Plastic pollution in the ocean
Plastic pollution is an extremely prevalent problem affecting the marine environment and all of the organisms within it. It proves as a threat to oceans, food security and quality, human health, tourism, and contributes to rising climate change levels. The principal sources of marine plastic are land-based, from runoff, sewers, tourists, insufficient waste disposal(which can lead to pollution winding up in oceans), industry, and illegal disposal. Ocean plastic pollution is derived from the fishing industry, naval projects and aquaculture, cultivating and farming wild organisms for consumer consumption.
Statistics
Over 300 million tons of plastic are produced every year, and many of this plastic is used to make single-use items such as straws or bags.
Of this 300 million, at least 8 million end up in our oceans annually.
100% of baby sea turtles have plastic inside of their stomach
The U.S. contributes 38 million tons of plastics per year
Plastic packaging is the biggest contributor to plastic pollution
Over 1 million plastic bags end up in the trash every minute
Only 9% of the plastic is recycled
More than 1 million seabirds and 100,000 sea animals die a year from plastic
Impact on Climate Change
Because plastic is a petroleum product, it can contribute to global warming. The physical creation of plastic itself also requires greenhouse gases. The process of extracting, transporting, and manufacturing fossil fuels to create the plastic itself also generates greenhouse gases. And when plastic waste is incinerated/heated, it releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, therefore producing even more greenhouse gases. This creates an extremely dangerous feedback loop which can be detrimental to both humans and animals.
Impact on Marine Life
The most common impact of marine plastics are the ingestion, suffocation and entanglement of thousands of marine species. Marine wildlife can easily mistake plastic for prey, and most die from starvation as their stomachs are filled with plastic. They can also suffer from infections, reduced ability to swim, and internal injuries. Plastic also helps spread disease and disrupts habitats.
Impact on Humans
Plastic pollution has a big impact on our lives and invisible plastic has been identified in tap water, beer, salt as well as being present in all samples collected in the world’s oceans. It is also the cause of many developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune disorders in both humans and animals. Plastic waste also damages the artistic value of tourist destinations, leading to limited tourism interests and major economic costs due to the cleaning and maintenance of sites.
What is being done to help and what you can do to help
Efforts have been made to address marine pollution, the most important ones being the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matter, the 1996 Protocol to the London Convention, and the 1978 Protocol to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships. However, agreement with these laws is still poor, due to limited financial resources to enforce them.
Recycling and reuse of plastic are the most effective ways to reduce the environmental impacts of our open landfills and air burning that are practiced to manage waste. More litter and recycling bins can be placed in cities, and on beaches to speed up the reduction of plastic pollution. Governments, research institutions and industries also need to redesign products and rethink their usage and disposal.
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