Brian Barton
Plastic pollution in the Northern Pacific Ocean is a pressing environmental issue. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located between Hawaii and California, is the largest accumulation of plastic in the world. It is estimated to be twice the size of Texas and contains 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic larger than 0.5mm. The majority of plastic pollution in the ocean is caused by littering and improper waste disposal, with plastic waste making up 80% of all marine pollution. Rivers are a significant source of ocean plastic pollution, and the durability of plastic means that once it enters the ocean, it persists for long periods, breaking down into microplastics that are often ingested by marine animals. This has devastating consequences for marine life and ecosystems, with thousands of seabirds, sea turtles, seals, and other marine mammals dying each year due to plastic ingestion or entanglement.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Between Hawaii and California |
| Size | Twice the size of Texas, triple the size of France or Thailand |
| Plastic mass | 100 million kilograms |
| Number of plastic pieces | 1.8 trillion pieces larger than 0.5mm |
| Percentage of plastic pieces larger than 0.5mm | 92% |
| Percentage of microplastics | 8% |
| Main sources of plastic | Rivers, fishing gear |
| Percentage of plastic in the GPGP from fishing activities | 80% |
| Percentage of plastic waste in the ocean from industrial fishing | 20% |
| Percentage of plastic waste that is recycled | 10% |
| Number of species affected by plastic pollution | 914 |
| Number of endangered species affected by plastic pollution | 100+ |
| Number of sea bird species that have eaten plastic | 60% |
| Number of sea turtles that have ingested plastic | 50% |
| Number of animals killed by plastic annually | Thousands |
| Number of marine species killed by plastic annually | Millions |
| Number of species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species affected by plastic | 17% |
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What You'll Learn
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
The GPGP is often compared to a plastic soup, as the plastic pollution is scattered and does not form a solid mass. Around 100 million kilograms of plastic float in the GPGP, with 1.8 trillion pieces larger than 0.5mm. Of this, 92% is made up of larger objects, with only 8% being microplastics. However, microplastics are extremely difficult to remove once they form, and they are often mistaken for food by marine animals.
The plastic in the GPGP comes from a variety of sources. While rivers are the main source of ocean plastic pollution, the GPGP is unique in that around 80% of its plastic comes from fishing activities at sea. This includes items such as buoys, eel traps, crates, nets, and oyster spacers. The durability of plastic means that once it enters the ocean, it will persist there for long periods. The oldest pieces of plastic found in the GPGP date back to the 1960s and 1970s, with plastic production only increasing since then.
The impact of the GPGP on marine life is devastating. Entanglement and ingestion of plastic have been found to impact 914 megafaunal species, with more than 100 of these being endangered. Thousands of seabirds and sea turtles, seals, and other marine mammals are killed each year due to plastic pollution. Marine life that ingests plastic can suffer internal injuries, starvation, and intestinal injury, and the chemicals from the plastic can enter the human food chain through a process called bioaccumulation. The economic costs of plastic in the ocean are estimated to be between $6-19 billion USD annually, impacting tourism, fisheries, and aquaculture.
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Plastic's durability and persistence
Plastic pollution in the ocean has become a global crisis. Billions of pounds of plastic can be found in swirling convergences that make up about 40% of the world's ocean surfaces. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located between Hawaii and California, is the largest accumulation of plastic in the world. It is estimated to be twice the size of Texas and contains around 100 million kilograms of plastic, with 1.8 trillion pieces larger than 0.5mm.
Plastic's durability is one of its biggest assets as a material. However, this durability becomes a liability when plastic ends up in the ocean, where it persists for long periods. The EPA reports that "every bit of plastic ever made still exists". The oldest pieces of plastic found in ocean clean-up efforts date back to the 1960s, and marine life continues to bear the consequences.
The durability of plastic contributes to its persistence in the ocean. Factors such as wind speed, sea state, and plastic buoyancy influence the vertical mixing of plastic in the water column. Buoyant plastic will eventually float back to the surface in calmer seas, and larger pieces resurface more rapidly than smaller ones. The persistence of plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is evident through the identification of plastic type and age.
Over time, plastic in the ocean will break down into smaller microplastics due to sun exposure, waves, marine life, and temperature changes. These microplastics are difficult to remove and are often mistaken for food by marine animals, entering the marine food web. Chemicals from plastics can accumulate in the bodies of animals, transferring up the food chain to larger predators, including humans.
The impact of plastic pollution on marine life is devastating. Entanglement and ingestion of plastic have affected thousands of species, including endangered wildlife such as Hawaiian monk seals and Pacific loggerhead sea turtles. It is estimated that nearly every species of seabird has ingested plastic, with starvation occurring due to reduced stomach storage volume. The presence of plastic in the ocean also contributes to the destruction of ecosystems and climate change, as incineration of plastic waste releases carbon dioxide and methane, worsening global warming.
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Impact on marine life
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located in the North Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and California, is the largest accumulation of plastic in the world. It is estimated to be twice the size of Texas and contains around 100 million kilograms of plastic, with 1.8 trillion pieces larger than 0.5 mm. The plastic in this patch enters the marine food web and contaminates the human food chain through a process called bioaccumulation. Chemicals in plastics enter the body of the animal feeding on the plastic, and as that animal becomes prey, the chemicals pass to the predator, making their way up the food web to humans.
