Wave of Styrofoam from 2011 tsunami threatens Alaska environment
Wave of Styrofoam from 2011 tsunami threatens Alaska environment
Wed, 30 Jan 2013 04:54 GMT
Source: reuters // Reuters
By Yereth Rosen
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Alaska cleanup crews last year found some beaches covered with polystyrene foam that floated across the Pacific from the 2011 Japanese tsunami and threatens wildlife, a state official told legislators on Tuesday.
A main concern of environmentalists and officials is that the lightweight specks, which have been broken down by storms and waves, will harm small animals. They could choke or die slowly from malnutrition if pieces block their intestinal system, officials say.
So far, no dead birds have been found on the beaches, Elaine Busse Floyd, acting environmental health director for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, told lawmakers in her report. But officials are on the lookout for animals harmed by the ingested foam, she said.
Polystyrene foam accounted for 30 percent of the weight of the total debris, compared to the usual 5 percent rate before the tsunami, she said. Considering that it is so light, "it's a huge volume."
Closed-cell extruded polystyrene is often referred to as Styrofoam, a trademarked name owned by Dow Chemical Co which manufactures it for insulation and crafts, among other uses. It is not biodegradable because it resists breaking down in sunlight, so it can in theory last forever.
More:
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/wave-of-styrofoam-from-2011-tsunami-threatens-alaska-environment
