Maya Ellison
Plastic pollution is a pressing environmental issue that has devastating consequences on wildlife, human health, and the environment. Plastic waste is harmful to animals, causing the deaths of millions of birds, fish, and other marine organisms annually. It also negatively impacts human health, with microplastics found in food, drinks, and even human blood and placentas. According to estimates by environmental advocate Sir David Attenborough, plastic pollution kills between 400,000 and one million people each year, primarily in developing countries, due to diseases, accidents, and waterborne illnesses linked to poorly managed waste.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of people dying from plastic pollution every year | Between 400,000 and 1 million |
| Number of people dying from plastic pollution every 30 seconds | 1 |
| Number of people dying from HIV every year | 635,000 |
| Number of people dying from traffic accidents every year | 1.3 million |
| Number of deaths caused by landslides at dumpsites in 2017 | 150 |
| Percentage of households near Manila Bay affected by waterborne diseases | 57% |
| Number of species affected by plastics | 2,100, including endangered ones |
| Impact of plastic pollution on ecosystems | All land, freshwater, and marine ecosystems are affected |
| Impact of plastic pollution on economies | Negative, with income declines in sectors such as SMEs, tourism, fisheries, and agriculture |
| Impact of plastic pollution on human health | Microplastics found in human blood, placentas, food, and drinks; exposure to carcinogenic chemicals and other health risks |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic pollution kills animals
Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues, with production expected to double by 2050. It is harming animal and human health and killing millions of animals every year. Nearly 2,100 species, including endangered ones, are affected by plastics, and nearly every species of seabird eats plastic.
Most animal deaths are caused by entanglement or starvation. Seals, whales, turtles, and other animals are strangled by abandoned fishing gear or discarded plastic. Turtles, for example, can mistake plastic for food and choke or sustain internal injuries, sometimes resulting in death. They can also starve by thinking they are full after eating plastic. Intestinal blockages and internal bleeding caused by plastic ingestion have also been reported in land animals, including elephants, zebras, and tigers.
Microplastics are a major concern for both marine and terrestrial animals. These tiny plastic particles can pass through the digestive systems of some animals without consequence, but they have also been found to block digestive tracts and pierce organs, causing death. They have been detected in hundreds of species, including 86% of all sea turtle species, 44% of all seabird species, and 43% of all marine mammal species. According to the United Nations, more than 51 trillion microplastic particles have already contaminated the world's seas, and it is predicted that 99% of marine species will have consumed microplastics by 2050 if plastic pollution continues unchecked.
Plastic pollution also affects terrestrial animals through the leeching of microplastics into the soil and nearby water sources from landfills and other environments. A 2020 study found that terrestrial microplastic pollution has led to the decline of species that live below the surface, such as mites, larvae, and other tiny creatures, resulting in less fertile soil and land. Chlorinated plastic can also release harmful chemicals into the surrounding soil and groundwater, further impacting the health of wildlife and humans alike.
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Plastic pollution kills humans
Plastic pollution is a pressing environmental issue that poses significant risks to human health and safety. While it is challenging to determine the exact number of deaths attributable to plastic pollution annually, estimates suggest that it is a leading cause of death worldwide, claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands of people each year.
The impact of plastic pollution on human health is multifaceted. One of the primary concerns is the presence of microplastics in the environment, which can enter the human body through various pathways. Microplastics, measuring less than 5mm in size, can contaminate water sources, including drinking water systems, and even the air we breathe. These microscopic plastic particles have been detected in human blood, lungs, and faeces, raising urgent questions about their potential health implications. While the full extent of the harm caused by microplastics is not yet fully understood, their ubiquity in our environment and our bodies cannot be ignored.
The breakdown of plastics into microplastics contributes to their persistence in the environment, with estimates suggesting they can take hundreds to thousands of years to decompose. This longevity increases the likelihood of human exposure. Microplastics have been found in every ecosystem on Earth, from the Antarctic tundra to tropical coral reefs, underscoring the pervasiveness of the issue. The ingestion of microplastics by marine organisms further extends the reach of plastic pollution into the human food chain.
