Plastic Pollution (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Environmental Management): Flashcards
Exam code: 0680
1/250Still learning
Know0
- FrontTypes of Plastic
Define conventional plastics.
Was this flashcard helpful?
Cards in this collection (25)
Define conventional plastics.
Conventional plastics are plastics made from fossil fuels, such as crude oil or natural gas.
What happens to conventional plastics instead of fully decomposing?
Conventional plastics break into smaller fragments instead of fully decomposing.
Define bioplastics.
Bioplastics are plastics made fully or partly from biological raw materials, such as plant starch, vegetable oils or algae.
True or False?
All bioplastics are biodegradable.
False.
Whether a bioplastic biodegrades depends on its chemical structure, so some bioplastics do not decompose naturally.
Define biodegradable plastics.
Biodegradable plastics are plastics designed to decompose in water or soil through natural processes.
Which organisms decompose biodegradable plastics?
Bacteria and fungi decompose biodegradable plastics by breaking the chemical bonds in the plastic.
Which abiotic factors affect how fast biodegradable plastics decompose?
The decomposition rate of biodegradable plastics depends on temperature, moisture and oxygen levels.
Define non-biodegradable plastics.
Non-biodegradable plastics are plastics that do not decompose quickly and take hundreds to thousands of years to break down.
Which physical processes break down non-biodegradable plastics?
Sunlight degradation and wave action break down non-biodegradable plastics over very long periods.
Microplastics are plastic fragments less than in length.
Microplastics are plastic fragments less than 5 mm in length.
True or False?
All microplastics form from the breakdown of larger plastic items.
False.
Manufacturers also make microplastics for commercial products, such as microbeads in cosmetics and cleaning products.
Where do non-biodegradable plastics often accumulate?
Non-biodegradable plastics often accumulate in landfills, oceans and coastal environments.
In which three ways can plastic pollution harm marine organisms?
Plastic pollution harms marine organisms through physical contact, ingestion and exposure to toxic chemicals.
How does visual pollution from plastic litter affect coastal tourism?
Visual pollution makes coastal areas unattractive, so tourists become less likely to visit heavily polluted areas.
Common causes of entanglement include fishing lines, nets and the plastic that hold packs of drinks.
Common causes of entanglement include fishing lines, nets and the plastic rings that hold packs of drinks.
How can entanglement in plastic kill marine animals?
Entanglement restricts movement, so animals may become unable to swim, feed or surface for air.
True or False?
Entanglement in plastic mainly threatens adult marine animals.
False.
Young animals are especially vulnerable to entanglement, which can cause injury, infection or death.
Why do marine animals eat plastic?
Marine animals eat plastic because they mistake it for prey, as floating plastics resemble jellyfish, plankton or fish eggs.
Plastic fills an animal's stomach without providing , which can lead to starvation.
Plastic fills an animal's stomach without providing energy, which can lead to starvation.
How can sharp plastic pieces harm animals that swallow them?
Sharp plastic pieces can damage the digestive system of animals that swallow them.
Define bioaccumulation.
Bioaccumulation is the build-up of plastic particles and their associated toxins in a single organism over time.
How do toxic chemicals from microplastics enter marine organisms?
Chemicals absorbed onto microplastics enter organisms when the animals ingest microplastics regularly.
Define biomagnification.
Biomagnification is the increase in the concentration of toxins from plastics as they move up the food chain.
True or False?
Chemicals absorbed onto microplastics have no effect on an animal's growth.
False.
These chemicals can affect an animal's growth, reproduction and overall health.
What long-term effects can biomagnification have on predators?
Biomagnification can cause reproductive issues, weakened immune systems and long-term population decline in predators.
Sign up to unlock flashcards
or