle Seaweed Tin Can Cigarette Butt Explorers Education Programme: www.explorers.ie

6. Can you guess how long the following items take to degrade? Try to match the material with the correct length of time. Paper Towels Styrofoam Fishing Line Plastic bag Tin Can Plastic Bottle lids Cigarette butt Apple Aluminium Can Disposal nappy 450 years Unknown, just breaks into smaller and smaller pieces 150-200 years 50-100 years 2-4 weeks 1-5 years 600 years 10-20 years 1-2 months 400 years Explorers Education Programme: www.explorers.ie

7. Websites for extra exploration Images on Degradation: search for images using the phase “How long does it take to degrade” for a selection of info graphics. “Ocean Today” produced by NOAA in America. This site has a selection of videos in the section on “Fix our Ocean”. “Two minutes on Oceans with Tim Toomey” produced by the United Nations Education Programme . Search “Marlisco marine litter video” on Vimeo for an excellent animation on the marine litter and its impact on the environment. Explorers Education Programme: www.explorers.ie

8. Websites highlighting how we can help reduce micro beads Micro beads are tiny pieces of plastic that are added to products such as shampoo and toothpaste. There are now a number of campaigns trying to stop this practice. They include: Clean coasts Beat the Microbead Ireland Beat the Microbead International Lets Ban the Bead- the Story of Stuff (Use these phases on your internet search to find more information). Explorers Education Programme: www.explorers.ie