Plastic's Impact: Vessel Damage And Health Risks

Plastic pollution is a pressing environmental issue, with plastic waste ending up in oceans, rivers, and ecosystems, causing damage to wildlife, humans, and economies. The impact of plastic on marine life is significant, with ingestion, suffocation, and entanglement causing injury and death. Microplastics, in particular, pose a threat to smaller organisms and can cause blockages in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to starvation. In addition, plastic pollution can result in vessel damage, with derelict fishing gear posing a safety risk to boats and ships at sea. The financial implications of plastic pollution are also substantial, with costs arising from cleanup efforts, losses in fisheries, and negative effects on tourism and trade. As plastic pollution continues to increase, addressing this global crisis requires international cooperation and systemic solutions.

Plastic waste in the ocean

The primary sources of plastic waste in the ocean are rivers and coastal waters. Rivers act as conveyor belts, carrying trash from inland areas to the sea. Once caught in ocean currents, plastic waste can travel globally, impacting even remote locations like Henderson Island, halfway between Chile and New Zealand. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a gyre in the South Pacific, is another example of how ocean currents spread plastic pollution worldwide.

The impact of plastic waste in the ocean is widespread and devastating. Marine wildlife, including birds, whales, fish, and turtles, suffer the most direct and visible effects. They often mistake plastic for food, leading to ingestion, suffocation, and entanglement. Abandoned fishing gear, such as nets and six-pack rings, can strangle and trap marine animals. Microplastics have been found in various aquatic species, indicating their presence in our food chain.

In addition to the ecological consequences, plastic waste in the ocean has economic implications. Derelict fishing gear poses a safety risk to vessels and can result in financial losses for fisheries. The global economic cost of plastic pollution is significant, impacting sectors such as fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, and governmental cleanup efforts. Furthermore, plastic production and pollution contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating climate change.

Addressing plastic waste in the ocean requires a global response. Efforts to reduce plastic production, improve waste management, and promote recycling are essential. Initiatives like coastal cleanup programs help prevent the fragmentation of larger plastics into microplastics. International cooperation, such as the Global Plastics Treaty, is crucial in tackling this pressing environmental issue.

Plastic's impact on human health

Plastics are wreaking havoc on human health, causing severe issues such as cancers, lung disease, endocrine disruption, weight gain, insulin resistance, and birth defects. The toxic chemical additives used in plastic production can alter hormone activity, causing reproductive, growth, and cognitive issues. These chemicals are also carcinogenic and can cause developmental, neurological, and immune disorders. Humans constantly inhale and ingest microplastics through contaminated seafood, water, and beverages, leading to their presence in our blood, placentas, and food. The production and destruction of plastics contribute to climate change and release greenhouse gases, further exacerbating health issues.

The impact of microplastics on human health is a growing concern, with limited evidence suggesting adverse health effects. While the exact health consequences are not yet fully understood, preliminary findings from human cell and animal studies indicate inflammation, cell death, lung and liver issues, changes in the gut microbiome, and altered lipid and hormone metabolism. The medical community is actively researching plastic particle pollution and its potential links to various diseases and syndromes.

Plastics enter our oceans, soil, and air as microplastics, threatening human health and the environment. Rivers are the primary source of ocean plastic pollution, with fishing gear contributing significantly. The durability of plastic, which is one of its biggest assets, becomes a liability in the ocean, persisting for long periods. Marine wildlife, such as fish, turtles, and birds, mistake plastic waste for food, leading to internal injuries, starvation, and ecosystem degradation.

The global cost of plastic-related health issues is significant, estimated at $100 billion per year. Additionally, plastic pollution impacts economies, affecting sectors such as small and medium enterprises, tourism, fisheries, and agriculture. The build-up of plastic litter and the toxic nature of plastic chemicals pose a severe threat to human health and the planet.

Microplastics in the environment

Microplastics are small pieces of plastic debris that are usually smaller than 5mm in diameter. They have accumulated in the environment due to the direct release of small particles, such as those used in cosmetics, or as a result of wear and tear, for example, fibres released from textiles. The main source of microplastics is the fragmentation of larger plastic items. They are persistent, highly mobile, and challenging to remove from nature.

Microplastics have been detected in various environments, including marine and freshwater ecosystems, as well as in the food chain and drinking water. They are particularly prevalent in freshwater environments, which are essential for human survival. The natural biodegradation process is very slow, especially for petroleum-derived polymers like polyethylene, polyurethane, and polyvinyl chloride. It can take more than 50 years for these plastics to completely degrade on land and hundreds of years in the ocean due to lower temperatures and oxygen levels.

