Ethan Clarke
Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that has been affecting wildlife for almost as long as plastic has been around. It is estimated that 100 million marine animals die each year from plastic-related issues, with 100,000 of those deaths caused by entanglement. Plastic pollution affects at least 700 marine species, with millions of seabird deaths occurring annually. Marine animals such as whales, dolphins, seals, sea turtles, and fish are dying from ingesting plastic, mistaking it for food, or getting entangled in it. Land animals are also affected, with cases of elephants, hyenas, zebras, tigers, camels, and cattle dying from plastic ingestion. The impact of plastic pollution on wildlife is expected to worsen, with projections showing that plastic pollution will double by 2040 and that 99% of marine species will have consumed microplastics by 2050.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Marine animals mistaking plastic for prey | Marine animals such as whales, dolphins, seals, sea turtles, sharks, seagulls, and fish mistake plastic for prey. |
| Marine animals getting entangled in plastic | Plastic entanglement kills an estimated 100,000 marine animals each year, including dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, whales, and sea lions. |
| Plastic blocking digestive tracts | Plastic blocks the digestive tracts of animals, causing internal damage and even death. |
| Plastic poisoning | Plastic contains toxic chemicals that can be ingested by animals, leading to poisoning and death. |
| Land animals ingesting plastic | Land animals such as deer, camels, elephants, hyenas, zebras, tigers, and cattle have been reported to ingest plastic waste, resulting in death. |
| Impact on soil fauna | Microplastics leech into the soil, leading to a decrease in species that live below the surface, such as mites, larvae, and other tiny creatures. |
| Impact on marine food chain | Plastic pollution affects marine food chains, with zooplankton consuming microplastics instead of their usual diet of insects and bacteria. This contributes to global oxygen loss and affects larger marine species that feed on zooplankton, such as whales. |
| Impact on bird species | Seabirds, such as albatrosses, petrels, and shearwaters, are affected by plastic pollution, with high percentages ingesting plastic debris and suffering from intestinal blockages. |
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What You'll Learn
Marine animals mistake plastic for prey
Marine animals are dying from ingesting plastic or getting entangled in it. Plastic waste in the ocean is a major contributor to the deaths of marine animals. One of the main reasons for this is that marine animals often mistake plastic for prey.
Marine animals that rely on eyesight may mistake a plastic bag filled with water for a squid or jellyfish. Seals and whales, for example, hunt these animals, and a water-filled plastic bag may look like their prey. Even species that do not identify prey by sight are not safe. Toothed whales and dolphins use echolocation to find their prey, but scientists believe that plastic waste can confuse their sonar and be incorrectly interpreted as food.
Sea turtles, for example, are known to mistake plastic bags for jellyfish. In 2013, studies suggested that as many as 50% of sea turtles were ingesting plastic, with plastic causing blockages in their digestive systems. Another study found that 15% of young turtles examined had ingested such large quantities of plastic that their digestive systems were obstructed.
Albatrosses are another example of birds that mistake plastic for prey. They forage over thousands of kilometres and pluck their preferred prey from the water. However, an estimated 98% of albatrosses studied are found to have ingested some plastic. This is because, when foraging, albatrosses skim the surface of the water with their beaks, picking up plastic along the way. Once ingested, the plastic causes an obstruction in the digestive tract and can puncture internal organs.
In addition to sight, some species of seabirds and fish are attracted to plastic by its odour. Dimethyl sulfide (DMS), a compound known to attract foraging birds, is released when algae growing on floating plastic are eaten by krill. This attracts birds and fish, which then eat the plastic instead of the krill.
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Plastic ingestion blocks digestive tracts
Plastic ingestion is a significant cause of death for many animals, including marine and land-based mammals, fish, and birds. It is estimated that 100 million marine animals die each year from plastic-related issues, with 100,000 of these deaths caused by plastic entanglement. Ocean Crusaders reports that 1 million seabirds die from plastic annually, and this is only the tip of the iceberg.
Marine animals, such as whales, dolphins, seals, and sea turtles, often mistake plastic waste for food, leading to blockages in their digestive tracts. For example, a juvenile sperm whale was found dead on a beach in Spain in 2018 with 30 kilograms of plastic in its digestive tract. The plastic caused inflammation and was coated in toxins, likely causing immense suffering to the animal.
Similarly, a study of the Loggerhead sea turtle species found that 15% of young turtles examined had ingested such large quantities of plastic that their digestive systems were obstructed. In addition, 50% of sea turtles are ingesting plastic at an unprecedented rate, contributing to their declining populations.
Plastic ingestion also affects land animals, such as deer in the UK and Japan, Arabian camels, and an Indian elephant that died in 2018 from consuming plastic shopping bags. According to a 2020 study, terrestrial microplastic pollution has led to the decline of species that live below the surface, such as mites, larvae, and other tiny creatures, reducing soil fertility.
The impact of plastic ingestion on wildlife cannot be overstated, and it is crucial to address this issue to prevent further harm to animal populations and the environment.
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Animals choke and starve from eating plastic
Plastic ingestion is a significant cause of death for many animals, from marine creatures to land-based mammals. Animals that ingest plastic suffer from intestinal blockages, which can be fatal. In some cases, plastic can pierce internal organs, causing severe infections that can also lead to death.
