Omar Khalid
Plastic pollution is a pressing global issue that poses a threat to animals across the world. From the tiniest of mites to large predators, all wildlife is affected by plastic waste. Marine animals, in particular, are at risk of ingesting plastic or getting entangled in it, leading to intestinal blockages, injuries, and even death. With an estimated 11 to 13 million tons of plastic entering the oceans annually, plastic pollution is devastating marine ecosystems and the animals that inhabit them. In addition, microplastics are contaminating soil and water sources, impacting terrestrial animals and the food we consume. As plastic production continues to soar, it is crucial to address this urgent problem and mitigate its harmful effects on the diverse species sharing our planet.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of plastic waste in the ocean | 11-13 million tons per year |
| Plastic waste as a percentage of ocean surfaces | 40% |
| Number of marine and coastal species affected by plastic waste | 800+ |
| Number of marine mammal species affected by plastic waste | 81 out of 123 |
| Number of sea turtle species affected by plastic waste | 7 |
| Percentage of sea turtles that have ingested plastic | 50% |
| Number of fish that ingest plastic | 12,000 to 24,000 tons per year |
| Percentage of seabird species that have eaten plastic | 60% |
| Percentage of whale, dolphin and porpoise species that have consumed plastic | 56% |
| Percentage of corals that come into contact with plastic that contract disease | 89% |
| Percentage of soil fauna that have decreased due to terrestrial microplastic pollution | N/A |
| Number of land-based mammals affected by plastic waste ingestion | N/A |
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What You'll Learn
How plastic ingestion affects animals
Plastic ingestion has a profoundly negative impact on animals, causing malnutrition, internal injuries, intestinal blockages, starvation, and even death. The physical effects of plastic ingestion are multifaceted and vary depending on the size and type of plastic ingested, as well as the animal's feeding behaviour, physiology, and ecological niche.
Large pieces of plastic can cause intestinal blockages, preventing food from passing through the digestive system and leading to starvation, even when the animal's stomach is full. Sharp edges on plastic debris can cause internal lacerations, and toxic chemicals leaching from the plastic can poison animals, weakening their immune systems and making them more susceptible to diseases and parasites.
Microplastics, tiny plastic particles less than 5mm in size, are particularly dangerous due to their ubiquity in the marine environment and ease of ingestion by a wide range of organisms, from filter feeders like shellfish and krill to larger predators like fish and seabirds. These small plastic particles can accumulate in the food chain, ultimately ending up in the human digestive system when we consume seafood or even the fruit and vegetables we grow.
The ingestion of plastics is widespread throughout the animal kingdom, with over 700 species confirmed to eat plastic, including seabirds, fish, turtles, and marine mammals. This number is likely to increase as wildlife continues to encounter plastic waste, mistaking it for food or accidentally ingesting it while feeding.
The effects of plastic ingestion ripple through the entire marine food web. When plastic-filled animals die, the plastic is released back into the environment, creating a vicious cycle of pollution and harm. The decline in marine animal populations due to plastic ingestion can disrupt ecosystem balance, alter food web dynamics, reduce biodiversity, and impair essential ecosystem services like carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling.
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How plastic entanglement affects animals
Plastic entanglement is a significant threat to marine animals, causing injury, drowning, and death. Marine mammals, such as whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions, and sea turtles, are particularly vulnerable to becoming entangled in plastic debris, fishing gear, and marine litter.
Smaller marine animals, such as sea turtles, seals, and smaller whales, can drown immediately if entangled in large or heavy plastic objects. For example, a Kemp's ridley sea turtle drowned after a plastic bag filled with sand wrapped around its neck. Similarly, a baby sea turtle became trapped in plastic on a Florida beach. Large whales, while not at immediate risk of drowning, face exhaustion and infection due to entanglement. Entanglement is a primary cause of human-induced mortality in whale species such as right whales, humpback whales, and gray whales.
Plastic entanglement can also lead to physical trauma and infections. Restricted movement caused by entanglement can cause animals to starve or increase their vulnerability to predators. For example, entangled animals may be unable to avoid vessels, increasing the risk of vessel strikes.
The impact of plastic entanglement is not limited to marine animals. Seabirds, such as petrels and northern fulmars, are known to ingest plastic, leading to starvation or suffocation. Endangered species, such as Hawaiian monk seals and Pacific loggerhead sea turtles, are among the nearly 700 species affected by plastic entanglement and ingestion.
Efforts to address plastic entanglement include rescue and disentanglement operations by organizations like NOAA Fisheries. They use techniques such as satellite tracking and "kegging," a method adapted from historic whaling practices, to safely free entangled whales and other large marine animals. However, preventing plastic from entering the ocean in the first place is crucial, requiring a combination of government policies and corporate action to reduce single-use plastic production and offer plastic-free alternatives.
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How plastic waste spreads pathogens
Plastic waste is a serious and growing environmental problem that affects both humans and animals. It hardly decomposes and, due to inefficient waste management, around 55% of plastic waste ends up in landfills or nature. Once plastic waste escapes into the environment, it breaks down into microplastics, which are spread throughout water columns and have been found in every corner of the globe.
