Degradation Explorers Education Programme: .

Degradation

Explorers Education Programme: www.explorers.ie

Types of Degradation

• Biodegradation• Photo degradation• Thermal degradation• Hydrolysis


What is biodegradation?Biodegradationis 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


Other types of degradationPhoto degradation: action of sunlight in outdoor exposure.

Thermal degradation: action of high temperatures (usually not environmental).

Hydrolysis: reaction with water.


Materials on the ShoreNatural Processed (not natural)

SandWater

shells Plastic Bottle Seaweed

Tin CanCigarette ButtExplorers Education Programme: www.explorers.ie

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


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.


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).


Degradation Explorers Education Programme: .

Documents

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