Chloe Zhang
Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that affects all wildlife, from marine life to land animals. It has been found on every continent and in every ocean, contaminating creatures across the tree of life and concentrating up the food chain. Animals accidentally ingest plastic, mistaking it for food, which can cause intestinal blockages and damage, and even death. It can also pierce internal organs and choke animals, leading to starvation. Furthermore, microplastics have been detected in various organs and bodily systems, indicating potential long-term harm to both animals and humans. With plastic production increasing and its presence in natural ecosystems, the impact on wildlife is a growing concern.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic ingestion | Can block digestive tracts, pierce internal organs, choke and starve animals |
| Plastic debris | Does not decompose but breaks down into microplastics, which have been found in hundreds of species, including 86% of sea turtles, 44% of seabirds, and 43% of marine mammals |
| Microplastics | Can cause liver and cell damage, disrupt reproductive systems, and carry toxic chemicals that build up in fatty tissues |
| Plastic entanglement | Particularly from ghost fishing gear, it can trap and kill a variety of marine life, from whales to crabs |
| Impact on ecosystems | Plastic has entered the food chain and threatens marine ecosystems and biodiversity |
| Global impact | Plastic pollution has been found on every continent and in every ocean, impacting terrestrial, freshwater, and marine wildlife |
| Human impact | Microplastics can travel across the food web, ending up in the human digestive system and potentially impacting human health |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic ingestion
Large marine mammals are particularly vulnerable to plastic ingestion, with an estimated 300,000 whales, dolphins, and porpoises dying annually from ingesting plastic. In 2019, a whale was found washed up with 40kg of plastic in its stomach, and a wild elephant in Periyar, India, died from ingesting plastic waste discarded by pilgrims.
Plastic does not decompose but breaks down into microplastics, tiny plastic particles less than five millimetres long. These microplastics have been found in hundreds of species, including 86% of sea turtle species, 44% of seabird species, and 43% of marine mammal species. They pass through animals' digestive systems and can cause liver and cell damage, as well as disrupt reproductive systems.
Microplastics can adsorb up to one million times more toxic chemicals than the surrounding water, and these chemicals build up in the fatty tissues of animals that consume contaminated species, resulting in biomagnification. As plastics move up the food chain, they eventually reach humans, impacting our health. Studies have found microplastics in human placentas, blood, and lungs, causing oxidative stress, chronic DNA damage, and inflammation.
The impact of microplastics on human and animal health is still being understood, but the presence of plastics in the environment is undeniable, with plastic pollution reaching every corner of the natural world, from the Mariana Trench to Mount Everest. Urgent action is needed to address this crisis and prevent further harm to wildlife and humans.
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Plastic entanglement
Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that affects all wildlife, both in the ocean and on land. Marine animals are particularly vulnerable to plastic entanglement, especially from ghost fishing gear. Ghost gear refers to fishing ropes, nets, and pots that have been discarded or abandoned at sea, often made from plastic. This gear can entangle a wide range of marine life, from large whales to small crabs.
Smaller marine animals, such as sea turtles, seals, porpoises, dolphins, and smaller whales, are at immediate risk of drowning if entangled in large or heavy gear. While larger whales can often pull themselves or parts of the gear off the ocean floor, they are still susceptible to exhaustion and infection. Entanglement is a primary cause of human-induced mortality in whale species such as right whales, humpback whales, and gray whales.
To address this issue, organizations like NOAA Fisheries 'Office of Protected Resources' collaborate with partners to safely free entangled marine mammals and sea turtles. They employ specialized tools and techniques, such as satellite transmitters and receivers, to track and rescue entangled animals. Responders use historic whaling techniques like "kegging," throwing grapples or hooks to attach to the entangling gear, and utilizing large buoys to slow down and approach whales. Similar techniques are applied to disentangle large leatherback sea turtles.
The impact of plastic entanglement extends across various species, including endangered or threatened animals such as Hawaiian monk seals, manatees, Steller sea lions, and all six species of U.S. sea turtles. A report by Oceana highlighted the entanglement of 1,800 marine animals in U.S. waters, with plastics ranging from zip ties and dental flossers to mesh onion bags. The true number of affected animals is likely much higher, and the consumption of plastic further exacerbates the problem.
The presence of plastic in the environment poses a significant threat to natural ecosystems, which rely on cycles of renewal where plants and animals grow, die, and become food for the next generation. Plastic does not degrade and can escape into various corners of the natural world, including the ocean, where it accumulates and breaks down into smaller pieces over time. This plastic pollution enters the food chain through fish and other marine animals, impacting not only wildlife but also humans who consume seafood.
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Microplastics in the food chain
Plastic debris breaks down into tiny plastic particles that are less than five millimetres long, known as microplastics. These particles can easily enter the human and animal food chain. They have been found in the land, sea, air, and across the food chain, ultimately ending up in the human digestive system when we consume seafood.
Microplastics have been detected in various foodstuffs, including honey, tea, sugar, fruit, and vegetables. They have also been found in seafood, with a recent study in the US state of Oregon finding microplastics in 98.9% of seafood samples. It is estimated that the average person may consume between 78,000 and 211,000 microplastic particles every year.
