Acton’s First Lego League 6th grade girls’ team presented to Green Acton on microfiber pollution of the world’s oceans. Members are from different Acton schools. The team’s competition project has three parts: (1) the project they’re presenting today, for which they had to research a problem within the theme of interaction between humans and animals (“animal allies”). They chose how microfibers (tiny plastic shards from fleece clothing) can end up in oceans, be eaten by organisms, and then move up the food chain. Next was (2) development of a robot game on the same theme (animal allies), in which robots have to complete missions; and (3) sharing their project with their communities.

Microfibers are teeny bits of fabric, from fleece clothing, that shed in the washing machine, and often end up, eventually, in the oceans. Fish consume them (directly or indirectly, through consumption of other organisms); these microfibers now threaten 700 marine species, including the fish/seafood that humans consume. Microfibers have even been found in beer in Germany.

Before water from washing machines goes to oceans, it typically goes through treatment plants. Yet, there are so many of these fibers in the water that even if 15% of them were filtered out, the volume entering oceans would still be huge. Upgrading treatment plants is challenging and expensive. Scientists are working on making washing machines more efficient at trapping these fibers. The team reached out to 200 adults and a few kids; only a few knew about microfibers and their effects on the planetary environment.

The are ways to reduce the problem. Wash clothes only when necessary, in full loads, in cold water, and at lower speeds/gentle cycles. Using liquid soap and fabric softeners helps. The fabric industry is researching fabrics to figure out how to manufacture clothes that don’t have this problem; Patagonia is the premier example. There is a product in prototype (available 2017) that would go into the wash and capture microfibers. Synthetic fibers (polyester, including fleece; rayon; acrylics) are the culprits. Natural fibers (cotton, wool, linen) do not present this problem. The older the item, the more fibers it sheds. President Obama signed a law last year (which will take effect next year) that will ban the use of microplastic beads in personal care items, but that doesn’t include microfibers for fabric.

The team became interested in this problem — discovered by ecologist Dr. Mark Browne and published in 2011 —through an article they read in school. The team, which meets 3–4 times each week, was featured in an article in the Acton Beacon, and has shared its findings with the local community and the New England Aquarium. The members have completed one regional tournament, and will now go on to statewide competition. The group will continue to work to raise awareness of this problem, and may do presentations for the local schools and the 2017 AB PIP-STEM fest.

For more info: http://www.firstlegoleague.org

First Lego League Presentation: Microfiber Pollution of Oceans

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