Over 20 AU students participated in the 18th Annual International Coastal Cleanup by collecting trash at Daingerfield Island Park and Marina, in Arlington, Va. on Saturday, in an effort to protect the shoreline from pollution.
"The mission of the International Coastal Cleanup is to remove debris from the shore lines, waterways, and beaches of the world's lakes, rivers and oceans above and below the water," according to the International Coastal Cleanup Web site.
During the cleanup, the number of different types of trash items was collected as data for future study, according to National Park Service Ranger Catie Drew. The data is then collated, processed and posted on the Internet, according to Professor Kim Khio, director of the Environmental Studies Program.
Volunteer Jun Takasuka, a Japanese foreign exchange student, said the cleanup is recreation for him and provides a participatory supplement to the academic work.
"The Coastal Cleanup is a good experience for people who want to work in the environmental education and policy study areas," Takasuka said.
The cleanup was originally scheduled for Sept. 20, but Hurricane Isabel forced it to be rescheduled, according to biology professor Susan Solarz. Due to this postponement, the cleanup uncovered more trash than it expected.
Saturday morning, the group picked up many items such as condoms, cans, bottles, Styrofoam, clothing and tires along the Potomac River adjacent to Ronald Reagan National Airport.
One type of item was found more frequently than others.
"The stuff we find out there, a lot of it personal hygiene stuff," Kim said.
"I really do think a lot of this garbage came from the water [the Potomac River]," volunteer and graduate student Crissy Guitar said.
The volunteer group was made up of Metro area college students and professors, many of whom study or teach biology or environmental studies at their various universities.
The event was a joint effort between a number of different regional and national environmental organizations including the National Park Service, Clean Virginia Waterways, the Ocean Conservancy and the International Coastal Cleanup, Drew said.
The Clean Virginia Waterways and The Ocean Conservancy obtained outside support and funding from civic groups, schools and corporations including Phillip Morris USA, Longwood University and the Ocean Conservancy, according to the Clean Virginia Waterways Web site.
