Reflection

Our video touches on the environmental impact on the ocean of plastic water bottles, from their production to their disposal. Factory smokestacks release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which is absorbed by the ocean and causes ocean acidification. When hydrogen ions enter the ocean, they bond with carbonate, preventing marine organisms and coral reefs from acquiring carbonate to build their skeletons and shells with. As a result, coral reefs – havens of oceanic biodiversity, fish spawning, and nutrient cycling – are rapidly dying off. Toxic waste and byproduct associated with manufacturing plastic water bottles can be dumped directly into the ocean, damaging marine ecosystems. In the United Sates, more than 67 million plastic water bottles are discarded every day, many of which end up in the ocean. Most of the consequences of plastic water bottles are negated by simple lifestyle changes. By switching to reusable water bottles, one can prevent plastic from entering the ocean, slow the rate of coral reef die-off, and lessen the amount of waste contaminating our oceans.