Chloe Zhang
Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that affects all ecosystems, from marine to terrestrial environments. It is estimated that billions of pounds of plastic are present in the oceans, with plastic debris accounting for around 40% of the world's ocean surfaces. This plastic pollution has a detrimental impact on wildlife, leading to the death of thousands of marine animals each year. The effects of plastic pollution are diverse, ranging from entanglement and ingestion to toxic contamination and intestinal blockages. The presence of microplastics, which are tiny plastic particles, further exacerbates the problem as they can be ingested by wildlife and have been found to cause liver and cell damage, as well as disrupt reproductive systems. With plastic production projected to increase in the coming years, the impact on wildlife is expected to worsen, highlighting the urgent need for global action to address this crisis.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic ingestion | Can block digestive tracts, pierce internal organs, choke and <co: 5,9,12>starve animals |
| Plastic entanglement | Traps marine mammals and fish, preventing escape and leading to starvation, injury and vulnerability to predators |
| Plastic toxicity | Microplastics can adsorb toxins, which transfer to the fatty tissues of organisms that ingest them |
| Plastic and biodiversity | Plastic pollution is a major driver of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation |
| Plastic and climate change | Plastic contributes to climate change |
| Plastic and human health | Plastic threatens human health and affects food and water safety |
| Plastic and the economy | Plastic burdens economic activities, with income declines in sectors such as small- and medium-enterprises, tourism, fisheries, agriculture, and water safety |
| Extent of plastic pollution | Plastic pollution affects all land, freshwater, and marine ecosystems |
| Impact on wildlife | Plastic has been found in hundreds of species, including 86% of sea turtle species, 44% of seabird species, and 43% of marine mammal species |
| Impact on forests | Plastic affects forests by damaging the health and functions of soil fauna, such as earthworms, and reducing forest flora that depend on them |
| Impact on coral reefs | Discarded fishing nets can smother and break coral reefs, preventing healthy growth |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic ingestion
Plastic debris does not decompose but breaks down into tiny plastic particles that are less than five millimetres long, known as microplastics. These microplastics can pass through animals' digestive systems without being expelled. However, they have been found to cause liver and cell damage, as well as disruptions to reproductive systems. They can also adsorb toxins, which can transfer to the fatty tissues of the organisms that ingest them.
The impact of plastic ingestion on wildlife is a growing concern, with the amount of plastic in our oceans increasing at an alarming rate. Urgent action is needed to address this global plastic pollution crisis.
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Plastic entanglement
Plastic pollution is a pressing global issue, with billions of pounds of plastic ending up in the oceans every year. This has a detrimental impact on wildlife, and one of the most significant issues is plastic entanglement.
Entanglement restricts the movement of these marine creatures, causing them to drown or starve. It can also lead to physical trauma and infections as the gear cuts into their flesh. Entangled animals become more vulnerable to vessel strikes as they cannot manoeuvre away from boats and ships. This situation is life-threatening for both the animals and their rescuers, requiring specialised tools and techniques for safe disentanglement.
The impact of plastic entanglement is widespread, with an estimated 800+ marine and coastal species affected. Endangered species, such as the Hawaiian monk seal and the Pacific loggerhead sea turtle, are among the victims. The presence of plastic in their habitats, including pup nurseries, endangers their already fragile existence.
The problem of plastic entanglement is not limited to the oceans. Land animals, including elephants, hyenas, zebras, tigers, camels, and cattle, have also suffered from plastic ingestion and entanglement. This crisis demands urgent action to reduce plastic pollution and protect wildlife, both in the oceans and on land.
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Plastic pollution in forests
Plastic pollution is a pressing issue of our century, threatening both the environment and human health. It is estimated that it takes approximately 1000 years for plastic to decompose, and during this time, it affects wildlife and forests for many lifetimes.
One of the most affected forest ecosystems is the mangrove forest. Mangrove forests are rare, representing less than 0.4% of the global forest estate, and they are disappearing at an alarming rate. These forests are found in 123 nations and territories globally, and they play a vital role in preventing pollutants from reaching the sea. However, they are struggling to cope with the influx of non-biodegradable, waterproof, and buoyant plastics. Plastic litter gets entangled in the foliage, branches, and roots of mangrove trees, hindering their growth and survival. The Wouri Estuary in Cameroon, for example, has been described as "choking on plastics," with plastic debris trapped in the lush mangrove forests.