The presence of microplastics in different environmental compartments, such as water, has raised concerns about their impact on the environment, biodiversity, and human health. Microplastics can act as carriers for toxic additives and other hazardous substances from industrial and urban areas. These contaminated particles are ingested by organisms within a particular ecosystem, causing internal injuries and reducing their ability to move. They also act as vessels for pathogens to enter the human body, increasing the spread of diseases.

Microplastics have been found in human blood, placentas, food, drinks, and even tap water, beer, and salt. The toxic chemical additives in plastics can alter hormone activity, leading to reproductive, growth, and cognitive issues. They also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and are a significant aspect of the fight against climate change. The global cost of plastic-related health effects was estimated at $100 billion per year in 2022.

Plastic's effect on wildlife

Plastic pollution is a pressing environmental issue, with plastic waste ending up in oceans, rivers, and on land. This waste is harmful to wildlife, causing damage to various ecosystems and the animals that inhabit them.

Marine Wildlife

Marine animals suffer the most direct and damaging effects of plastic pollution. This includes all kinds of fish, turtles, seals, crustaceans, microorganisms, and many other forms of life. The ingestion of plastic waste is a significant issue, as it can cause internal injuries, digestive problems, and starvation as stomachs become filled with plastic. For example, plastic bags are often ingested by sea turtles that mistake them for jellyfish. This ingestion can also hinder swimming ability, making animals more vulnerable to vessel strikes. Seals, whales, turtles, and other animals are also strangled by abandoned fishing gear or discarded six-pack rings.

Microplastics, particles smaller than five millimeters, constitute over 90% of surface water marine plastics. These small particles are consumed by smaller fish and other species low on the food chain, such as plankton and oysters. The toxins contained in microplastics are then passed up the food chain, eventually reaching larger marine animals and humans. Microplastics have been found to block the gastrointestinal tract, prevent digestion, and cause a decline in feeding behavior, lowered fertility, and slowed growth and development in some species.

Land-based Wildlife

Plastic pollution also affects land-based animals, including elephants, hyenas, zebras, tigers, camels, cattle, and other large mammals. These animals may ingest plastic waste, leading to liver and cell damage and disruptions to reproductive systems. Tests have shown that some species, such as oysters, produce fewer eggs when exposed to plastics. Additionally, plastic pollution can transport invasive alien species, contributing to biodiversity loss and species extinction.

Impact on Ecosystems

Plastic pollution affects all ecosystems, including land, freshwater, and marine environments. It is a major driver of biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, and climate change. Rivers are a significant source of ocean plastic pollution, carrying trash from land to sea. Once in the ocean, plastic waste can remain in coastal waters or be transported by ocean currents around the world. The durability of plastic means that once it enters the ocean, it persists for long periods and does not degrade quickly.

The build-up of plastic litter can have negative economic impacts, affecting sectors such as tourism, fisheries, and agriculture. Additionally, plastic pollution can release toxic chemicals into the soil, which can then run into groundwater or rivers, further impacting ecosystems and human health.

Economic impact of plastic pollution

Plastic pollution has a significant economic impact on the world, costing up to an estimated $2.5 trillion per year. This figure includes the costs associated with the impact on the oceans, greenhouse gases, land pollutants, water usage, air pollution, and land disamenity.

One of the most significant economic impacts of plastic pollution is the damage it causes to marine ecosystems. Plastic waste entering the oceans can have detrimental effects on marine life, including fish, turtles, birds, and mammals. This, in turn, can have economic repercussions for the fishing and tourism industries, as well as the cost of cleaning up beaches. It is estimated that plastic pollution causes up to $13 billion in economic damage to marine ecosystems annually. This figure is likely an underestimate, as it does not fully account for the direct and indirect impacts on various industries and human health.

The real cost of plastic pollution may be even higher when considering the impact on ecosystem services. Researchers have estimated a loss of 1-5% in marine ecosystem services, resulting in a loss of about $500 billion to $2.5 trillion per year. This includes the provision of fisheries, aquaculture, and materials for agricultural use. Plastic pollution also affects heritage, as the suffering of "charismatic" animals like turtles and whales can have detrimental impacts on human wellbeing. Additionally, people are less inclined to spend time in areas with litter, reducing the experiential recreation value of affected areas.

The economic impact of plastic pollution extends beyond just the marine environment. For example, the EPA found that the values of waterfront properties near polluted waters were up to 25% lower than those near clean waters. Plastic pollution also contributes to air pollution, with the incineration of plastic releasing toxins into the atmosphere. The cost of air pollution is substantial, with an estimated impact of $3.5 trillion per year in lives lost and ill health for the world's most advanced economies, including India and China.

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