Sofia Martinez
Plastic is a material that can be easily shaped or moulded and is made up of polymers. It is extremely malleable and has a low melting point. Plastic pollution is a global crisis, threatening ecosystems, lowering biodiversity, and changing the flow of nutrients between plants and animals. As plastic is worn down by seawater and sand, it creates microplastics – plastic bits smaller than 5 millimetres (0.2 inches). These microplastics are consumed by aquatic animals and end up in the fish we eat. Plastic also contributes to the health risks associated with warming temperatures and extreme weather events due to climate change.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic threatens | Ecosystems, biodiversity, the flow of nutrients between plants and animals |
| Plastic ends up in | Bodies of water, ecosystems, the atmosphere, the ocean |
| Plastic harms | Marine life, the natural environment |
| Plastic contributes to | Ocean pollution, climate change |
| Plastic is made up of | Polymers |
| Plastic is | Extremely malleable, easily cut through, has a low melting point |
| Plastic adversely affects | Children in the womb and young ones, with increased risks of prematurity, stillbirth, birth defects of the reproductive organs, neurodevelopmental impairment, impaired lung growth, and childhood cancer |
| Plastic costs | More than $250 billion in 2015 globally and more than $920 billion in the USA alone for diseases and disability caused by the plastic-associated chemicals PBDE, BPA and DEHP |
What You'll Learn
Plastic pollution in the ocean
Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that poses a threat to the environment, human health, and future generations. The damage caused by plastic waste is extensive, reaching nearly every corner of the planet, including bodies of water, ecosystems, and the atmosphere.
One of the primary concerns regarding plastic pollution is its impact on the ocean. As plastic waste makes its way into rivers and lakes, it eventually reaches the ocean, where it harms marine life and contributes to ocean pollution. Aquatic animals often mistake plastic for prey, leading to the consumption of microplastics, which then enter the food chain. These microplastics, formed when plastic is worn down by seawater and sand, are smaller than 5 millimetres and can be found in the fish we eat.
The presence of plastic in the ocean has far-reaching consequences. It threatens marine ecosystems, lowers biodiversity, and disrupts the flow of nutrients between plants and animals. Additionally, the chemicals associated with plastic production, such as PBDE, BPA, and DEHP, have been linked to various health risks, including diseases and disabilities. The monetary costs associated with these health issues are significant, estimated to be over $250 billion globally and more than $920 billion in the USA alone in 2015.
The adverse effects of plastic pollution are particularly concerning for vulnerable groups, including children, women, workers in the informal waste sector, and marginalised communities. The Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Health (2023) has raised concerns about the impact of plastic on children, both in the womb and at a young age, highlighting increased risks of prematurity, stillbirth, birth defects, neurodevelopmental impairment, impaired lung growth, and childhood cancer.
Addressing the issue of plastic pollution in the ocean is crucial to mitigating the damage caused by plastic waste. Solutions may include reducing plastic consumption, improving recycling practices, and implementing measures to prevent plastic from entering water bodies. By tackling this global problem, we can protect marine life, preserve ecosystems, and safeguard human health for future generations.
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Plastic's impact on human health
Plastic pollution is a serious threat to human health. At every stage of its lifecycle, from extraction to production, manufacturing, use, recycling and disposal, plastic negatively affects people and the environment.
Plastic is made up of polymers, which easily bond with each other. As plastic is worn down by seawater and sand, it creates microplastics – plastic bits smaller than 5mm. These microplastics are consumed by aquatic animals, which are then eaten by humans.
The toxic chemical additives used in the production of plastic have been linked to a range of health issues, including cancer, neurological, reproductive, and developmental toxicity, impairment of the immune system, and more. Exposure to these toxins has been found to impact the skin, eyes, and other sensory organs, the respiratory, nervous, and gastrointestinal systems, liver, and brain.
Vulnerable groups, including children, women, workers in the informal waste sector, and marginalised communities, are particularly at risk. Children in the womb and young children are especially vulnerable, with increased risks of prematurity, stillbirth, birth defects of the reproductive organs, neurodevelopmental impairment, impaired lung growth, and childhood cancer.
Plastic production also contributes to the health risks associated with warming temperatures and extreme weather events due to climate change. The effects of plastic on human health have important monetary costs, recently estimated to be more than $250 billion in 2015 globally and over $920 billion in the US alone for diseases and disabilities caused by plastic-associated chemicals.
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Plastic's contribution to climate change
Plastic is a material that can be shaped or moulded easily and can be synthetic, semisynthetic, or natural. It is extremely malleable due to the fact that it's made up of polymers, which also gives it a low melting point. At the molecular level, polymers are long chains of individual monomer links which bond easily to each other.
