Plastic pollution

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/plastic-pollution

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the global plastic production (2019)?368 million tonnes produced annually, with 51% originating in Asia
2. What is the cumulative plastic production (1950-2018)?An estimated 6.3 billion tonnes produced worldwide

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs): Chemicals that persist in the environment and can accumulate in living organisms, often found adsorbed onto plastic debris.
Endocrine Disruptors: Chemicals that can interfere with the body's hormone system, potentially causing developmental, reproductive, and neurological issues.
Circular Economy: An economic system aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources, contrasting with the linear 'take-make-dispose' model.