60006 Scientific Perspectives for Global Issues

Assessment task 2: Evaluating scientific perspectives in

addressing global issues

Student name: Frazer Renu

Student number: 2478502
Subject name: 60006 Scientific Perspectives for Global Issues
Session: Autumn 2023
Assessment Task: 2 - Evaluating scientific perspectives in addressing global issues
Due date: Wednesday Week 9 before 6 pm
Subject Coordinator: Dr Yvonne Davila

I hereby certify that this assignment is my own work, based on my personal study and/or
research and that I have acknowledged all material and sources used in the preparation of
this assignment. I also certify that the assignment has not been previously submitted for
assessment by me or anyone else, and that I have not copied in part or whole or otherwise
plagiarised the work of other students or authors, including text generated through AI
tools.

I have read and agree with the above statement: YES

Please indicate that you have read and agree with the above disclaimer.

For this assessment task you will answer a series of questions (see the following pages) on
two scientific articles and how the research relates to or addresses a global issue and the UN
SDGS. Please see the Assessment Task 2 module on Canvas for all complete guidelines and
requirements for this assessment task.
Submit your completed assignment with this cover sheet via Canvas.

60006 SPGI Assessment Task 2: Evaluating scientific perspectives in addressing global issues
Assessment Task 2 questions – complete your answers on this worksheet.

1. Write the complete reference for the primary article that you have chosen from the list
provided, using APA7 referencing style.

Samandra, S., Johnston, J.M., Jaeger, J.E., Symons, B., Xie, S., Currell, M., Ellis, A.V., & Clarke,
B.O. (2022). Microplastic contamination of an unconfined groundwater aquifer in Victoria,
Australia. Science of the Total Environment, 802(149727), 0048-9697.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149727

2. In your own words, summarise the:

o aim(s) of the research in the primary article
o approach taken to address the aims/research questions (method of inquiry)
o major findings or results of the research
o significance of the research and contribution to addressing a global issue
Use APA7 style in-text citations where appropriate. Guide: 3-4 paragraphs (250-400 words).
Aquifers are the source of water for up to 2 billion people worldwide who use this water for
drinking, agricultural and industrial purposes (Samandra et al., 2022). Therefore, when
microplastic start to contaminate these Aquifers and groundwaters it can be deemed to be
dangerous for usage. Scientists aimed to analyse the amount of common Microplastics that
have made its way into groundwater in Victoria, Australia. They used LDIR (Laser Direct Infa-
Red) which completes an image analysis to determine the location of the plastics(Samandra
et al., 2022) to monitor the groundwater bores, finding that there were Microplastics
detected in every sample they tested.

Samandra et al. (2022) found that PE, PP, PS and PVC were detected in all seven bores with
the size ranging from 18 – 491um. The average amount of particles that was found in the
bores were 16-97 particles with PE and PVC being the most common contributing up to 60%
of the Microplastics found. However, the study only used capped groundwater meaning that
microplastics have gone through soil to reach the groundwater.

The significance of Samandra et al. (2022) article was to raise awareness for the eight
microplastic polymers detected in the Bacchus Marsh. This was the first study to report
presence in groundwater within an aquifer. The scientists could not find a reason why PE,
PP, PS and PVC were the most common plastics most likely from biosolids, fertilizers, plastic
mulch, meat packaging, domestic cleaning products, and groundwater. Therefore more
research has to be done to manage a further understanding of Microplastics in groundwater
aquifers.

60006 SPGI Assessment Task 2: Evaluating scientific perspectives in addressing global issues
3. Indicate (tick or highlight or bold) one or two UN SDGs you think this article relates to or
addresses.

Goal 1 No poverty

Goal 2 Zero hunger

Goal 3 Good health and well-being

Goal 4 Quality education

Goal 5 Gender equality

✘ Goal 6 Clean water and sanitation

Goal 7 Affordable and clean energy

Goal 8 Decent work and economic growth

Goal 9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Goal 10 Reduced inequalities

Goal 11 Sustainable cities and communities

Goal 12 Responsible consumption and production

Goal 13 Climate action

✘ Goal 14 Life below water

Goal 15 Life on land

Goal 16 Peace, justice and strong institutions

Goal 17 Partnership for the goals

4. You have found a related article by searching relevant scholarly databases. Write the
complete reference for this secondary article using APA7 referencing style.
Khant, N.A., & Kim, H. (2022). Review of Current Issues and Management Strategies of
Microplastics in Groundwater Environments. Water, 14(1020), 1-16.
https://doi.org/10.3390/w14071020

