Plastic Pollution: How It's Harming Our Oceans

Plastic pollution in the ocean is a pressing global crisis. It is estimated that 11 to 13 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, with plastic debris impacting at least 267 species worldwide. The sources of this plastic pollution are varied, with 80% coming from land-based sources such as litter, construction, and industrial facilities, and 20% from ocean-based sources like discarded fishing gear and overboard discharges from ships. Once in the water, plastic slowly decomposes into microplastics, which are ingested by marine life, leading to fatalities. The effects of plastic pollution are pervasive, with plastic found in the deepest trenches and most remote coastlines, and the problem is expected to worsen without large-scale systemic change.

Plastic pollution kills marine life

Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that affects all land, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. It is a significant contributor to biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, and climate change. The ocean, in particular, is extremely vulnerable to plastic waste. Once plastic enters the ocean, it can travel vast distances, accumulating in gyres or becoming embedded in shorelines and coastal ecosystems. The durability of plastic means that it never truly biodegrades, instead breaking down into smaller and smaller pieces, known as microplastics, over time. These microplastics can be smaller than a grain of sand, making it nearly impossible to retrieve plastic pollution from the ocean.

Plastic pollution in the ocean has severe and deadly effects on marine life. It is estimated that plastic pollution has impacted at least 267 species worldwide, including sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals. One of the primary ways plastic kills marine life is through ingestion. Wildlife such as birds, whales, fish, and turtles mistake plastic waste for food, leading to internal injuries, starvation, and even death. Plastic reduces the storage volume of the stomach, giving a false sense of fullness, and can also release toxins that are harmful to marine organisms. Research indicates that half of sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic, and plastic has been found in the stomachs of dead seabirds. Additionally, adults inadvertently feed plastic to their chicks, negatively impacting their growth and survival.

Another consequence of plastic pollution is entanglement, where marine animals become trapped in plastic debris such as derelict fishing nets, leading to injuries, suffocation, or drowning. Endangered species, such as the Hawaiian monk seal, are among those affected by entanglement and ingestion of plastic litter. Plastic pollution also contributes to the spread of invasive species, further threatening native marine life.

The impact of plastic pollution on marine life is not limited to direct ingestion or entanglement. Floating plastics in the ocean accumulate pollutants and transport them through ocean currents. Marine life that ingests these plastics coated with pollutants can absorb these toxins into their bodies. This phenomenon, known as biomagnification, results in a higher concentration of toxins in organisms higher up the food chain, such as apex predators like orcas and great white sharks.

Addressing the plastic pollution crisis requires urgent action on multiple fronts. Prevention is crucial, including reducing the generation of disposable products, properly disposing of waste, and advocating for policy changes to reduce plastic production and promote sustainable alternatives. Organizations like the Center for Biological Diversity are petitioning environmental protection agencies to regulate plastics as hazardous pollutants and pushing for better control of plastic runoff from companies. It is essential to recognize that plastic pollution is a global issue that requires international cooperation and commitment to mitigate its deadly effects on marine life.

Plastic waste enters the human food chain

Plastic waste in the ocean is a significant and growing problem. In the first decade of the 21st century, more plastic was produced than in the entire history of plastic production up to the year 2000. Billions of pounds of plastic end up in the oceans each year, and it is estimated that there are now 15–51 trillion pieces of plastic in the world's oceans. The problem is so severe that plastic is expected to outweigh all the fish in the sea by 2050.

Plastic waste in the ocean enters the human food chain in various ways. Firstly, marine organisms, such as fish, ingest plastic fragments and debris. Research from 2008 found that 35% of the 672 fish caught during a Pacific Gyre voyage had ingested plastic pieces. This ingestion of plastic by marine life represents a direct entry of plastic into the human food chain, as humans consume these fish.

Secondly, plastic waste can enter the human food chain indirectly through the transfer of microplastics within the ecosystem. Microplastics are small plastic particles less than 5mm in size, which can come from larger plastics breaking down or be produced as small plastics, such as microbeads found in personal care products. These microplastics are easily ingested by marine and terrestrial organisms, which are then consumed by humans, thus entering the human food chain.

For example, a study found that chicken gizzards intended for human consumption were contaminated with an average of 10.2 ± 13.8 microplastic particles. Additionally, land birds that eat worms have been found to ingest microplastics, as worms absorb microplastics from the soil. This demonstrates how plastic waste can enter the human food chain through multiple pathways.

The presence of plastic in the human food chain poses significant health risks. Microplastics can carry toxic chemicals and microorganisms, leading to adverse health effects, including intestinal damage, immune problems, neurotoxicity, and reproductive issues. Furthermore, chemicals used to produce plastic can interfere with human hormones, causing reproductive, neurological, and immune disorders. Therefore, the entry of plastic waste into the human food chain is a serious concern that requires urgent attention and action.