Microplastics can act as carriers of pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria and viruses, leading to the spread of diseases. They provide breeding sites, burrows, and food for biological disease vectors, such as mosquitoes, which can transmit diseases like dengue, Zika, or malaria.
A study by UC Davis found that microplastics can facilitate the spread of land-based pathogens into the ocean, impacting both human and wildlife health. These pathogens, such as Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium (Crypto), and Giardia, can infect humans and animals through the ingestion of contaminated seafood or the consumption of contaminated food.
Additionally, the enrichment of antibiotic resistance genes and horizontal gene transfer between microorganisms on the surface of plastic waste can promote the survival and spread of pathogens. This can have detrimental effects on animal health, causing intestinal blockages, liver and cell damage, disruptions to reproductive systems, and even death.
To address this issue, many countries have implemented bans on single-use plastics and encouraged recycling. It is crucial to recognize the impact of plastic waste on the spread of pathogens and take collective action to reduce plastic pollution and its associated health risks.
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How microplastics affect terrestrial animals
Plastic waste is detrimental to wildlife, including those in the ocean and on land. Microplastics, small particles of plastic less than 5mm in diameter, are a major concern for terrestrial animals. They can find their way into soil and water sources from plastic waste in landfills and other environments.
A 2020 study found that microplastics in soil led to a decrease in species that live below the surface, such as mites, larvae, and other tiny creatures. The decline of these species leads to less fertile soil and land. Chlorinated plastic, such as plastic food packaging and medical devices, can also release harmful chemicals into the surrounding soil and groundwater. This means that the food we grow and wildlife consumes is likely to be contaminated with microplastics.
The health implications of microplastic exposure are varied and concerning. Animals may suffer physical harm, endure chemical exposure to adsorbed contaminants, provoke inflammatory responses, and undergo behavioral modifications. In aquatic invertebrates, microplastics cause a decline in feeding behavior and fertility, slow down larval growth and development, increase oxygen consumption, and stimulate the production of reactive oxygen species. In fish, microplastics may cause structural damage to the intestine, liver, gills, and brain, while affecting metabolic balance, behavior, and fertility.
The corresponding data for the effects of microplastics on terrestrial mammals is less abundant, but studies on laboratory mice and rats have indicated potential health hazards. Chronic exposure to microplastics raises concerns about their long-term health consequences, and their ability to adsorb and transport chemicals has implications for the bioaccumulation of pollutants in animals and, subsequently, humans.
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How plastic waste affects endangered species
Plastic waste is detrimental to all wildlife, including endangered species. It is estimated that 11 million tons of plastic waste enter the ocean each year, threatening marine ecosystems and the people who depend on them. Plastic pollution has been found to affect over 800 species worldwide, and it is predicted that the weight of ocean plastics will exceed the combined weight of all the fish in the seas by 2050.
Endangered wildlife, such as Hawaiian monk seals and Pacific loggerhead sea turtles, are among the nearly 700 species that eat and get caught in plastic litter. Plastic ingestion can cause intestinal blockage and damage, leading to internal bleeding and organ failure. It also reduces the storage volume of the stomach, leading to starvation. In addition, plastic waste can encourage the growth of pathogens in the ocean, increasing the risk of disease in species that come into contact with it.
Plastic pollution also affects terrestrial animals. Microplastics can leech into the soil and water sources from landfills and other environments, leading to a decrease in species that live below the surface, such as mites, larvae, and other tiny creatures. Chlorinated plastic can release harmful chemicals into the surrounding soil and groundwater, contaminating the food that wildlife consumes.
The impact of plastic waste on endangered species is not limited to ingestion and entanglement. Plastic pollution has also been found to disrupt the reproductive systems of some species, prompting them to produce fewer eggs. For example, studies have shown that plastic pollution on beaches is affecting the reproduction rates of sea turtles by altering the temperature of the sand where incubation occurs.
The global production and consumption of plastic have soared, and the disposal and recycling of plastics have not kept pace. As a result, plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues, with harmful consequences for endangered species and ecosystems worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic waste is a global crisis that affects all wildlife, including those in the ocean and on land. Marine animals such as whales, dolphins, seals, turtles, fish, and seabirds are dying and becoming sick due to ingesting plastic or getting entangled in it. Plastic waste can also encourage the growth of pathogens in the ocean, increasing the risk of disease for marine animals.
Land animals such as elephants, hyenas, zebras, tigers, camels, and cattle have been reported to accidentally ingest plastic waste, leading to intestinal blockages, internal bleeding, organ failure, and death. Microplastics from plastic waste in landfills can also leech into the soil and nearby water sources, leading to a decrease in species that live below the surface, such as mites, larvae, and other tiny creatures.
Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic that come from larger plastics that have degraded over time. They are a major environmental threat, as they are easily ingested by both marine and land animals due to their small size. After ingesting microplastics, animals may suffer from increased disease risk, reproductive issues, and other health problems before dying. Microplastics have also been found in the food we eat, such as fruits, vegetables, and seafood.
