1.Litter chokes municipal intakes, and effects the flow of water
2.Chemicals found in garbage can kill wildlife immediately, or end up stored in animal tissues
3.Accumulated garbage can attract vermin and is a breeding ground for bacteria
4.Litter can choke or suffocate marine life and birds, small animals can get trapped in trash
5.People and wildlife can injure themselves on glass or metal found close to the river
6.Toxic materials can leak out of certain types of trash which can cause serious problems
7.Organic matter thrown into the Rideau can negatively effect it's environmental health
8.Garbage build up in the Rideau sends the message out that we do not care about the natural ecosystems trying to survive in the Rideau
3.30.2007
How garbage build up can harm the Rideau River
Posted by Martin Canning, Urban Rideau Conservationists Coordinator at Friday, March 30, 2007
Labels: Eight ways garbage pollution effects the Rideau River
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For those of you who want even more scientific reasons for cleaning up rivers such as the Rideau, here is some information about the breakdown of plastics in water.
Plastic water bottles are made using (among other things) the element antimony. Antimony is toxic, and leaches into the water inside and outside the bottle over time. CBC Radio’s science program “Quirks and Quarks” aired a story about this on March 18, 2006 which you can listen to at http://www.cbc.ca/quirks/archives/05-06/mar18.html.
Here’s another danger of plastic breakdown in water. Over time plastic bottles break down to release microscopic bits of plastic. These plastic bits are the size that can be ingested by aquatic animals. Though the effect of these tiny plastic bits on wildlife is unknown, it is probably not good. Quirks and Quarks aired a story about this on May 8, 2004 which you can listen to at http://www.cbc.ca/quirks/archives/03-04/may08.html.
To these microscopic dangers, add the well-known dangers of aquatic life getting tangled up in garbage and chemicals affecting our drinking water and fish we eat. Like Catherine points out, taking care of our environment literally does take care of ourselves. And of course there is the unscientific but perfectly legitimate reason for cleaning up the Rideau, that we would rather have a pretty environment than an ugly one.
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