degradation explorers education programme:
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Types of Degradation Biodegradation Photo degradation Thermal degradation Hydrolysis Explorers Education Programme: www.explorers.ieTRANSCRIPT
Degradation
Explorers Education Programme: www.explorers.ie
Types of Degradation
• Biodegradation• Photo degradation• Thermal degradation• Hydrolysis
Explorers Education Programme: www.explorers.ie
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
Explorers Education Programme: www.explorers.ie
Other types of degradationPhoto 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
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
Explorers Education Programme: www.explorers.ie
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
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