Plastics in the Environment

Catalog description

This course introduces students to various aspects of plastics in the environment. Major topics covered include the production and uses of plastics, the science of plastics in the environment (distribution and degradation), the impacts of plastics on ecosystems and humans, and potential solutions. The various ways in which plastics are used in a variety of products and applications are discussed. Plastics production has accelerated and evolved over the past several decades, now utilizing multiple raw materials, including recycled plastics, to create different types of plastics, including primary (nurdles) and secondary forms. Themes covered under the fate of plastics include timescales of transport and degradation, measurement techniques, size range classifications, and the distribution in the environment (water, soil, and air). The global plastics budget is discussed, including the low rate of recycling. The degradation of plastics includes fracturing, photolysis, and microbial decomposition. Ecological impacts are separated into those due to macroplastics and microplastics. Effects on humans include those resulting from the consumption of food and from inhalation of airborne fibers. Existing laws and policies surrounding plastics are discussed at local, national, and international levels, including bans on certain types of plastics (e.g., bags and microbeads). The course culminates in the analysis of solutions to plastics pollution, including recycling, bioplastics, compostable plastics, and non-plastic replacements. This course will provide a BA student with the intended breadth of a BA degree.