Alexei Volkov
Plastic pollution is a pressing global issue that affects all wildlife, including those in the ocean and on land. Animals are harmed by plastic in a variety of ways. They eat it, mistaking it for prey or food, they get caught in it, and they suffer negative health consequences as a result of it. Plastic pollution has rapidly infiltrated the food chain, from microscopic animals to large predators, and even humans. It is estimated that 90% of seabirds have ingested plastic, and plastic is found in the digestive systems of 86% of sea turtles, 44% of seabirds, and 43% of marine mammals. The impact of plastic pollution on wildlife is devastating and urgent action is needed to address this crisis.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of marine organisms affected by entanglement or ingestion of plastics | Tens of thousands |
| Number of marine and coastal species impacted by entanglement | 800+ |
| Number of marine and coastal species impacted by ingestion of plastic | Thousands |
| Number of sea birds killed by plastic annually | 1 million |
| Number of marine mammals, turtles and fish killed by plastic annually | 100,000 |
| Percentage of sea birds that have ingested plastic | 60% |
| Percentage of sea birds that are predicted to ingest plastic by 2050 | 99% |
| Percentage of sea turtles that have ingested plastic | 50% |
| Percentage of sea turtle species that have ingested plastic | 86% |
| Percentage of marine mammal species that have ingested plastic | 43% |
| Percentage of seabird species that have ingested plastic | 44% |
| Number of species that have been found with plastic fragments | Hundreds |
| Number of finches affected by plastic | Thousands |
| Number of species affected by plastic pollution | Countless |
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What You'll Learn
- Marine mammals, including whales, ingest plastic or get entangled in it
- Turtles mistake plastic for food, causing intestinal blockages and death
- Seabirds are killed by plastic, with 60% of species having eaten plastic
- Plastic pollution affects terrestrial animals, such as mites and larvae
- Fish ingest plastic, which moves up the food chain to humans
Marine mammals, including whales, ingest plastic or get entangled in it
Marine mammals, including whales, are among the thousands of animals that ingest plastic or get entangled in it, leading to injury and death. Whales, for instance, consume plastic directly through filter feeding, a process where they take large gulps of water and siphon out tiny prey like plankton. Autopsies of dead whales have revealed stomachs clogged with ingested plastic, including shopping bags, fishing nets, and a jerry can. In one instance, a sperm whale died from an inflammation of its abdominal tissues caused by nearly 30 kilograms of indigestible plastic. Another case involved a pygmy sperm whale that stranded on a beach near Melbourne and was euthanized due to a stomach full of plastic.
Marine mammals also face the risk of entanglement in plastic debris, which has led to injuries and mortality in various species, including the endangered Steller sea lion. Large items of plastic, such as discarded fishing nets and ropes, can entangle marine mammals, restricting their movement, causing injuries, and making them more vulnerable to predators. This entanglement can also lead to drowning, as marine mammals cannot breathe underwater.
The ingestion of plastic by marine mammals has severe consequences for their health. Plastic reduces the storage volume of the stomach, leading to starvation as the animals feel full even though they have not consumed nutritious food. Additionally, plastic can cause intestinal injuries and transfer toxins to the fatty tissues of organisms, resulting in further health complications.
The presence of plastic in the ocean is a growing concern, with an estimated 640,000 tonnes of plastic entering the oceans annually in the form of ghost fishing equipment. This plastic pollution affects a wide range of marine life, from large whales to small crabs and finches. It is estimated that 81 out of 123 marine mammal species are known to have encountered plastic through ingestion or entanglement. As a result, plastic pollution is contributing to the death of over 100,000 marine mammals every year.
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Turtles mistake plastic for food, causing intestinal blockages and death
Plastic pollution is a global crisis, with a direct and deadly effect on wildlife. Marine animals, such as sea turtles, often mistake plastic for food, which causes intestinal blockages and can lead to death.