Plastic production is increasing

Plastic is the most common form of marine debris, polluting 40% of the world's ocean surfaces. It is a global crisis that is killing wildlife, with nearly 700 species affected by plastic ingestion and entanglement. The production of plastic has been increasing since the 1950s, with a nearly 230-fold increase in annual production over the last 70 years. In 2019, the world produced 460 million tonnes of plastic, and this number continues to grow, reaching 413.8 million metric tons in 2023. Asia is the largest producer of plastic, with China alone accounting for 32% of global production in 2022. North America is the second-largest producer, with a 17% share in 2022.

Despite efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastic, experts predict that plastic production will increase by 40% in the next decade. This is due to the significant investments made by fossil fuel companies in building plastic production facilities. Over the last seven years, these companies have invested more than $180 billion in expanding their plastic production capacity. This goes against the rising concerns over plastic use and production and could have disastrous consequences for the planet.

The increase in plastic production facilities is directly linked to the rise of fracking and shale gas technologies, which have reduced the costs of producing plastic. The versatility of plastic has led to its widespread use in various products, displacing other materials such as wood, metal, and glass. Plastic packaging is a significant application, contributing to the large volume of plastic waste generated annually. Approximately 350 million tonnes of plastic waste are produced globally each year, and it is estimated that between 1 and 2 million tonnes of this waste enters the oceans annually.

The impact of plastic pollution in the oceans is devastating. Marine plastic pollution has impacted at least 267 species worldwide, including 86% of all sea turtle species, 60% of all seabird species, and 43% of all marine mammal species. Plastic ingestion causes internal injuries, starvation, and death. It also transports pollutants through ocean currents, affecting marine life and the human food chain. As plastic does not fully biodegrade, the accumulation of plastic waste in the oceans will continue to have severe consequences for marine life and the environment.

Plastic waste is often mismanaged

The consequences of plastic pollution in the ocean are dire. Plastic waste kills marine life, including fish, seabirds, and marine mammals, through ingestion, starvation, suffocation, infection, drowning, and entanglement. It has impacted at least 267 species worldwide, including 86% of all sea turtle species, 60% of all seabird species (predicted to increase to 99% by 2050), and 43% of all marine mammal species.

The sources of plastic pollution are varied. Most marine debris (80%) comes from land-based sources, such as litter, construction trash, ports, marinas, and industrial facilities. The remaining 20% comes from ocean-based sources, including overboard discharges from ships and discarded fishing gear. Food containers and packaging are the largest components of municipal solid waste, and single-use plastic items like grocery bags, straws, and beverage bottles are commonly found in the ocean.

The mismanagement of plastic waste is more prevalent in low-to-middle-income countries, which have poorer waste management infrastructure. However, waste management strategies vary across regions, with incineration favoured in Europe and landfills more common in the United States. Despite these efforts, only 9% of the world's plastic waste is recycled, with half going to landfills.

To address the issue of plastic waste mismanagement, there is a critical need to improve waste management practices, especially in poorer countries. Prevention is key, as it is both cost-effective and environmentally beneficial to reduce the generation of disposable products. Additionally, organisations like the Center for Biological Diversity are advocating for the regulation of plastics as hazardous pollutants and taking legal action against companies that contribute to plastic pollution.

Plastic pollution impacts all oceans

Plastic pollution is a global crisis that affects all of Earth's oceans. It is estimated that 11 to 13 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean every year, the equivalent of a garbage truck full of plastic every minute. This plastic pollution comes from a variety of land and ocean-based sources, with 80% of plastic in the ocean originating on land. Land-based sources include litter, trash, and debris from construction, ports, marinas, commercial and industrial facilities, and trash blown out of garbage containers, trucks, and landfills. Ocean-based sources include overboard discharges from ships and discarded fishing gear.

Once in the water, plastic debris can have devastating effects on marine life. It can cause entanglement, ingestion, starvation, suffocation, infection, and drowning. Plastic pollution has impacted at least 267 species worldwide, including 86% of all sea turtle species, 44% of all seabird species, and 43% of all marine mammal species. For example, research indicates that half of the sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic, and plastic ingestion has reduced the storage volume of the stomach, causing starvation. Marine mammals, such as the Hawaiian monk seal, a critically endangered species, are also affected by plastic pollution, with large amounts of plastic debris found in their habitats, including areas that serve as pup nurseries.

Not only does plastic pollution harm marine life, but it also has the potential to pollute the human food chain. Floating plastics in the oceans have been found to accumulate pollutants, which are then ingested by marine life. In a 2008 Pacific Gyre voyage, researchers found that 35% of the fish caught had ingested plastic pieces. Furthermore, microplastics, small plastics less than 5mm in size, can be consumed by small marine species and eventually enter the human food chain.

The impact of plastic pollution in the oceans is widespread and severe. It affects marine life, from large creatures like whales and dolphins to tiny seahorses and coral reefs. It also has the potential to contaminate the human food chain. Addressing this crisis requires large-scale, systemic change, with governments and businesses working together to reduce the flow of plastics into the ocean.

Frequently asked questions