Plastic pollution is found all around the globe and negatively affects people and the environment at each stage of its lifecycle – extraction of fossil fuels, production, manufacturing, use, recycling, and disposal. Plastic threatens ecosystems, lowers biodiversity, and can even change the flow of nutrients between plants and animals. As plastic is worn down by seawater and sand, it creates microplastics – which refer to plastic bits smaller than 5 millimetres (0.2 inches).
Many aquatic animals consume plastic as they believe it to be prey, and as a result, we are eating microplastics in the fish we eat. Plastic waste also contributes to the numerous health risks associated with warming temperatures and extreme weather events due to climate change. The adverse effects of plastic are particularly acute for children in the womb and young children, with increased risks of prematurity, stillbirth, birth defects of the reproductive organs, neurodevelopmental impairment, impaired lung growth, and childhood cancer.
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Plastic's effect on biodiversity
Plastic is a material that can be easily shaped or moulded and can be synthetic, semisynthetic or natural. It is extremely malleable due to the fact that it is made up of polymers, which are long chains of individual monomer links that bond easily to each other.
Plastic is a major threat to biodiversity. It pollutes nearly every corner of the world – bodies of water, ecosystems and our atmosphere. It is particularly harmful to marine life, as many aquatic animals consume plastic as they believe it to be prey. This means that we are eating microplastics in the fish we eat. As plastic is worn down by seawater and sand, it creates microplastics – plastic bits smaller than 5mm.
Plastic pollution threatens not only the environment but also our health and that of future generations. It has been linked to numerous health risks, including increased risks of prematurity, stillbirth, birth defects of the reproductive organs, neurodevelopmental impairment, impaired lung growth and childhood cancer. The effects of plastic production on human health have important monetary costs, recently estimated to more than $250 billion in 2015 globally and more than $920 billion in the USA alone for diseases and disabilities caused by the plastic-associated chemicals PBDE, BPA and DEHP.
The adverse effects of plastic are particularly acute for vulnerable groups, including children, women, workers in the informal waste sector and marginalised communities. This raises concerns of human rights and environmental injustice.
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Plastic's presence in the atmosphere
Plastic is a material that can be easily shaped or moulded, and it is present in nearly every corner of the world. It pollutes bodies of water, ecosystems, and the atmosphere.
Plastic is a major threat to the environment and human health. It has a negative impact at every stage of its lifecycle, from extraction of fossil fuels to production, manufacturing, use, recycling, and disposal. Plastic waste can harm marine life, our natural environment, and contribute to ocean pollution. Many aquatic animals consume plastic, mistaking it for prey, and as a result, we end up eating microplastics in the fish we consume.
Recent studies have revealed that tiny pieces of plastic, known as microplastics, are constantly being lofted into the atmosphere. These particles can travel thousands of miles and have the potential to impact temperature, rainfall, and even climate change. Microplastics can be carried into the atmosphere by seafoam bubbles or spinning tires on highways, and they can affect the formation of clouds.
The presence of microplastics in the atmosphere is a concern for human health, especially for vulnerable groups such as children, women, workers in the informal waste sector, and marginalised communities. Exposure to microplastics has been linked to increased risks of prematurity, stillbirth, birth defects of the reproductive organs, neurodevelopmental impairment, impaired lung growth, and childhood cancer.
Additionally, microplastics do not stay in the atmosphere. Due to their small size, they can go through the evaporation and precipitation process, ending up in drinking water, rainfall, snowfall, and oceans. This further contributes to the plastic pollution in our environment and the potential harm it can cause.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic threatens ecosystems, lowers biodiversity, and can even change the flow of nutrients between plants and animals. Plastic pollution is found all around the globe and can end up polluting bodies of water, ecosystems, and our atmosphere.
Plastic is made up of polymers, which are long chains of individual monomer links that easily bond to each other. As plastic is worn down by seawater and sand, it creates microplastics – plastic bits smaller than 5mm. Many aquatic animals consume these microplastics, which means we are eating microplastics in the fish we eat.
Plastic production has important monetary costs, recently estimated to be more than $250 billion in 2015 globally and more than $920 billion in the USA alone for diseases and disabilities caused by the plastic-associated chemicals PBDE, BPA and DEHP. The adverse effects of plastic are particularly acute for children in the womb and young children, with increased risks of prematurity, stillbirth, birth defects of the reproductive organs, neurodevelopmental impairment, impaired lung growth, and childhood cancer.