The health risks associated with microplastics are still being studied, but they are believed to be hazardous to human health. They can carry toxic chemicals and microorganisms, leading to adverse effects such as intestinal damage, immune problems, neurotoxicity, and reproductive issues. Studies have also shown that microplastics can travel throughout the human body, having been detected in the blood, lungs, liver, and even the brain.
The presence of microplastics in the food chain is a growing concern due to the durability of plastics in the environment. Their microscopic size and physical properties make it easy for them to spread into environments affected by human activity and remote areas. The industrial production of plastics has contributed significantly to this issue, with plastic waste ending up in landfills and the environment, eventually making its way into aquatic ecosystems.
To address this problem, it is crucial for businesses, governments, and civil society to collaborate and take decisive action. Measures such as minimizing plastic leakage, making plastics less toxic, and regulating plastic management can help reduce the impact of microplastics on the food chain and mitigate potential health risks.
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Hormone disruption
Plastics contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that threaten animal health. EDCs are not covalently bonded to plastics, so they can easily leach into milk, water, and other liquids, affecting the endocrine system of animals upon exposure. The toxicity induced by microplastics and nanoplastics is size-dependent, as smaller particles have better absorption capacity and larger surface areas, releasing more EDCs and toxic chemicals.
Various EDCs contained or carried by microplastics and nanoplastics share structural similarities with specific hormone receptors. Hence, they interfere with normal hormone receptors, altering the hormonal action of the endocrine glands. For example, in research where scientists exposed pregnant rodents to different types of phthalates (chemicals found in some plastics), their male offspring showed a shorter distance between the anus and genitals, or anogenital distance (AGD), a developmental marker that indicates the animal was exposed to lower levels of male sex hormones in utero.
EDCs can also cause DNA modifications that have repercussions across multiple generations. For instance, studies have shown that men with a decreased AGD also had a lower sperm count. In another study, newborn rats injected with the chemical BPA found in plastics had reduced fertility and developed ovarian cysts.
In addition, microplastics can cause liver and cell damage, as well as disruptions to reproductive systems. They can also pass through animals' digestive systems and be expelled without consequence. However, scientists have found plastic fragments in hundreds of species, including 86% of all sea turtle species, 44% of all seabird species, and 43% of all marine mammal species.
The impact of microplastics on animal health is a growing concern, and further research is needed to understand the full extent of the damage caused by plastic pollution.
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Global impact
Plastic pollution is a global crisis that affects all wildlife, from microscopic animals to large predators and even humans. It has been found on every continent and in every ocean, contaminating creatures across the tree of life. The problem is particularly acute in the oceans, where plastic waste has no boundaries. Once plastic enters the sea, waves and storms can carry it to even the most remote locations, including uninhabited islands and the deepest point of the Mariana Trench. It accumulates in large gyres, such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is the largest accumulation of plastic in the world.
Billions of pounds of plastic can be found in swirling convergences that make up about 40% of the world's ocean surfaces. At current rates, plastic is expected to outweigh all the fish in the sea by 2050. It is predicted that 99% of marine species will have consumed microplastics by this time. Fish in the North Pacific ingest 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic each year, which can cause intestinal injury and death, and transfers plastic up the food chain to bigger fish, marine mammals and humans. Seabirds are also at particular risk from plastic ingestion, as they easily mistake plastic for food, which can cause choking and starvation when it blocks their digestive tracts or pierces their internal organs.
Large marine mammals are highly vulnerable to plastic entanglement, particularly from ghost fishing gear. An estimated 300,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises die from this each year. In 2019, one whale was found washed up with 40kg of plastic in its stomach, mostly plastic bags. Turtles often mistake plastic bags for their staple food of jellyfish, and can feel full after eating them, leading to starvation.
Plastic pollution is also having broader impacts on Earth systems, worsening climate change, increasing biodiversity loss, and making oceans more acidic. It is transforming the natural cycles that support life, as it does not degrade and remains in the environment indefinitely. This has led to concerns about the long-term impacts on the health of animals and the environment, as well as humans who are exposed to microplastics through seafood and other sources.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic waste is a danger to animals in many ways. It can cause intestinal blockages and internal injuries, leading to starvation and death. Animals can also get entangled in plastic debris, which can be fatal.
Plastic ingestion can block digestive tracts, pierce internal organs, and release toxic chemicals, causing liver and cell damage. It can also disrupt reproductive systems and hormone functions.
Plastic pollution affects all wildlife, from microscopic animals to large marine mammals such as whales and dolphins. Seabirds are particularly at risk, as they often mistake plastic for food. Endangered species, such as the Hawaiian monk seal and Pacific loggerhead sea turtles, are also vulnerable.
Fish and other marine animals ingest microplastics, which then travel up the food chain to larger fish, marine mammals, and eventually humans who consume seafood.
To reduce the impact of plastic on animals, it is crucial to minimise plastic pollution in the environment. This includes reducing plastic waste, improving recycling rates, and advocating for policies that regulate plastic as a pollutant. It is also important to support initiatives that protect endangered species and their habitats from plastic pollution.
