Maya Ellison
Plastic pollution is a pressing environmental issue, with plastic waste causing harm to animals and the planet. Plastic pollution has increased exponentially in the last 20 years, with an estimated 15-51 trillion pieces of plastic in the oceans. This waste harms wildlife in the ocean and on land, with ingestion of plastic causing the deaths of thousands of marine animals and birds each year. Plastic waste also entangles animals, causing injury and starvation. Plastic pollution has been found to affect the reproductive health of many species, and it is also believed to be a source of chemical exposure, causing potential long-term health consequences.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of plastic pieces in the ocean | 15-51 trillion pieces |
| Marine and coastal species affected by entanglement | 800+ species |
| Marine and coastal species affected by ingestion | Thousands of species |
| Percentage of plastic out of all marine debris | 80% |
| Marine birds killed by plastic ingestion | 1 million |
| Marine animals killed by plastic ingestion | 100,000 |
| Marine animal deaths caused by entanglement | Thousands |
| Marine animal deaths caused by ingestion | Thousands |
| Marine animal deaths caused by starvation | Thousands |
| Marine animal deaths caused by internal injury | Thousands |
| Marine animal deaths caused by choking | Thousands |
| Marine animal deaths caused by drowning | Thousands |
| Marine animal deaths caused by suffocation | Thousands |
| Number of microplastic particles in the ocean | 51 trillion |
| Percentage of sea turtle species with ingested plastic | 86% |
| Percentage of seabird species with ingested plastic | 44% |
| Percentage of marine mammal species with ingested plastic | 43% |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic ingestion
The amount and type of plastic ingested often relate directly to the animal's feeding behavior. Passive feeders, or animals that filter their food from water or soil, may unintentionally eat microplastics with their food. Active feeders ingest plastic accidentally while feeding, but they also consume any debris in their food. For example, sea turtles commonly mistake plastic sheeting and plastic bags for their jellyfish prey.
Plastics can also introduce chemical warfare to the bodies of fish, and it is killing the reproductive health of many fish species. Bisphenol A (BPA) is found in many plastics entering the ocean and acts as an endocrine disruptor for fish.
Research indicates that half of the sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic. Marine mammals, such as whales, are also affected by plastic ingestion. In 2013, a sperm whale was found dead in Spain with 59 pieces of plastic waste in its digestive system, totaling 37 pounds in weight.
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Entanglement
Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues, with production expected to double by 2050. Marine animals are particularly vulnerable to the dangers of plastic pollution. One of the primary ways plastics harm marine life is through entanglement, which has increased by 40% in the last decade.
Plastic-based ropes, fishing nets, and even soda can holders can entangle marine animals, wrapping around their heads, flippers, and tails. A report by NOAA states that about 200 marine species worldwide have suffered entanglements, with 115 of those species originating in the United States. Species like the Hawaiian monk seal are particularly susceptible to entanglement as they inhabit areas close to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the largest accumulation of plastic in the world.
Efforts are being made to prevent entanglements and rescue entangled animals. NOAA Fisheries, for example, works with partners to safely free marine mammals and sea turtles using specially designed tools and techniques. They also gather information to guide gear modifications and management strategies to reduce entanglement risks. However, freeing entangled animals can be dangerous for both the animals and the rescuers, requiring authorized responders with specialized training and equipment.
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Plastic in terrestrial animals
Plastic pollution is a pressing environmental issue, with the rapidly increasing production of disposable plastic products overwhelming the world's ability to deal with them. This pollution harms both animal and human health. While a lot of research has focused on the impact of plastic on marine life, plastic waste is also having a detrimental effect on terrestrial animals.
A 2020 study found that microplastic pollution has 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 food packaging and medical devices, can also release harmful chemicals into the surrounding environment.
Another study found that plastic waste was incorporated into squirrel nests. In addition, larger plastics can degrade into microplastics and be ingested by terrestrial mammals, reaching their bloodstream. Plastics may contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as bisphenol-A (BPA), which is associated with reproductive damage and the induction of carcinogenesis in animal models.
Research has also shown that plastic ingestion by terrestrial mammals can be deadly. In one case, a whale was found to have died from a laceration in its stomach caused by a plastic DVD case. In another instance, a sperm whale was found dead with 59 pieces of plastic waste in its digestive system, totalling 37 pounds in weight.