In addition to microplastics, the additives and chemicals present in plastics pose direct health risks to humans. Carcinogenic chemicals in plastic products can leach into tap water, potentially causing a range of health issues, including developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune disorders. The burning of plastic waste, particularly in developing regions, releases hazardous fumes into the atmosphere, contributing to respiratory diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The impact of plastic pollution extends beyond health risks to include economic and social consequences. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that the economic costs associated with ocean-based consumer plastic pollution amount to approximately US$13 billion annually, impacting industries such as fisheries and marine tourism. Moreover, communities near dump sites, such as Manila Bay in the Philippines, face heightened health risks due to contaminated water, with a significant proportion of households affected by waterborne diseases.
Addressing plastic pollution requires collective action from governments, businesses, and individuals. Reducing plastic use and production, promoting biodegradable alternatives, improving waste management practices, and supporting recycling initiatives are crucial steps toward mitigating the deadly impact of plastic pollution on human populations.
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Plastic pollution affects ecosystems
Plastic pollution is a significant threat to biodiversity, ecosystems, and animal and plant species. It impedes their ability to deliver essential services to humanity. While plastic pollution in oceans has received the most attention, it also severely affects freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems.
Plastic pollution in the ocean has been widely studied, and it is known to have detrimental impacts on marine life. Plastic makes up 80% of all marine debris found from surface waters to deep-sea sediments. Recent studies found an estimated 170 trillion plastic particles afloat in the world's oceans, causing an estimated $13 billion in annual environmental damage to marine ecosystems. Nearly 2,100 species, including endangered ones, are known to be affected by plastics. Nearly every species of seabird eats plastic, and most animal deaths are caused by entanglement or starvation. Seals, whales, turtles, and other animals are strangled by abandoned fishing gear or discarded six-pack rings. Microplastics have been found in more than 100 aquatic species, including fish, shrimp, and mussels, and can cause digestive tract blockages or pierce organs, leading to death.
Plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems, including wetlands, lakes, and rivers, is also a significant concern. Microplastics can travel via water currents, shifting sediments, airways, and even precipitation, reaching other aquatic ecosystems. Studies on marine bacteria exposed to plastic leachates showed poorer photosynthesis efficiency and productivity. If other autotrophs are similarly affected, it could have staggering consequences across marine food webs. Microplastic ingestion by filter feeders like larvaceans, oysters, and mussels hinders their ability to filter water of organic and inorganic pollutants, inadvertently transferring plastics through marine ecosystems. Contaminated or dwindling fish stocks will cripple global fisheries, leading to bioaccumulation further up the food chain.
Terrestrial ecosystems are not immune to plastic pollution either. Microplastics in soils, sediments, and freshwater could have long-term negative effects on these environments. Researchers in Germany warn that terrestrial microplastic pollution is much higher than marine pollution, estimated at four to 23 times higher. Plastic pollution in the soil can leach potentially toxic substances into the soil and water, impacting both plant and animal life.
The effects of plastic pollution extend beyond ecosystems, also posing risks to human health and wellbeing. It has been linked to various diseases, including cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A, and respiratory issues like asthma and COPD. Additionally, the burning of plastic waste releases toxic chemicals and microplastics into the air, further endangering human health.
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Plastic pollution impacts economies
Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues, with rapidly increasing production of disposable plastic products overwhelming the world's ability to deal with them. This pollution crisis requires systemic reform, and it is not just an environmental issue, it impacts economies too.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that the economic costs associated with ocean-based consumer plastic pollution amount to about $13 billion every year. This is through losses to industries such as fisheries and marine tourism. The build-up of plastic litter can negatively impact a country's economy and trade systems, with income declines in sectors such as small and medium enterprises, the informal sector, tourism, fisheries, agriculture, and water safety.
