Omar Khalid
Plastic pollution has had a devastating impact on wildlife, with thousands of animals dying from ingesting plastic or getting entangled in it. Marine animals, in particular, are affected, with plastic killing around 1 million seabirds annually and entangling an estimated 100,000 marine animals. From zooplankton to blue whales, plastic ingestion has been confirmed in a wide range of species, with over 800 marine and coastal species impacted. The problem is not limited to the oceans, as land-based mammals such as elephants, hyenas, and zebras have also suffered unnecessary deaths from ingesting plastic waste.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of species impacted by plastic ingestion | 800+ marine and coastal species, 1,557 species worldwide |
| Number of marine and coastal species impacted by entanglement | 800+ |
| Number of marine bird species impacted | 1/3 of all seabird species, hundreds of thousands of birds |
| Number of marine mammal species impacted | 69 species, 56% of all marine mammals |
| Number of marine turtle species impacted | All 7 species, thousands of turtles |
| Number of marine fish species impacted | N/A, thousands of fish |
| Number of marine shark species impacted | N/A, likely lower as they grow older and larger |
| Proportion of marine wildlife impacted | 99% of marine species predicted to consume microplastics by 2050 |
| Impact on human seafood eaters | Plastic transferred up the food chain to humans |
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What You'll Learn
- Marine animals are most affected by plastic ingestion
- Birds, fish, turtles, and toothed whales are most likely to ingest plastic
- Marine mammals are also at risk, with 56% of species ingesting plastic
- Land-based mammals are not immune, with elephants, hyenas, zebras, and more affected
- Humans are also impacted, consuming microplastics through seafood
Marine animals are most affected by plastic ingestion
Marine animals are among the worst affected by plastic ingestion. It is estimated that over 1 million marine animals die each year due to plastic pollution in the ocean. This includes many sea turtles, birds, fish, sharks, whales, dolphins, seals, and sea lions.
Sea turtles commonly mistake plastic sheeting and plastic bags for their jellyfish prey. Plastic can get stuck in their digestive systems, making them feel full and leading to starvation. Research indicates that half of sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic.
Whales are also severely impacted by plastic ingestion. Blue whales, the world's largest animal, are estimated to consume about 10 million pieces of plastic per day during the feeding season. In 2018, a juvenile sperm whale was found dead on a beach in Spain with just under 30 kilograms of plastic in its digestive tract.
Dolphins, another marine mammal, also face significant risks from plastic ingestion. They use echolocation to find their prey, but the presence of plastic in the ocean can be confusing for them. Plastic can cause intestinal injuries and death in dolphins and other marine animals, and it can also transfer up the food chain to bigger fish, marine mammals, and human seafood eaters.
Seabirds are another group that is highly affected by plastic pollution. It is estimated that about 1 million seabirds die from plastic annually. Albatrosses, fulmars, and shearwaters are among the seabird species most affected by marine debris, as it can get stuck in their gizzards and cause health issues.
Overall, the ingestion of plastic has severe consequences for marine animals, leading to health problems, injuries, and death. The impact of plastic pollution on marine life underscores the importance of reducing plastic waste and finding more sustainable alternatives to protect these vulnerable species.
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Birds, fish, turtles, and toothed whales are most likely to ingest plastic
Plastic ingestion by animals is a serious issue, with over 1,200 marine species known to ingest plastic waste. Birds, fish, turtles, and toothed whales are among the animals most susceptible to ingesting plastic.
Birds are highly vulnerable to ingesting marine plastic litter due to their foraging behaviour, diet, breeding, molting, and distribution. Studies have revealed that 59% of examined seabird species had ingested plastics, with nearly one-third showing plastics in their gut. Young birds are particularly susceptible, as they are fed by their parents, who unintentionally transfer plastic loads to them. Additionally, young birds may have less developed grinding action in their gizzards, slowing down the removal of ingested plastic items. Albatrosses, petrels, shearwaters, storm petrels, and diving petrels are among the bird species with higher plastic ingestion rates, likely due to their open-ocean feeding habits.