Overall, the impact of plastic pollution on terrestrial animals is a serious issue that requires further research and action to address.
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Plastic in drinking water
Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues, with production rates expected to double by 2050. This pollution is not limited to the environment as microplastics have been found in municipal drinking water systems, the air, and even in our bodies.
A recent study by researchers from Columbia University used lasers to detect hundreds of thousands of previously invisible plastic particles in bottled water. These particles, called nanoplastics, are smaller than a sesame seed and can enter the body's cells and tissues. While the health effects of nanoplastics are still unknown, they have been linked to changes in the gut microbiome and the body's antibiotic resistance.
Tap water is also affected by plastic pollution, with fragments of polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate found in potable tap water. A simple method of removing microplastics from drinking water is to boil the water and then filter out any precipitates. This method has been found to effectively reduce the number of microplastics in water.
The presence of plastic in drinking water is a global concern, with plastic waste escaping into oceans and rivers from coastal and inland nations. This waste breaks down into microplastics that are difficult to recover and can end up in our drinking water. The problem is exacerbated by the durability of plastic, with every bit of plastic ever made still existing today.
The impact of plastic pollution on animal life is devastating, with millions of animals killed each year. Marine animals are particularly affected, with ingestion of plastic and entanglement in plastic waste causing death. Seabirds, sea turtles, seals, and other marine mammals are among the most vulnerable to plastic pollution, with nearly 2,100 species, including endangered ones, known to be affected.
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Plastic in the food chain
Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues, with production increasing exponentially from 2.3 million tons in 1950 to 448 million tons by 2015. It is expected to double by 2050. This has had a direct and deadly effect on wildlife, with millions of animals killed by plastics every year. Nearly 2,100 species, including endangered ones, have been impacted by plastics.
Plastics enter the food chain through ingestion by marine animals. Fish in the North Pacific ingest 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic each year, causing intestinal injury and death. This transfers plastic up the food chain to bigger fish, marine mammals, and human seafood eaters. 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, for example, can mistake floating plastic garbage for food.
Plastic pollution also affects land-based animals, including elephants, hyenas, zebras, tigers, camels, and cattle. Tests have confirmed liver and cell damage and disruptions to reproductive systems, prompting some species, such as oysters, to produce fewer eggs. New research shows that larval fish are eating nanofibers in the first days of life, raising questions about the effects of plastics on fish populations.
In addition to ingestion, plastics can entangle marine animals, making movement, feeding, and growth difficult or impossible. Plastic-based ropes, fishing nets, and even soda can holders can get wrapped around the heads, flippers, and tails of marine animals. This has been reported in about 200 different marine species worldwide, with 115 of those species originating in the United States.
The presence of plastic in the food chain is a potential threat to human health. Plastic additives such as bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates can leach out and contaminate the marine environment. These chemicals can act as endocrine disruptors, impacting the immune system, reproductive system, development, neurological responses, and overall growth. While the absorption of microplastics across the gastrointestinal tract is relatively low, nanoplastics are more readily absorbed and may accumulate in the brain, liver, and other tissues in aquatic species and other animals.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic harms animals in a multitude of ways. Marine animals often get entangled in plastic-based ropes, fishing nets, and soda can holders, which restricts their movement, feeding, and growth. Plastic waste in the ocean also gets ingested by marine animals, causing intestinal injuries and even death. Plastic ingestion also reduces the storage volume of the stomach, leading to starvation. Plastic waste can also encourage the growth of pathogens in the ocean, which can cause diseases in corals.
Microplastics have been found in hundreds of animal species, including 86% of all sea turtle species, 44% of all seabird species, and 43% of all marine mammal species. Microplastics have been found to cause liver and cell damage, as well as disrupt reproductive systems.
Plastic waste often ends up in the ocean, where it is ingested by marine animals or they get entangled in it. Plastic waste in the ocean comes from coastal nations, where it escapes into the ocean and is carried by major rivers.
A sei whale found in the Chesapeake Bay had a laceration in its stomach caused by a plastic DVD case. A dead sperm whale in Spain had ingested 59 pieces of plastic waste. A harbor seal pup found dead on the Scottish island of Skye had its intestines blocked by a small piece of plastic wrapper.