Marine animals are particularly vulnerable to ingesting plastic as they may mistake it for food. For example, a floating plastic bag filled with water may resemble a squid or jellyfish to a dolphin or whale. Sea turtles are also known to mistake plastic waste for food, with plastic causing blockages in their digestive systems. A 2013 study found that 50% of sea turtles were ingesting plastic at an unprecedented rate, contributing to their declining populations.
Whales are another species severely impacted by plastic pollution. A juvenile sperm whale was found dead on a beach in Spain in 2018, with almost 30 kilograms of plastic in its digestive tract. The plastic was coated in toxins, causing inflammation and likely immense suffering. Additionally, microplastics are now replacing the primary food source of whales, zooplankton, leading to further health complications.
Birds are also highly affected by plastic pollution, with millions of seabird deaths occurring annually. Seabirds, such as albatrosses, often mistake plastic for food, leading to obstructions in their gastrointestinal tracts and preventing the expulsion of plastic. As a result, birds experience reduced hunger and decreased food intake, leading to weakening and potential starvation.
Land animals are not immune to the dangers of plastic ingestion either. A deer in Japan's Nara Park was found dead with 4.3 kilograms of plastic in its stomach, and similar cases have been reported in the UK. In India, an elephant died in 2018 from ingesting plastic shopping bags. Arabian camels are also particularly susceptible to plastic ingestion, with half of the population dying annually from consuming plastic bags.
The impact of plastic pollution on animal life is devastating, and it is essential to recognize the role plastic plays in the decline of various species. From marine creatures to land mammals, plastic ingestion leads to intestinal blockages, organ damage, and starvation, posing a grave threat to the health and survival of numerous animal populations.
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Plastic packing bands entangle animals
Plastic packing bands are one of the most pervasive forms of debris in the ocean, frequently entangling seals and sea lions. An eight-year study in Southeast Alaska and British Columbia documented 388 sea lions entangled in plastic debris. Packing bands can become so embedded in the animal that they cause severe infection and even death.
Sea lions are not the only victims of plastic packing bands. A study by Elizabeth Hogan and Amanda Warlick, published in the Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy, found that 58% of seal and sea lion species have been affected by entanglement, including the critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal. The study also found that certain characteristics of packing bands, such as their width and chemical composition, increase the risk of injury to animals due to their rigidity.
Regulatory measures and alternative materials have been identified as potential solutions to reduce the widespread entanglement of animals in plastic packing bands. In Western Australia, the use of packing bands was banned altogether on recreational and commercial fishing vessels in 2009 to reduce marine mammal entanglement. Similarly, the 1994 Degradable Plastic Ring Rule in the United States mandated that beverage ring 6-pack carriers be made of photodegradable material, which has been successful in reducing entanglements.
While legislative action can have a significant impact in the short term, alternative materials may be more effective as a long-term solution. It is important to note that some colours of packing bands are less likely to entangle animals, as whales, for example, can detect certain colours at greater distances.
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Land animals are also harmed by plastic
Plastic pollution has a detrimental impact on all living things, with wild animals bearing the brunt of this environmental crisis. While marine animals are the most visible victims, land animals are also harmed by plastic.
Land animals suffer just as much as marine animals when it comes to plastic pollution. According to reports, a deer in Japan's Nara Park was found dead with 4.3 kilograms of plastic in its stomach, a problem that has also been observed in deer in the UK. Arabian camels are also susceptible to ingesting plastic bags, with half of them dying annually from consuming plastic.
In 2018, an Indian elephant died from ingesting plastic shopping bags, and eight African elephants met a similar fate in 2016. These intelligent animals mistake plastic bags for food, leading to fatal blockages in their digestive systems.
The impact of plastic pollution extends beyond immediate ingestion. Landfill plastic waste can leech into the soil and nearby water sources, contaminating the food sources of wildlife. A 2020 study revealed that terrestrial microplastic pollution has led to a decrease in species that live below the surface, such as mites, larvae, and other tiny creatures. This decline in species diversity contributes to less fertile soil and land.
Furthermore, chlorinated plastic, commonly found in food packaging, plastic tubing, and medical devices, can release harmful chemicals into the surrounding soil and groundwater. This contamination finds its way into the food we grow and the wildlife that consumes it. According to Greenpeace, fruits like apples and pears have been found to contain a significant number of plastic particles.
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Frequently asked questions
Marine animals are dying due to plastic ingestion and entanglement. Plastic debris clogs their digestive tracts, pierces their internal organs, chokes them, and starves them. Marine animals that rely on eyesight may mistake plastic for food, and for those that use echolocation, plastic interferes with their multi-million-year-old sonar system.
Land animals suffer just as much as marine animals from plastic pollution. Land animals, such as deer, camels, elephants, hyenas, zebras, tigers, and cattle, accidentally consume plastic waste, resulting in death.
To reduce the impact of plastic on animal life, it is essential to reduce plastic waste, recycle, reuse, and switch to plastic alternatives. Supporting sustainable and circular brands can also help raise awareness and promote eco-friendly practices.