The impact of plastic pollution in forests is devastating for wildlife. Animals can ingest plastic, leading to intestinal blockages, internal bleeding, organ failure, and death. This issue is not limited to marine wildlife, as land animals such as elephants, hyenas, zebras, tigers, camels, and cattle have also suffered fatal consequences from consuming plastic waste. Plastic ingestion can block digestive tracts, pierce internal organs, choke, and starve animals. Additionally, microplastics have been found to cause liver and cell damage and disrupt reproductive systems in various species.
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Microplastics in food chains
Plastic pollution has become a global crisis, with billions of pounds of plastic in the oceans, on beaches, and on land. This plastic pollution has a direct and deadly effect on wildlife, as thousands of animals die each year from ingestion or entanglement.
Microplastics, plastic particles under five millimetres in length, have been detected in the human and animal food chain. They can be found in the land, sea, and air, and have been discovered in various foodstuffs, including seafood, honey, tea, sugar, fruit, vegetables, and even in drinking water.
At lower trophic levels in the marine environment, microplastics have been reported in zooplankton, chaetognatha, ichtyoplankton, copepods, and salps. At higher trophic levels, they are found in invertebrates and vertebrates, including fish, seabirds, and mammals. Plastic particles reach these organisms through direct consumption or trophic transfer.
The presence of microplastics in the food chain poses a significant threat to human health. While the full extent of the health impacts is not yet known, studies indicate that microplastics can cause liver and cell damage, gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory problems, cancer, infertility, and disruptions to reproductive systems. They have also been linked to inflammation and non-communicable diseases.
The pervasive use of plastics in various industries has contributed to the growing presence of microplastics in the environment and, consequently, in the food chain. Primary microplastics are intentionally manufactured small plastic particles, such as microbeads in cosmetics and plastic pellets in industrial manufacturing. Secondary microplastics form from the breakdown of larger plastic items through environmental exposure and weathering. The durability of plastics and their resistance to degradation allow microplastics to persist in the environment and easily enter the food chain.
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Plastic waste in unprotected wild land
Plastic waste is a global crisis that affects all wildlife, including those in the ocean and on land. Unprotected wild lands are vulnerable to the negative effects of plastic pollution. Plastic waste does not decompose but breaks down into tiny plastic particles known as microplastics, which can pass through animals' digestive systems and be expelled without consequence. However, microplastics have been found 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 plastic waste in forests is significant, affecting everything from the sand to the inhabitants. For example, in January 2018, a 20-year-old wild elephant in Periyar, India, died from ingesting plastic waste discarded by pilgrims. The plastic blocked the elephant's intestines, causing internal bleeding and organ failure. This is just one of many reported cases of land-based mammals, including hyenas, zebras, tigers, camels, and cattle, accidentally consuming plastic waste and suffering fatal consequences.
In addition to intestinal blockages, plastic ingestion can also pierce internal organs, choke animals, and lead to starvation by creating a false sense of fullness. Plastic debris can entangle wildlife, preventing them from hunting for food or making them more vulnerable to predators.
Microplastics leech into the soil and nearby water sources from plastic waste in landfills and other environments. A 2020 study found that terrestrial microplastic pollution decreased species diversity, leading to less fertile soil and land. Chlorinated plastic can release harmful chemicals into the surrounding soil and groundwater, contaminating the food chain.
The global production and consumption of plastic continue to soar, but we are not disposing of and recycling plastics at the same rate. Plastic pollution jumped from two million tonnes in 1950 to 348 million tonnes in 2017 and is projected to double by 2040. About 11 million tonnes of land-based plastic waste enter the ocean each year, and this statistic is expected to triple in less than 20 years. Urgent action is needed to address the plastic pollution crisis and protect unprotected wild lands and their wildlife from its devastating effects.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic pollution affects all wildlife, including those in the ocean and on land. It is a major driver of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation and contributes to climate change. Plastic can cause intestinal injury and death in animals and can transfer up the food chain to bigger fish, marine mammals and humans. It can also choke and starve animals by making them feel full after eating plastic.
Marine wildlife is affected by plastic pollution in a variety of ways, from entanglement and injury to ingestion and toxic contamination. Large items of plastic can trap and entangle marine mammals and fish, leading to starvation, injury and vulnerability to predators. Small plastic fragments can be mistaken for food by seabirds and other marine species, leading to suffocation, starvation and toxic contamination.
Land animals, such as elephants, hyenas, zebras, tigers, camels and cattle, can accidentally consume plastic waste, leading to intestinal blockages and damage, and often death. Microplastics can also enter land ecosystems through sewage, which is often used as fertiliser, causing the dispersion of microplastics in the soil.
