Thread by @KanekoaTheGreat

#1 @JoeRogan is shocked by a study that found ten rivers in Asia and Africa cause up to 95% of ocean plastic pollution:

"If we stop using plastic straws, we're not going to put a f*ckin dent in it unless they do. We're not even close to #1. We're not even close to #6."

#2 A 2017 study published in Environmental Science & Technology found that ten rivers are responsible for up to 95% of the plastic dumped into oceans.

1. Yangtze
2. Indus
3. Yellow
4. Hai He
5. Nile
6. Ganges
7. Pearl
8. Amur
9. Niger
10. Mekong

https://t.co/vDEVLuzEplpubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.102…

#3 A 2010 study found that China, India, and the Phillippines account for 5.57 million metric tons of plastic dumped into oceans.

That same year, the United States was responsible for 0.11 million metric tons of plastic dumped into oceans.

https://t.co/z4muPmGYt9science.org/doi/10.1126/sc…

#4 A 2021 study published in Science Advances found that more than 1000 rivers (1% of global rivers) account for 80% of plastic dumped into oceans.

https://t.co/G3k0dSGHSbscience.org/doi/epdf/10.11…

#5 @BoyanSlat, founder of @TheOceanCleanup, explains how the 2021 study recalibrated its modeling framework in this thread:

"Most plastic enters the oceans from South and Southeast Asia, but we also see hotspots in Central America and Western Africa."

https://t.co/OptE7IWKc3

#6 In conclusion, California politicians may feel good about banning plastic straws, but in reality, the ocean plastic problem will only be solved with a more targeted approach.

https://t.co/7GBcJmQipctheoceancleanup.com/sources/