Sofia Martinez
Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that poses a direct threat to marine life. The ocean, home to a diverse array of species, is particularly vulnerable to plastic waste. Once plastic enters the sea, it spreads widely and breaks down into smaller pieces, making retrieval extremely challenging. Marine animals face a range of dangers, from entanglement in plastic debris to ingestion of plastic fragments. Large plastic items can trap and injure marine mammals and fish, leading to starvation and vulnerability to predators. Smaller plastic pieces can be mistaken for food, causing suffocation, internal injuries, and toxic contamination. Microplastics, invisible to the naked eye, can be consumed by marine organisms and adsorb toxins, transferring them to the fatty tissues of those that ingest them. The impact of plastic pollution extends throughout the marine food chain, affecting even the humans who consume seafood. As plastic waste continues to infiltrate marine ecosystems, it poses a significant threat to the health and survival of marine life and the integrity of these ecosystems.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Marine life affected | Fish, seabirds, sea turtles, seals, whales, dolphins, seahorses, crabs, oysters, shrimp, mussels, and more |
| Plastic size | Large items can entangle marine life; small fragments and microplastics can be mistaken for food |
| Plastic type | Plastic bags, fishing nets, six-pack rings, bottle caps, synthetic fibres, plastic microfibers, plastic wrappers, plastic bands, etc. |
| Impact on marine life | Entanglement, injury, intestinal injury, starvation, suffocation, drowning, toxic contamination, death |
| Impact on coral reefs | Discarded fishing nets can smother and break coral reefs, preventing healthy growth |
| Impact on humans | Plastic has been found in seafood, potentially impacting human health |
| Plastic in oceans | Up to 13 million tons of plastic waste enter the ocean each year, threatening marine ecosystems |
| Global impact | Plastic has been found on shorelines of all continents, even uninhabited islands |
| Plastic production | Over 300 million tons of plastic are produced annually, with 8 million tons ending up in oceans |
| Plastic decomposition | Plastic can take hundreds of years to decompose, but breaks down into microplastics over time |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic waste ingestion
Marine life is vulnerable to plastic waste ingestion, which can cause intestinal injury and death. Fish in the North Pacific ingest 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic each year, and a recent study found that a quarter of fish at markets in California contained plastic in their guts, mostly in the form of plastic microfibers. Sea turtles can mistake floating plastic garbage for food, choking, sustaining internal injuries, or starving by thinking they are full. Research indicates that half of sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic, and a recent study found that sea turtles that ingest just 14 pieces of plastic have an increased risk of death.
Plastic ingestion also reduces the storage volume of the stomach, causing starvation. This is true for seabirds, who ingest plastic at a rate of up to one million per year, and for marine mammals, who are estimated to die in numbers exceeding 100,000 per year due to plastic. In 2019, a whale was found washed up with 40kg of plastic in its stomach, mostly plastic bags. Critically endangered Hawaiian monk seals have been found with large amounts of plastic debris in their habitats, including in pup nurseries.
Microplastics, in particular, pose a threat to marine life due to their small size, which makes them invisible to the naked eye and easy for wildlife to consume. They can also adsorb toxins, which transfer to the fatty tissues of organisms that ingest them. While the long-term impacts of microplastics are yet to be determined, they have been found in more than 100 aquatic species, including fish, shrimp, and mussels.
The ocean is particularly vulnerable to plastic waste due to its ability to spread via waves and storms, reaching even the most remote areas. Plastic breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces over time, making it nearly impossible to retrieve from the ocean. This contributes to the growing amount of plastic waste in the ocean, which is estimated to be up to 13 million tons per year.
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Entanglement in plastic debris
Marine animals have been known to interact with and become entangled in plastic debris for decades. Marine mammals, turtles, and birds are among the species that are most affected by plastic entanglement.
Smaller marine animals, like sea turtles, seals, porpoises, dolphins, and smaller whales, may drown immediately if the plastic debris is large or heavy. Large whales can typically pull gear, or parts of it, off the ocean floor, and are generally not at immediate risk of drowning. However, they do face risks from exhaustion and infection. Entanglement is considered a primary cause of human-caused mortality in many whale species, especially right whales, humpback whales, and gray whales.
Fishing ropes, nets, and pots that have been discarded or abandoned at sea are often made from plastic and can trap and entangle marine life. An estimated 300,000 whales, dolphins, and porpoises die from entanglement in ghost gear every year.
To prevent entanglements and rescue entangled animals, organizations like NOAA Fisheries work with partners to develop tools and techniques to disentangle whales and other marine animals. They use satellite transmitters and receivers to track entangled animals and employ boat-based techniques to approach and free them from entanglement.
The impact of plastic entanglement on marine life is significant, and efforts are being made to address this issue through rescue, research, and advocacy for plastic regulation.
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Plastic's toxic chemicals
Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues, with millions of animals killed by plastics every year. Marine life is particularly vulnerable to plastic poisoning, as plastic can be mistaken for food and ingested, or animals can become entangled in it.
Plastics are made from fossil fuels and were first invented just over a century ago in 1907. Since then, plastic production has increased exponentially, with half of all plastics ever manufactured being produced in the last 20 years. This has led to a throw-away culture, with single-use plastics accounting for 40% of plastic produced annually. As a result, plastic waste has become ubiquitous, with plastic trash found in developing Asian and African nations, as well as in the developed world.