5. Explain why you selected this secondary article and how it relates to the primary article
you chose and the global issue identified. In your answer, you need to justify your
reasons by referring to the aims, approach/method, major findings, and significance of

60006 SPGI Assessment Task 2: Evaluating scientific perspectives in addressing global issues
 the research presented in your secondary article. Use APA7 style in-text citations. Guide:
4-5 paragraphs (300-500 words).
The article by Khant & Kim (2022) as it relates to the Samandra et al. (2022) article because it
is on the topic of microplastic in groundwater environments. In Khant & Kim (2022) the
research is focused onto management strategies of Microplastics rather than research into
how much microplastics are found in groundwater. The global issue of Microplastic in
groundwater has very little research, which is addressed in both articles, as well as
addressing that it is an issue that more people should put time and effort into further
studies.

Khant & Kim (2022) review on Microplastics communicates the current issues, what could
occur and how the global issue transpired. They aimed to raise awareness for the global
issue by addressing how it is effecting the planet, they mention the same issues as Samandra
et al. (2022)

The strategies that Khant & Kim (2022) constructed is that Microplastics in groundwater
must have many different sides and need a team to conquer. Ways that they brought up is
to ban single use plastics as well as reversing the effects of the plastics that have entered the
groundwater through the soil and increasing social awareness and promoting use of
biodegradable plastics or no plastic at all. It is crucial that the quantity of plastic usage is
reduced or increase research into biodegradable plastic as biodegradable microplastic will
most likely biodegrade before reaching groundwater protecting human health and the
environment.

The significance of Khant & Kim (2022) is to raise awareness of the contamination of
Microplastic as it has been on the constant rise for the past 70 years. However, microplastic
pollution in marine life has also been on the rise as it is part of the UN’s Sustainable
Development Goals but not an issue that has been raised in groundwater and aquifers.
Therefore, Khant & Kim (2022) research can be used as management for people interested
in microplastic pollution in groundwater as a way to create more strategies to fight the
global issue.

6. Having read both the primary and secondary articles, identify and explain how the
research in both articles relates to or addresses the UN Sustainable Development Goals
(UN SDG) you chose above.
Support your answer with information from the journal articles. Use APA7 style in-text
citations when referring to information from the two articles. Guide: 4-6 paragraphs
(400-600 words).

60006 SPGI Assessment Task 2: Evaluating scientific perspectives in addressing global issues
Both articles relate to similer United Nations Sustainable Development Goals with the
Khant & Kim (2022) having direct mention to the UN SDGs. The goals Clean Water and
Sanitation, and Life Below Water (goals 6 and 14) both target marine pollution as well as
conserving the ecosystems and managing natural resources to maintain healthy living
habits (United Nations, n.d.).

UN SDG tartgets for these goals align with these articles, mainly:
 Target 14.1 By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all
kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and
nutrient pollution.
 Target 6.3 By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating
dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving
the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling
and safe reuse globally.
Improving Water Quality
The primary article stated that the microplastics were assumed to be from biosolids,
fertilizers, plastic mulch, meat packaging, domestic cleaning products, and groundwater,
that had been dumped into the land and had transferred through the soil and into
aquifers Samandra et al. (2022). The primary articles research should be used to promote
more research as many towns globally rely on groundwater for water consumption.

In the secondary article it informs us that microplastics are present in clean drinking
water and is even from the sewage thus going in the opposite direction to the goal for
clean water and agricultural purposes Khant & Kim (2022). The article also mentions that
it is crucial that to manage the problem we should ban hazardous chemicals and
materials as they are the leading cause of poor water quality globally.

Preventing and Reducing Marine Pollution

The Primary article Samandra et al. (2022) informed us of the types of plastics that were
found in the groundwater and how they came about, providing information such as the
size and amount of microplastics that they found. In doing this the UN can use the
information to find a management strategy to filter the water or separate the water from
the microplastics. The UN also can make microplastics a more well-known topic as there
is very little awareness which is brought up in both articles. Khan & Kim (2022) address
the microplastic pollution in marine life population by stating that microplastics are
entering the marine life ecosystem damaging environemtns which includes groundwater
habitats. Goal 14 is the most relevant SDG for microplastic pollution although none of
the target and indicators make note of the problem but relate to the problem like in
target 14.1.

Both articles make note of the impact of microplastic pollution and how

60006 SPGI Assessment Task 2: Evaluating scientific perspectives in addressing global issues
7. Did you use additional references in your answers above? Write the references here
using APA7 referencing style.

60006 SPGI Assessment Task 2: Evaluating scientific perspectives in addressing global issues