Nurdle are pre-production microplastic pellets. They can be used in cosmetics as exfoliants and in detergents for cleaning. They become an environmental hazard when they escape from containers or are spilled during shipment. They are primarily created to make plastic. http://nurdle.org/ They are less than 5 millimeters in size and typically in the shape of a cylinder. Nurdle pellets are the most efficient way of shipping a solid. In the united states approzimately 60 billion pounds of nurdles are produced on an annual basis. They are often spilt in transport and easily washed away. https://web.duke.edu/nicholas/bio217/spring2010/buenger/sources.html

Airsoft originated in Japan. Citizens were not allowed to own actual firearms but replica firearms were legal. Primarily used for target practice and eventually became a game. The concept of Airsoft gaming reached Europe and America in the early 1990’s. Tokyo Marui is the leading manufacturer of Airsoft guns, located in Japan. Another big manufacturer is CYMA Company located in China. http://www.airsoft-guns-gas-electric-spring.com/more-airsoft-airguns-bb-guns-paintball-club-clubs-fields.html

Hello Kitty is the mascot of Japan’s Sanrio Company. Hello Kitty was designed by Yuko Yamaguchi. The Sanrio Company’s catch phrase is “Small Gift, Big Smile” and they have been selling products for over 40 years. They believe that a gift is a way of expressing one’s heartfelt feelings for others. They design things from stationery, theme parks, retail stores, and animated television series. The company was established in the 1960’s. Sanrio has subsidiaries in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Brazil, and Europe - http://www.sanrio.co.jp/english/corporate/

Cap guns contain small discs of shock sensitive explosive compounds which provide the noise and smoke. It was originally made of cast iron, then zinc alloy, and now plastic. One of the main companies that make cap guns is Nichols. They were popular during a 20 year period after WWII. After this 20 year period, many of the companies that made cap guns sold out or started making other types of toys. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cap_gun#See_also

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Lobster traps use to be made out of biodegradeable material, but as of 1980 vinyl-coated steel traps and plastic bait bags, and rope became the gear of choice because the cost was cheaper. Maine’s Department of Marine Resources licenses 3 million lobster traps each year but do not keep track of how many are lost. One improvement made is lobstermen now have to submit a request to get replacement tags. http://www.pressherald.com/opinion/maine-voices-a-million-lost-lobster-traps-wash-debris-ashore_2012-12-02.html

Around 1962 BP introduced plastic containers for motor oil which replaced cans in which oil was originally sold in. The containers were manufactured from oil derivatives. http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/british-petroleum-introduced-plastic-containers-for-motor-news-photo/3260130