The ocean is especially vulnerable to plastic waste. Once plastic enters the sea, it can be carried by waves and storms to even the furthest reaches of the ocean, where it accumulates in large gyres or becomes embedded in shorelines and coastal ecosystems. Over time, plastic breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, eventually reaching microscopic sizes. These microplastics are invisible to the naked eye, making them easy for marine wildlife to consume. They can also adsorb toxins, which can then transfer to the fatty tissues of the organisms that ingest them.
There are more than 13,000 chemicals associated with plastics and plastic production. Ten groups of chemicals are of major concern due to their high toxicity and potential to migrate or be released from plastics. These include flame retardants, certain UV stabilizers, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), phthalates, bisphenols, alkylphenols and alkylphenol ethoxylates, biocides, certain metals and metalloids, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These toxic chemicals can impact human and animal health, causing issues such as neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioural disorders, reduced fertility, and an increased risk of cancer, asthma, stroke, premature birth, and stillbirth.
The long-term impacts of microplastics are yet to be fully understood, but researchers are concerned about their potential to carry toxic chemicals into the human body and their link to male fertility issues, biomarkers of colon and gut cancer, and potential respiratory problems.
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Plastic's impact on reproduction
Marine life is facing a grave threat from plastic pollution. Plastics affect marine life in a variety of ways, from entanglement and ingestion to toxic contamination.
Plastics Impact on Reproduction
Plastic pollution is so pervasive on many beaches that it is affecting sea turtles' reproduction rates by altering the temperature of the sand where incubation occurs. Sea turtles are not the only marine species affected by plastic pollution. In a study of over 100 research papers on plastic ingestion among 500 fish species, over two-thirds had consumed plastic. Molluscs such as mussels and oysters, when filtering seawater to feed, also take in human-created pollutants, including microplastics. A recent study of mussels sourced from UK waters found that 100% of the samples contained microplastic pieces.
Microplastics, in particular, pose a significant threat to marine life. Due to their minuscule size, they are easily consumed by marine organisms. They have the ability to absorb toxins, which can then transfer to the fatty tissues of the organisms that ingest them. As microplastics are a relatively new discovery, their long-term impacts on marine life are yet to be fully understood. However, it is known that they can pass through the digestive system and, in some cases, block digestive tracts or pierce organs, leading to death.
The impact of plastic pollution on marine life is not limited to direct consumption or entanglement. Plastics can also contaminate marine organisms through the food chain. For example, apex predators such as great white sharks and orcas are vulnerable to the cumulative impact of microplastics and the bioaccumulation of toxic chemicals found in plastics.
The ocean is extremely vulnerable to plastic waste. Once plastic enters the marine environment, it can be carried by waves and storms to even the most remote regions. Over time, plastic breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, eventually becoming microplastics. This makes retrieving plastics from the ocean incredibly challenging, if not impossible.
The vast reach of plastic pollution poses a significant threat to marine life, including their reproductive capabilities. As plastic waste continues to enter the ocean, the impact on marine ecosystems and the species that inhabit them will only increase.
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Plastic's effect on human health
Plastic pollution has a detrimental impact on marine life, with an estimated 13 million tons of plastic waste entering the ocean each year. Marine animals are threatened by entanglement, ingestion, and toxic contamination. The effects of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems also indirectly impact human health.
Plastics have a direct and indirect impact on human health. Humans are exposed to toxic chemicals and microplastics through inhalation, ingestion, and direct skin contact. Microplastics have been detected in human blood, lungs, and placenta, with studies indicating significant damage to cells, leading to cancers, lung disease, and birth defects. The toxic chemical additives in plastics can disrupt hormones, causing reproductive, growth, and cognitive impairments. Vulnerable groups, including children, pregnant women, and marginalized communities, are particularly at risk.
The production and disposal of plastics contribute to air, water, and soil pollution, with workers in the plastic industry and nearby residents facing increased health risks. Plastic waste encourages the growth of pathogens in the ocean, and plastics in the environment can enter the food chain, ultimately being consumed by humans.
The monetary costs of plastic-related health issues are substantial, with a global estimate of over $250 billion in 2015, and more than $920 billion in the US alone for diseases and disabilities caused by plastic-associated chemicals.
Policy actions are being pursued internationally to address plastic pollution, with over 190 nations agreeing to collaborate on plastic production and disposal.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic waste in the ocean kills marine life in a variety of ways, including entanglement, injury, ingestion, starvation, suffocation, and toxic contamination. Large items of plastic can entangle marine mammals and fish, leading to starvation, injury, and vulnerability to predators. Microplastics, on the other hand, are invisible and easily ingested, transferring toxins to the fatty tissues of organisms.
All species of sea turtles, especially juvenile green turtles, are affected by marine plastic debris. Studies suggest that as many as 50% of sea turtles ingest plastic, often mistaking it for food, leading to intestinal blockage, internal injury, and death. Seabirds are also highly affected, with plastic found in the stomachs of dead birds, causing starvation. Other affected species include seals, whales, dolphins, seahorses, and various fish species.
Plastic waste enters the ocean through a variety of sources, including coastal areas, rivers, and inefficient waste management systems. Once in the ocean, plastic can break down into smaller pieces, making it difficult to retrieve. These microplastics are then easily ingested by marine organisms, transferring toxins and causing various health issues. The toxins in plastics can interfere with hormone function, brain development, and contribute to other health issues in marine life.
