New exhibit at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry examines the impact of ocean plastic pollution

CHICAGO — From computers and cell phones to some of the most lifesaving advances in medicine, plastic helps our lives in many ways.

But there is also a dark side. New studies have shown that much of our planet is swimming in plastic.

A new immersive exhibit at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry is offering guests a closer look at the impact of global plastic pollution.

Dr. Patricia Ward was part of the team of scientists that helped spearhead the museum’s new Blue Paradox exhibit.

The exhibit offers a close-up look at the result of decades of plastic usage that has become essential for modern life.

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While it has long been known that every part of plastic production from fossil fuels leads to both water and air pollution, it is now being discovered that the way plastics break down is causing huge problems that hit closer to home in food supplies and even the bloodstream, in ways that were never thought possible.

The new exhibit details current plastic pollution in the Great Lakes plastics, and in a separate room, guests are shown how small individual behavioral changes can make big impacts.

And while it is incredibly hard to go cold turkey on plastic, the exhibit provides ideas on how to reduce and reuse plastics to curb the growing tsunami of plastic waste, since it’s estimated that Americans use and discard about 108 pounds of plastic every year.

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