Chloe Zhang
Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that poses a grave threat to various animal species, causing immense harm and loss of life. Marine animals are particularly vulnerable to the detrimental effects of plastic pollution, with ingestion and entanglement being the primary causes of death. Approximately 1 million seabirds and 100,000 sea mammals, turtles, and fish die from plastic annually, according to estimates. The impact of plastic pollution extends beyond marine life, as terrestrial animals are also affected by microplastics that leech into the soil and water sources from landfills and other environments. The presence of microplastics in the environment has been linked to a decline in species diversity and fertility, posing a threat to the delicate balance of ecosystems.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of marine animals killed by plastic ingestion or entanglement each year | 100,000 sea mammals, turtles and fish, 1 million seabirds |
| Number of plastic pieces in the ocean | 46,000 pieces of plastic in every square mile of ocean |
| Number of plastic pieces dumped into the ocean daily | 13,000 to 15,000 |
| Number of plastic pieces in the world's seas | 51 trillion microplastic particles |
| Percentage of plastic ingested by marine and coastal species | 800+ species impacted, with 86% of sea turtles, 44% of seabirds, 43% of marine mammals, 60% of all seabird species, 98% of albatrosses, 15% of young loggerhead turtles, 32% of albatrosses, petrels, and shearwaters |
| Number of cetaceans entangled and killed by discarded fishing gear | 300,000 |
| Percentage of fish stocks that have ingested plastic as of 2018 | 50% |
| Number of zooplankton consuming microplastics | 0.1 micrometers |
| Percentage of animals washed up on British shores with plastic in their stomachs | 100% |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic ingestion blocks digestive tracts, pierces organs, and causes starvation
Plastic ingestion is a significant cause of animal deaths, with around 100,000 marine animals killed annually due to plastic ingestion or entanglement. This number is likely an underestimate, as many animals that die from plastic ingestion may decompose at the bottom of the ocean before being discovered.
Plastic ingestion can block digestive tracts, causing intestinal injury and obstruction. In 2018, a juvenile sperm whale was found dead on a beach in Spain with 30 kilograms of plastic in its digestive tract, causing inflammation and likely immense suffering. Similarly, studies have found that up to 50% of sea turtles have ingested plastic, with some young turtles having consumed such large amounts that their digestive systems were obstructed.
Plastic can also pierce and damage internal organs. For example, an eight-year study of Steller sea lions found that plastic debris caused severe infections and even death. Another example is the Laysan albatross, with an estimated 98% of those studied found to have ingested plastic, which can puncture their internal organs.
Plastic ingestion also leads to starvation in animals. Seabirds, in particular, are affected, as plastic fills their stomachs, leading to a reduced feeling of hunger and subsequent weakening. Sea turtles can also mistake plastic for food, choking and causing them to feel full, ultimately leading to starvation.
Overall, plastic ingestion has devastating consequences for wildlife, causing blockages, piercing organs, and leading to starvation and death in many cases. The impact of plastic pollution on animal life is widespread and severe, and it is essential to address this issue to protect vulnerable species.
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Animals get entangled in plastic and die
Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that poses a grave threat to various animal species, causing immense harm and loss of life. Animals get entangled in plastic debris, such as discarded fishing gear, nets, and other plastic waste, which can lead to their death. This entanglement can cause drowning, choking, strangulation, physical trauma, or infection.
A report by the ocean conservation group Oceana found that nearly 1,800 animals from 40 different species became entangled in or swallowed plastic between 2009 and 2018. This included endangered and threatened species such as Hawaiian monk seals, Stellar sea lions, manatees, and sea turtles. The report also revealed that plastic affected animals at all life stages, from recently hatched sea turtles to adult marine mammals with nursing pups.
Entanglement in plastic can have devastating consequences for marine life. For example, a sea turtle drowned after a plastic bag filled with sand wrapped around its neck, and a baby sea turtle got stuck in plastic on a beach in Florida. In another case, a spinner dolphin was seen with plastic around its nose, unable to break free. These are just a few examples of the tragic impact of plastic pollution on marine animals.
The impact of plastic pollution on wildlife is not limited to marine animals. Land-based mammals, including elephants, hyenas, zebras, tigers, camels, and cattle, have also suffered unnecessary deaths from ingesting plastic waste. Plastic debris can block their digestive tracts, pierce internal organs, and cause intestinal damage, leading to fatal outcomes.
The problem of animals getting entangled in plastic is a pressing issue that requires urgent attention. It is essential to reduce plastic consumption, especially single-use plastic, and promote proper waste disposal and recycling to minimize the devastating impact on wildlife.
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Plastic waste contains toxic chemicals
Plastic waste is detrimental to wildlife and the environment. It is estimated that about 11 million tonnes of land-based plastic waste enter the ocean each year, with 800+ marine and coastal species impacted by entanglement and ingestion. Animals can mistake plastic for food, leading to intestinal blockages, pierced internal organs, and reduced stomach storage volume. This can result in choking, starvation, and death.
The impact of plastic waste on animal life is not limited to physical obstruction. Plastic waste contains toxic chemicals, such as dioxins, furans, mercury, and polychlorinated biphenyls, which are released into the atmosphere when plastic is burned. These toxic substances pose a threat to human, animal, and environmental health. For example, dioxins are lethal persistent organic pollutants that cause cancer and neurological damage.