Fish are another group that frequently ingest plastic. The first records of plastic ingestion in fish date back to the 1970s in southern New England, and since then, at least 92 fish species have been reported to ingest plastic. Both predatory and filter-feeding fish are susceptible. While predatory fish might mistake plastic for food, filter-feeders like herring and horse mackerel can unintentionally ingest plastic while feeding. The average number of plastic pieces per fish is relatively low, but the amount of ingested plastic increases with the size of the fish.
Turtles are also at risk of ingesting plastic. They mistake plastic for food, such as jellyfish, leading to blockages in their digestive system and eventual death. Turtles can also get entangled in plastic items like six-pack rings, discarded fishing gear, and helium balloons, which can travel long distances and resemble jellyfish. Microplastics consumed by fish or other animals can then be ingested by turtles, leading to further health risks.
Toothed whales, including sperm whales and beaked whales, are also susceptible to plastic ingestion. Scientists believe they mistake plastic bags and film for prey like squid or jellyfish, especially in low-light conditions. Additionally, studies have found that plastic creates similar or stronger acoustic signals than squid when detected through echolocation, leading whales to misinterpret plastic as food. Seals and deep-diving whales have been found stranded with stomachs full of plastic, highlighting the severe consequences of plastic pollution.
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Marine mammals are also at risk, with 56% of species ingesting plastic
Marine mammals are highly vulnerable to plastic pollution, with ingestion and entanglement being the two primary ways in which they are affected. Marine mammals, like other marine creatures, cannot breathe underwater, and entanglement in plastic often leads to drowning. Large items of plastic, such as discarded fishing nets, ropes, and pots, can trap and entangle marine mammals, making it difficult for them to escape, leading to starvation, injury, and increased vulnerability to predators.
A review by Kühn and van Franeker found that 69 species of marine mammals, or 56% of all marine mammals, have been confirmed to ingest debris. This includes 44 species of odontocetes (toothed whales), manatees, and multiple seal species. Marine mammals are protected, which makes researching them challenging. Most studies on marine mammals occur after their death, making it difficult to understand the specific impacts of plastic ingestion on live animals.
The ingestion of plastic by marine mammals can have severe consequences. For example, baleen whales, which filter large amounts of water while feeding, may get plastic debris entangled in their baleen plates. In 2019, a whale was found washed up with 40kg of plastic in its stomach, primarily consisting of plastic bags. Plastic bags can resemble the prey of seals and marine mammals, such as squid or other prey, leading to accidental ingestion.
Furthermore, microplastics, which are invisible to the naked eye, can be easily consumed by marine mammals and other wildlife. These microplastics can absorb toxins, which then transfer to the fatty tissues of the organisms that ingest them. While the long-term impacts of microplastics are still being studied, their presence in the marine food chain and the bioaccumulation of toxic chemicals pose significant threats to marine apex predators such as orcas and great white sharks.
The impact of plastic pollution on marine mammals is not limited to ingestion and entanglement. Chemicals added to plastics during production can be released and absorbed by marine wildlife, leading to possible health impacts. While more research is needed to understand the full extent of these impacts, it is clear that plastic pollution poses a significant threat to the health and survival of marine mammals.
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Land-based mammals are not immune, with elephants, hyenas, zebras, and more affected
While the impact of plastic waste on marine life has been well documented, the effects on land-based mammals are less understood. However, evidence suggests that a variety of land mammals, including elephants, hyenas, and zebras, are also affected by plastic ingestion.
In the case of elephants, the problem is particularly acute in India, where endangered Asian elephants in Uttarakhand have been found to ingest human garbage, including plastics. This is due to the proximity of rubbish dumps near the forests where elephants live and feed. The consumption of plastic waste has resulted in the deaths of around 20 elephants in Sri Lanka over the past eight years. Post-mortem examinations revealed the presence of polythene, food wrappers, and other non-digestible items, with no trace of the normal food elephants eat and digest.
