Polluting microplastics harm both animals and ecosystems

What are microplastics and where do they come from?

• Small plastic pieces less than five millimeters long which are harmful to our ocean and aquatic life

• Large plastic items found in home and industrial applications

• Biodegradable plastics that break down naturally in the environment

• Recycled plastics used in the manufacturing of eco-friendly products

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-3

NGSS.MS-PS1-3

What type of impacts do microplastics have on the environment?

• Positive impacts

• Negative impacts

• No impact

• Unknown

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-3

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

How do microplastics form?

• Through the breakdown of larger plastic items

• Natural processes in the environment

• Manufacturing of small plastic beads for industrial use

• Decomposition of organic material

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-3

How can microplastics impact marine life?

• By altering their natural habitats

• By causing physical harm and affecting the food chain

• By increasing the water temperature

• No impact on marine life

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What are some of the additives found in microplastics?

• Colorants and plasticizers

• Natural polymers

• Metal particles

• Biodegradable materials

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-3

How do microplastics impact the energy-rich stomach oil of fulmars?

• They increase the nutritional value of the stomach oil

• They have no impact on the stomach oil

• They decrease the nutritional value of the stomach oil

• They change the color of the stomach oil

What happens to the surface area of plastic once it begins to break down?

• It decreases, making it less harmful to the environment.

• It remains the same, having a neutral effect on the environment.

• It increases, making it more harmful to the environment.

• It turns into a biodegradable substance.

What happens when microplastics enter the food chain?

• They are harmlessly excreted by organisms

• They cause no significant impact on the ecosystem

• They can accumulate and potentially harm organisms

• They increase the nutritional value of the food

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What are some sources of microplastic?

• Cosmetic products

• Industrial processes

• Synthetic textiles

• All of the above

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-3

Besides the ocean, where else has microplastic pollution become a problem?

• Rivers

• Mountains

• Deserts

• Space

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-3

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-4