Plastic Pollution: A Deadly Threat To Animal Kingdom

Plastic pollution is a global crisis that has a direct and deadly effect on wildlife. Plastic is everywhere and in everything, and it never goes away. It is estimated that by 2050, plastic will outweigh all the fish in the sea.

Plastic has entered the food chain through fish and other marine animals. It is estimated that tens of thousands of individual marine organisms suffer from entanglement or ingestion of plastics. Plastic consumption can lead to starvation once an animal’s stomach is full of plastic, as well as other negative health effects.

Research has shown that all seven species of sea turtles have ingested plastic. A recent study found that sea turtles that ingest just 14 pieces of plastic have an increased risk of death. Tragically, research indicates that half of sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic.

Like sea turtles, seabirds accidentally ingest plastic both directly and indirectly. Scientists estimate that 60% of all seabird species have eaten pieces of plastic, with that number predicted to increase to 99% by 2050.

Plastic is also harmful to land animals. Plastic pollution and discarded waste can cause intestinal blockages and damage when ingested by land animals, and can be fatal in many instances.

Plastic pollution is devastating to wildlife because it doesn’t simply disappear. It can take hundreds of years to break down into smaller and smaller pieces, which can be easily ingested. Plastic is toxic and can kill wildlife or make them more susceptible to disease.

Plastic ingestion can block digestive tracts or pierce internal organs

Plastic ingestion can have fatal consequences for animals. The ingestion of plastic can block an animal's digestive tract, causing intestinal injury and death. A recent study found that a quarter of fish at markets in California contained plastic in their guts, mostly in the form of plastic microfibers.

Plastic can also pierce an animal's internal organs. In a study of plastic ingestion by fish in the Baltic Sea, plastic was found to pose a risk of mechanical damage to internal organs. This can result in injury and death.

The effects of plastic ingestion on animals are not limited to physical blockage or piercing. Plastic can also cause animals to starve by creating a false sense of fullness. Sea turtles, for example, can choke on plastic or starve by thinking they are full after ingesting it.

Furthermore, plastic ingestion can lead to the transfer of toxic chemicals to animals. As plastic breaks down in the digestive tract, it can release unbound chemicals, monomers, free radicals, or adsorbed organic pollutants. These toxins can then bioaccumulate in the animal's tissues.

The impact of plastic ingestion on animals is widespread and devastating. It affects a wide range of species, including fish, sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals. It is essential to address plastic pollution and reduce the consumption and production of single-use plastics to mitigate the harmful effects on animal health and ecosystems.

Plastic ingestion can lead to starvation

Firstly, plastic can physically block digestive tracts, giving animals the sensation of being full and reducing their urge to eat. This can lead to poor nutrition and starvation over time.

Secondly, plastic ingestion can cause internal injuries and infections, which may make it difficult for animals to hunt for food and feed.

Thirdly, plastic can carry harmful pollutants and chemicals that can enter an animal's body if ingested. These toxins can have serious health consequences, including reduced body condition and physiological changes, and may ultimately lead to starvation if the animal is unable to obtain the necessary nutrients.

Additionally, plastic debris in the ocean can get entangled in the baleen plates of baleen whales, making it difficult for them to feed and potentially leading to starvation.

The impact of plastic ingestion on animal starvation is a growing concern, with research indicating that up to 60% of all seabird species have ingested plastic, and this number is expected to increase to 99% by 2050.

Plastic pollution disrupts marine ecosystems

Plastic pollution is a global crisis that is causing devastating harm to marine ecosystems. Billions of pounds of plastic can be found in swirling convergences that make up about 40% of the world's ocean surfaces. It is estimated that up to 13 million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year, threatening marine life and ecosystems.

Plastic pollution affects all marine life, from microscopic animals to large predators. It has been found in almost every species of whale, and research has shown that all seven species of sea turtles have ingested plastic. Plastic ingestion can block digestive tracts, pierce internal organs, and cause choking and starvation in animals. It can also reduce the storage volume of the stomach, making it difficult for animals to eat. In addition, plastic can entangle animals, leading to injury and death.

Plastic pollution also disrupts marine food chains. It has entered the food chain through fish and other marine animals, ultimately ending up in the human digestive system when we consume seafood. Recent studies have shown traces of microplastics in people too, meaning that plastic pollution is a problem that affects us all.

The problem of plastic pollution is growing, with the fossil fuel industry planning to increase plastic production by 40% over the next decade. Urgent action is needed to address this crisis and protect marine ecosystems and life.

Plastic waste encourages the growth of pathogens in the ocean

Plastic waste is a serious and growing environmental problem. It has been found in almost every species of whale in our oceans. According to a recent study, scientists concluded that corals that come into contact with plastic have an 89% chance of contracting a disease, compared with a 4% likelihood for corals that do not.

The pathogens studied, Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium (Crypto), and Giardia, can infect both humans and animals. They are recognised by the World Health Organization as underestimated causes of illness from shellfish consumption and are found throughout the ocean.

T. gondii, a parasite found only in cat faeces, has infected many ocean species with the disease toxoplasmosis. It has also killed critically endangered wildlife, including Hector's dolphins and Hawaiian monk seals. In people, toxoplasmosis can cause lifelong illnesses, as well as developmental and reproductive disorders.

Crypto and Giardia cause gastrointestinal disease and can be deadly in young children and people who are immunocompromised.

Microplastics are a pathway for pathogens on land to reach the ocean, with likely consequences for human and wildlife health. They can make it easier for disease-causing pathogens to concentrate in plastic-contaminated areas of the ocean.

The presence of pathogenic bacteria on both macroplastics and microplastic surfaces has been well documented in the marine system, such as the family Rhodobacteraceae, the algae group Bacillariophyta, and Members of the Campylobacteraceae.

Plastic pollution affects humans too

Plastic is harmful to human health at every single stage of its life cycle, from extraction and production to consumer use and end of life. Humans are exposed to toxic chemicals and microplastics through inhalation, ingestion, and direct skin contact. It is in our food, water, and air. Everything from salt to honey to beer to seafood has been found to contain microplastics. It is estimated that humans may consume approximately one credit card's worth of plastic every week, and a study published in early 2021 revealed microplastics in the placentas of unborn babies.

The toxic chemical additives and pollutants found in plastics threaten human health on a global scale. Scientifically-proven health effects include causing cancer or changing hormone activity (known as endocrine disruption), which can lead to reproductive, growth, and cognitive impairment. Many of the toxic chemical additives have several other known health impacts, persist in the environment, and bioaccumulate in exposed organisms. Research also revealed that microplastics can harm our health and act as vessels for pathogens to enter our system, increasing the spread of diseases.

The effects of plastic production on human health also have important monetary costs, recently estimated to be more than $250 billion in 2015 globally and more than $920 billion in the USA alone for diseases and disabilities caused by the plastic-associated chemicals PBDE, BPA and DEHP. In 2022, the global cost of plastic-related health effects was estimated at a staggering $100 billion per year.

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