Similar to elephants, hyenas, and other carnivores in agricultural areas have also been reported to ingest plastic waste. While specific studies on hyenas may be lacking, the presence of plastic in their diet highlights the widespread nature of the issue.
Zebras and other terrestrial mammals are also impacted by plastic pollution. While there is limited research on specific species, the ubiquitous presence of plastics on land suggests that interactions between terrestrial mammals and plastic debris are likely more common than currently documented.
The ingestion of plastics introduces dangerous chemicals, such as phthalates, polystyrene, and bisphenol A, into the digestive systems of these land mammals. These chemicals have been associated with reproductive damage and the induction of carcinogenesis in animal models. As human settlements continue to expand into previously untouched areas, the interaction between land-based mammals and plastic waste is expected to increase, underscoring the urgency of prompt research and management actions.
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Humans are also impacted, consuming microplastics through seafood
Plastic pollution has been a persistent problem, harming the environment and all living organisms. Marine animals, in particular, are affected, with plastic killing around 1 million seabirds annually and entangling an estimated 100,000 marine creatures. Marine debris, such as plastic bags, is often mistaken for food by marine animals, leading to ingestion and fatal consequences.
While plastic pollution poses a significant threat to marine life, humans are not exempt from its dangers. The very microplastics that marine animals ingest can also enter the human body through the consumption of seafood, specifically shellfish and fish. As plastic breaks down, it transforms into microplastics, which are then ingested by marine organisms, becoming a part of the food chain. This includes various fish species intended for human consumption, such as mackerel, anchovy, cod, and herring.
The increasing consumption of seafood globally exacerbates the likelihood of humans inadvertently ingesting microplastics. Nutritional authorities even advise Americans to double their seafood intake, despite the potential risks associated with microplastics. While most fish are eviscerated before consumption, reducing the risk of ingesting plastics found in the gastrointestinal tract, certain seafood items like bivalve mollusks, small crustaceans, and small fish are typically eaten whole.
The potential health risks of microplastics to humans are still being evaluated. Laboratory and field studies have confirmed the presence of microplastics in aquatic organisms, but data on their effects is limited. In humans, various toxic effects have been hypothesized, but the available data is insufficient to fully understand the risks. It is believed that the overall risk to human health from ingesting microplastics in seafood is low, but the presence of microplastics in the aquatic environment and, subsequently, the human body is undeniable.
To address the issue of microplastics in seafood, it is crucial to monitor seafood consumption rates, particularly for bivalves. This information will inform risk management strategies and help reduce the potential harm posed by microplastics to humans and the environment. Additionally, reducing plastic waste and incorporating precautionary measures can help mitigate the impact of microplastics on both ecological systems and food safety.
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Frequently asked questions
It is difficult to know the exact number of animals that ingest plastic, but it is estimated that thousands of marine animals are affected by plastic ingestion each year. This includes birds, fish, turtles, toothed whales, seals, and other marine mammals.
Marine mammals that are known to ingest plastic include 69 species, which is about 56% of all marine mammals. This includes 44 species of odontocetes (toothed whales), manatees, and multiple seal species, such as the Hawaiian monk seal and the Steller sea lion.
Plastic ingestion can cause serious health problems in animals, including intestinal injuries, blockages, and internal infections. It can also affect their nutrition and development by creating a false sense of fullness, leading to starvation. Additionally, chemicals released from plastic can impact their immune and reproductive systems.
Yes, there are several documented cases of animals dying from ingesting plastic. This includes Arabian camels, Indian and African elephants, whales, dolphins, seals, sea turtles, and seabirds. For example, in 2018, a wild elephant in India died from ingesting plastic bags discarded by pilgrims.
To reduce plastic ingestion in animals, it is crucial to reduce plastic pollution and our reliance on single-use plastics. This can be achieved by increasing recycling efforts, advocating for better waste management practices, and supporting initiatives that aim to regulate plastics as hazardous pollutants. Educating communities about the impacts of plastic pollution on wildlife can also help reduce plastic waste and encourage sustainable alternatives.