Sea turtles are affected by plastic at every stage of their lives. As hatchlings, they crawl through plastic on their way to the ocean, and as adults, they crawl through plastic debris to find a place to nest. During migration, they swim through plastic waste and often consume it. Turtles mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, one of their favorite foods. Once ingested, plastic blocks their digestive system, causing internal injuries and intestinal blockage, which can be fatal. The ingested plastic can also give turtles a false sense of fullness, leading to starvation.
Research has shown that all seven species of sea turtles have ingested plastic. A 2015 study estimated that more than 15 trillion pieces of plastic trash are in the ocean, and the problem is growing. Plastic ingestion can cause intestinal blockage, internal injury, dietary dilution, malnutrition, and increased buoyancy, which can result in poor health, reduced growth rates, and even death.
In addition to ingestion, sea turtles also face the threat of entanglement in plastic debris. Turtles can get caught in discarded fishing gear, six-pack rings, and other plastic waste, which can choke, injure, or drown them. The fishing industry is a significant contributor to this problem.
The impact of plastic pollution on sea turtles is not limited to the ocean. Plastic waste on beaches and in rivers can also affect nesting sites and hatchlings. Furthermore, plastic pollution enters the food chain, with tiny pieces of plastic consumed by fish and other animals, which are then eaten by turtles and humans.
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Seabirds are killed by plastic, with 60% of species having eaten plastic
Plastic pollution is a global crisis that has had a deadly effect on wildlife. Marine animals such as fish, turtles, seals, whales, and seabirds are among the victims. In particular, plastic pollution has had a devastating impact on seabirds, with an estimated 60% of species having eaten plastic. This number is predicted to increase to 99% by 2050.
Seabirds are birds that live primarily over the ocean, far away from humans. They possess unique adaptations such as specialised feathers and a desalination system that allows them to drink seawater safely. Despite their resilience, seabirds are extremely vulnerable to plastic pollution. Hundreds of thousands of seabirds ingest plastic every year, and an estimated one million die as a result. This problem has grown exponentially, with less than 5% of birds found with plastic in their stomachs in the 1960s, increasing to over 80% in the following decades.
Seabirds often mistake plastic debris for prey, such as fish eggs laid on floating debris. They also consume plastic indirectly through the food chain when they eat fish and other animals that have already ingested plastics. Chicks are fed plastic by their adult counterparts, threatening their chances of survival. Plastic ingestion reduces the storage volume of the stomach, causing starvation. Dead seabirds are often found with stomachs full of plastic, reflecting the rapid increase in plastic pollution in the past 40 years.
Plastic pollution not only leads to starvation but also causes other health issues in seabirds. It impacts kidney function, resulting in higher concentrations of uric acid and negatively affecting cholesterol and enzymes. A new disease, termed "plasticosis", has been described in seabirds and is linked to ingesting plastic. Plasticosis affects the growth, nutrition, and overall health of affected birds, leading to smaller body sizes and shorter wings and bills.
The scale of the plastic pollution crisis is immense, with plastic debris found even in remote locations such as Lord Howe Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The presence of plastic in these areas highlights the urgency of addressing this global issue.
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Plastic pollution affects terrestrial animals, such as mites and larvae
Plastic pollution is a global crisis, with plastic accumulating in oceans and on beaches, causing a direct and deadly effect on wildlife. Marine organisms, including zooplankton, corals, fish, sea turtles, marine mammals like whales and seabirds, are among the tens of thousands of species suffering from entanglement or ingestion of plastics.
Plastic ingestion can cause intestinal injury and death, transferring plastic up the food chain to bigger fish, marine mammals and humans. It can also lead to starvation as it reduces the storage volume of the stomach, giving a false sense of fullness. Research indicates that half of sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic, with plastic found in the guts of a quarter of fish at markets in California.
