by Mat Churchill

In the wee hours of Sunday morning, University of Queensland PhD Candidate Qamar Schuyler, hosted Australia's only viewing of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch conference at Wavelength at the Marina.

The conference highlighted the enormous problem plastic is having on our oceans and its inhabitants, and just as pertinently, on the health of humans as well.

Event organiser Qamar Schuyler, who worked with Wavelength as a snorkelling guide and marine biologist, said the conference was a real eye opener.

"It was said the the Great Pacific Garbage Patch was twice the size of Texas. Now a researcher says it's more like the size of Canada.

"And there isn't just one. They're are five oceanic dumps like this in every ocean on the planet."

Apart from the impact on the health on marine creatures it was also about the human health risks.

"Research showed that toxic compounds are found in people's blood. One researcher found plastic compounds in blood samples taken from unborn foetuses.

Ms Schuyler pointed to everyday products and items where chemicals in the plastic leach out and into our bloodstreams.

"Plastic drink bottles are one of many ways we are consuming toxic chemicals," she said. "Even the chemical we use to make children's clothing flame retardant. After just one night the compounds in the clothing would be in the bloodstream."

She highlighted the fact that plastic bottles, once used, could not be recycled to make other plastic bottles as is the case with glass.

"Every drink bottle you purchase is a new bottle," she said.

Each year, an estimated 6 million tonnes of debris enters our oceans, most of which is plastic. In Australia alone, we throw away about 4,000 plastic bags every minute and use about 4.5 billion plastic bags annually.

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But the news is not all negative. The conference also highlighted some of the great work taking place around the globe.

"There is some Government action taking place," Ms Schuyler said."Around 47 jurisdictions have either banned or taxed single use plastic bags."

Ms Schuyler said research indicated that where a 5 cent levy was placed on plastic bags, the use dropped by 90%.

She said that the conference attempted to empower people to create change in their own lives and in their community.

"Just asking the question of businesses is a big step (towards ending plastic bag use). There's heaps we can do, but we have to stop it at the source."

For more information on moving towards a plastic free future visit Plastic Pollution Coalition or Fake Plastic Fish.