Microplastics, tiny plastic particles less than five millimetres long, are another concern. They can pass through animals' digestive systems and have been found in hundreds of species, including sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals. Tests have confirmed that microplastics can cause liver and cell damage and disrupt reproductive systems. Chlorinated plastic, such as food packaging and medical devices, can also release harmful chemicals into the soil and groundwater, contaminating the food we grow and impacting wildlife.
The presence of microplastics in the environment is widespread, with particles found in fruit, vegetables, and water sources. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), an average person may ingest approximately 5 grams of plastic every week. While research on the health impacts of plastic is ongoing, initial findings indicate that plastic causes diseases, disabilities, and premature death. The toxic chemical additives and pollutants found in plastics pose a significant threat to human health on a global scale.
Addressing plastic pollution requires collective action and education. It is essential to recognize the harmful effects of plastic on animal life and take steps to reduce, recycle, and properly dispose of plastic waste to protect wildlife and the environment.
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Microplastics are eaten by animals and passed up the food chain
Microplastics are a major concern for animals and are now found in almost every part of the environment, including the oceans, soils, and the food we eat. They are particularly harmful to marine life, with plastic ingestion causing the deaths of about 100,000 marine animals each year.
Microplastics are small plastic particles that are less than five millimetres long. They are often consumed by marine animals who mistake them for food. These particles can pass through the digestive systems of animals and can be expelled without consequence. However, they can also accumulate in the bodies of animals, leading to health issues.
One way that microplastics enter the food chain is through the consumption of contaminated food. For example, microplastics have been found in fruits and vegetables, with apples and pears having an average of 195,500 and 189,500 particles per gram, respectively. They can also contaminate food crops directly, as plastic serves as a vector for plant uptake of toxic chemicals. This means that when plants take up nutrients from the soil, they can also take up microplastics and associated toxins.
Another way that microplastics enter the food chain is through the consumption of contaminated water. Plastic waste in landfills can leech into nearby water sources, and plastic waste in the ocean can be consumed by marine animals. For example, nanoplastics in algae are eaten by water fleas, which are then eaten by fish. This process is known as "trophic transfer" and allows microplastics to move through the food chain. As larger animals consume smaller animals that have ingested microplastics, they also ingest the microplastics and any associated toxins.
The accumulation of microplastics in the bodies of animals can have negative health consequences. Tests have shown that the presence of microplastics can cause liver and cell damage, as well as disruptions to reproductive systems. In addition, the ingestion of microplastics can block digestive tracts and pierce internal organs, leading to starvation and death. As microplastics move up the food chain, the potential damage is amplified.
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Plastic pollution affects hundreds of species and millions of animals
Plastic pollution has a detrimental and deadly impact on hundreds of species and millions of animals. It is estimated that over 46,000 pieces of plastic are present in every square mile of the ocean, with about 8 to 10 million tons of plastic entering the water each year. This plastic pollution does not simply disappear but breaks down into microplastics, which are then ingested by marine life.
Marine animals, mistaking plastic for food, eat plastic debris, which blocks their intestinal tracts and causes internal injuries. This ingestion can also lead to starvation as it reduces the storage volume of the stomach, giving the animal a false sense of fullness. Sea turtles, for example, are severely affected by this, with research indicating that half of sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic, resulting in declining populations. Another study found plastic obstruction in the digestive systems of 15% of young Loggerhead turtles.
The problem of ingestion is not limited to sea turtles but extends to other marine species as well. Zooplankton, the primary food source for whales, is now consuming microplastics, leading to whales eating more plastic than ever. Seabirds are also severely impacted, with millions of deaths occurring annually. The Laysan albatross, in particular, has a 98% ingestion rate due to its hunting technique of diving into the ocean and skimming the surface with its beak.
Beyond ingestion, animals also face the threat of entanglement in plastic debris. Discarded fishing gear has entangled and killed 300,000 cetaceans, and an eight-year study documented 388 sea lions entangled in plastic, leading to severe infections and death. Plastic pollution not only affects marine life but also terrestrial animals. Microplastics leech into the soil and water sources, leading to a decrease in species that live below the surface, such as mites, larvae, and other tiny creatures.
The impact of plastic pollution is far-reaching, with scientists finding plastic in 100% of animals washed up on British shores. It is estimated that plastic kills 1 million seabirds and 100,000 sea mammals, turtles, and fish annually. With the continued rise in plastic production and consumption, the consequences for wildlife will only become more dire unless we address our unsustainable plastic reliance.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic kills animals in a variety of ways. It can block their digestive tracts, pierce their internal organs, or choke them. It can also make them feel full, leading to starvation. Plastic can also cause liver and cell damage, as well as disrupt reproductive systems.
About 8 to 10 million tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, with over 46,000 pieces of plastic in every square mile of ocean.
Marine animals can ingest plastic or become entangled in it. It is estimated that 1 million seabirds and 100,000 sea mammals, turtles, and fish die from plastic annually.
Plastic in the ocean comes from a variety of sources, including discarded fishing gear, plastic packaging, and plastic waste from landfills. Takeout food is also a major contributor to ocean plastic, with nearly 50% of ocean plastics coming from this source.
To reduce the impact of plastic on animal deaths, it is important to reduce plastic pollution, especially in the ocean. This can be done through education, recycling, and supporting sustainable practices and products.
