Masami Umehara

Hello, my name is Masami Umehara. I am part of the Ocean and Water Pollution Citizen Action Project Group. I am thirteen and in the Eighth Grade. I was interested in this topic from a young age. I first learned about ocean pollution in elementary school, and I have cared and been very interested in ocean pollution since then.

Interview with Eliza Zygmuntowicz

On December 19, 2024, we had an in-house interview with our science teacher, Eliza Zygmuntowicz. We asked about what Eliza has done as a scientist relating to water and ocean pollution, and important information about our topic.

Eliza has taught about water pollution, and also has taught about green infrastructure and planting near water. She talked about how it is important to know about this topic because only a small percentage of water is drinkable, and all the fresh water is frozen in glaciers, and is not accessible.

Something we learned is that water and ocean pollution affects us by plastic breaking down and entering our bodies, which can affect our health. We also learned that loose dirt can get into fish gills, which can kill fish. A major cause of water and ocean pollution is fertilizer getting into the ocean.

Something that I personally thought important was that water and ocean pollution affects communities of color and low-income communities because of environmental racism. The resources go to high-income communities, while the negative impact goes to low-income communities. A problem relating to low-income communities and water pollution is that people made reservoirs and pushed out the people who live there.