Plastic pollution is not limited to the oceans, with plastic particles making their way into our water sources, the food chain, and even the air we breathe. This means that terrestrial animals, such as mites and larvae, are also affected by plastic pollution. Mites, for example, are microscopic organisms that can be found in homes and on birds and rodents. While mites rarely transmit diseases to humans, they can cause severe skin irritation and itching.
Some mites, such as Demodex mites, are generally harmless and live in hair follicles or feed on the oils and dead cells on human skin. Other mites, such as scabies mites, can burrow under the skin and cause infections. Mites can also affect other animals, such as honeybees, causing the adult bees and their larvae to die.
Larvae, the immature form of insects, have been found to play a role in plastic degradation. Studies have shown that certain insect larvae, such as Galleria mellonella, Tenebrio molitor, and Zophobas atratus, can survive on plastic polymers as their sole source of carbon. These "plastivore" insects have the potential to be a new, environmentally friendly solution to the plastic waste crisis. However, more research is needed to optimize the conditions for larval rearing and to address the challenges posed by the chemical composition of waste plastic.
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Fish ingest plastic, which moves up the food chain to humans
Plastic waste has become a significant environmental concern, with plastic accumulating in oceans and on beaches, posing a direct threat to wildlife. Marine animals, such as fish, ingest plastic, mistaking it for their primary food sources like plankton, fish eggs, or krill due to their similar colours and small size. This ingestion of plastic leads to intestinal injuries, starvation, and death, as plastic reduces the storage volume in their stomachs.
Fish in the North Pacific ingest an estimated 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic annually, transferring it up the food chain. A study found plastic, predominantly in the form of plastic microfibers, in the guts of a quarter of fish sold in California markets. This plastic ingestion by fish has consequences for larger fish, marine mammals, and ultimately, human seafood eaters. Humans are exposed to microplastics through the consumption of contaminated seafood, which can lead to potential health risks.
Fishery products are a significant source of microplastics in the human diet. Once ingested, these microplastics can reach the gastrointestinal tract, causing oxidative stress, cytotoxicity, and translocation to other tissues. They can also release harmful chemical additives, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), bisphenol A (BPA), and potentially toxic elements. While the overall risk to human health is currently believed to be low, it is crucial to recognize that the presence of microplastics in aquatic environments will increase due to plastic degradation.
The issue of plastic pollution extends beyond marine life, impacting other animals such as birds. Adult birds inadvertently feed plastic to their chicks, endangering their survival. It is estimated that 60% of seabird species have ingested plastic, with this number projected to rise to 99% by 2050. As plastic production continues to grow, its presence in the environment, including soil and water sources, poses an increasing threat to both animal and human health.
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Frequently asked questions
All wildlife is affected by plastic pollution, from marine life to land animals. Some of the most iconic victims of plastic pollution are sea turtles, which often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, leading to intestinal blockages and even death. Other affected animals include whales, seals, fish, seabirds, zooplankton, corals, and marine mammals.
Marine animals are affected by plastic pollution in several ways. They may ingest plastic, mistaking it for food, which can lead to intestinal injuries, blockages, and even death. They may also become entangled in plastic debris, which can cause injury and mortality. Plastic pollution can also disrupt marine ecosystems, making it difficult for some species to live and breed naturally, leading to depletions in populations.
Land animals are also affected by plastic pollution. Microplastics can leech into the soil and nearby water sources from plastic waste in landfills and other environments. This has led to a decrease in species that live below the surface, such as mites, larvae, and other tiny creatures, which has impacted soil fertility. Additionally, chlorinated plastic can release harmful chemicals into the surrounding soil and groundwater, potentially contaminating the food that wildlife consumes.
Plastic pollution has entered the food chain through fish and other marine animals. As larger fish eat smaller fish that have ingested plastic, the plastic is transferred up the food chain to bigger fish, marine mammals, and even human seafood eaters. Studies have found plastic in the guts of fish sold at markets, and it is estimated that tens of thousands of marine organisms suffer from entanglement or ingestion of plastics each year.