The production of plastic is one of the most energy-intensive manufacturing processes in the world, and it contributes to the climate crisis. In 2019, the plastic industry generated 1.8 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, 3.4% of the global total. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) predicts that without behavioural changes, these emissions will double by 2060. The World Economic Forum projects that without intervention, the global plastics industry will account for 20% of total oil consumption and up to 15% of global carbon emissions by 2050.
The fashion industry is a major user of plastic, with about 60% of clothing material being plastic, including polyester, acrylic, and nylon. Every time these synthetic fabrics are washed, they shed tiny plastic fibres called microfibres, which are another form of microplastic that ends up in the ocean. The packaging sector is the largest generator of single-use plastic waste in the world, with approximately 36% of all plastics produced being used in packaging.
To reduce the economic impact of plastic pollution, systemic change is needed. This involves moving away from a linear plastic economy, which centres on producing, using, and discarding plastic, to a circular plastic economy, where plastic is kept in the economy at its highest value for as long as possible. This can be achieved through product design improvements, nature-positive Extended Producer Responsibility Systems, and enhanced national legislation and capabilities to address plastic pollution.
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Plastic pollution harms human health
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 is not only harmful to wildlife and landscapes but also poses a significant threat to human health. While the exact number of deaths resulting from plastic pollution each year is challenging to determine, estimates suggest that between 400,000 and one million people die annually from its direct and indirect effects.
One of the primary ways plastic pollution harms human health is through the ingestion of microplastics, which are tiny plastic particles smaller than 5mm in size. These microplastics have infiltrated our oceans, soil, and even the air we breathe, leading to their presence in various consumables, including seafood, tap and bottled water, beer, and salt. A recent study estimated that the average adult consumes approximately 2,000 microplastics per year just through salt intake. The ingestion of microplastics has been linked to potential health risks, including endocrine disruption, weight gain, insulin resistance, and decreased reproductive health.
In addition to ingestion, inhalation of plastic fibers is another route of exposure, with studies detecting inhaled plastic particles in human lung tissue. It is estimated that humans may inhale up to 22,000,000 micro- and nanoplastics annually. While the specific health consequences of inhaling these particles are still being studied, there is growing concern about their potential impact on respiratory health.
The presence of microplastics in the environment also affects human health through disruptions to marine food supplies and ecosystems. Nearly 2,100 species, including endangered ones, are known to be affected by plastics, and microplastics have been found in more than 100 aquatic species destined for human consumption. This contamination of the food chain can lead to reduced food safety and security for human populations.
Furthermore, the burning of plastic waste produces hazardous smoke that contributes to respiratory diseases. Communities living near dump sites, such as Manila Bay in the Philippines, experience higher rates of waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis A, as well as respiratory issues like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The fumes released from burning plastic contain toxic chemicals, exacerbating the health risks for those exposed.
While the full extent of plastic pollution's impact on human health is still being elucidated, it is clear that this global issue demands urgent attention and action from governments, businesses, and individuals alike to minimize its harmful effects on human well-being.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic kills animals in a variety of ways, including ingestion, suffocation, and entanglement. Animals such as birds, whales, fish, and turtles mistake indigestible plastic waste for food, which fills their stomachs and causes starvation. Seals, whales, turtles, and other animals are strangled by abandoned fishing gear or discarded six-pack rings. Microplastics have been found in more than 100 aquatic species, and can block digestive tracts or pierce organs, causing death.
It is difficult to estimate the exact number, but millions of animals are killed by plastics every year, including birds, fish, and other marine organisms. Nearly 2,100 species, including endangered ones, are known to be affected by plastics.
Plastic pollution has been linked to a range of negative health impacts in humans, including developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune disorders. Microplastics have been found in human blood and placentas, as well as in food and drinks such as tap water, beer, and salt. The burning of plastic waste also contributes to air pollution, which is estimated to cause one-fifth of the 3.7 million deaths attributed to it each year.
It is challenging to estimate the exact number, but according to a report by Sir David Attenborough, between 400,000 and one million people die each year from diseases and accidents linked to poorly managed plastic waste in developing countries. This includes exposure to chemical and waterborne diseases, as well as fumes from burning plastic.