Plastic pollution in the North Pacific Ocean has a detrimental impact on marine life. One of the biggest issues is entanglement, which has been found to impact 914 megafaunal species, including endangered species such as the Mediterranean monk seal. Monk seals often die from entanglement in fishing gear, which is the second leading cause of death for this species after deliberate killing. Sea turtles also fall victim to entanglement, often from six-pack rings that get caught around their shells and necks.
Ingestion of plastic is another major issue, with thousands of marine animals dying from eating plastic. Fish in the North Pacific ingest 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic each year, which can cause intestinal injury and death. Sea turtles can choke or sustain internal injuries from ingesting plastic, and they may also starve as plastic gives them a false sense of fullness. Research indicates that half of the sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic.
Seabirds are also affected, with plastic ingestion reducing the storage volume of their stomachs, leading to starvation. It is estimated that 60% of all seabird species have eaten plastic, and this number is predicted to increase to 99% by 2050. Dead seabirds are often found with stomachs full of plastic, reflecting the rapid increase in ocean plastic pollution over the past 40 years.
Microplastics are a significant concern as they are often mistaken for food by marine animals. They can adsorb up to one million times more toxic chemicals than the water around them, and these chemicals bioaccumulate in the fatty tissues of animals, leading to biomagnification as they move up the food chain. Orcas, for example, have been found with high levels of chemicals in their fatty tissues and breast milk.
The impact of plastic pollution on marine life in the North Pacific Ocean is widespread and severe, affecting a variety of species from fish to seabirds, sea turtles, seals, and even apex predators such as orcas and great white sharks.
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Plastic entering the food chain
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located in the North Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and California, is the largest accumulation of plastic in the world. It is not a solid island of trash but rather a plastic soup, with plastic pollution scattered throughout the patch. The durability of plastic means that once it enters the ocean, it persists for long periods, with the oldest pieces found dating back to the 1960s.
Plastic pollution in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch poses risks to the health and safety of marine animals and humans. Marine animals, such as sea turtles, seabirds, fish, crustaceans, and marine mammals, can ingest plastic or become entangled in it, leading to internal injuries, choking, and death. For example, research indicates that half of the sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic, mistaking it for food, and it has been found in the stomachs of one out of every three lancetfish studied. Additionally, plastic ingestion can reduce the storage volume of the stomach, leading to starvation.
Plastic pollution in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch also has economic implications. The contamination of marine food webs with plastic debris and associated chemicals poses a substantial risk to marine organisms, food webs, and the ecosystem. Through a process called bioaccumulation, chemicals from plastics enter the body of an animal feeding on the plastic and pass up the food chain to predators, including humans. These chemicals can interfere with hormones, causing reproductive, neurological, and immune disorders.
Microplastics, which make up a small portion of the mass in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, are of particular concern. Due to their small size, they are often mistaken for food by marine animals, including filter feeders like larvaceans and red crabs, which collect food using a bubble of mucus. These microplastics are very difficult to remove once they enter the ocean and can spread quickly through the food chain.
The presence of plastic in the food chain is not limited to marine life but can also be found in meat and seafood consumed by humans. Fish in the North Pacific ingest 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic each year, transferring it to bigger fish, marine mammals, and ultimately human seafood eaters. This has led to concerns about the potential health impacts of consuming seafood contaminated with plastics and their associated chemicals.
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Sources of plastic pollution
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located between Hawaii and California, is the largest accumulation of plastic in the world. It is a gyre of marine debris particles, situated in the central North Pacific Ocean. The patch is not a solid mass but a widely dispersed area consisting primarily of suspended "fingernail-sized or smaller"—often microscopic—particles in the upper water column known as microplastics.
The plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch comes from a variety of sources. Rivers are the main source of ocean plastic pollution, with 80% of plastic emitted from rivers into the oceans coming from just 1000 rivers worldwide. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is unique in that most of its plastic comes from the sea, with about 80% originating from fishing activities. This includes buoys, eel traps, crates, nets, and oyster spacers. The remaining 20% comes from land-based sources. A 2018 study reported that synthetic fishing nets made up nearly half of the mass of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
The majority of plastic pollution in the ocean is caused by littering, with disposable plastic items such as food wrappings, plastic bags, razors, and bottles ending up in waterways and eventually in the ocean. Improper manufacturing processes and industrial fishing are also significant contributors, with about 20% of ocean plastic pollution stemming from these activities.
The persistence of plastic in the ocean is due to its durability. The EPA reports that "every bit of plastic ever made still exists", and plastic production is projected to continue increasing. This means that plastic will continue to accumulate in the ocean, causing devastating impacts on marine life and ecosystems.
The ingestion of plastic by marine animals is a significant issue, with half of sea turtles worldwide and 35% of fish in a 2008 Pacific Gyre voyage found to have ingested plastic. Plastic ingestion can lead to internal injuries, starvation, and death. It also contributes to the contamination of the human food chain, as chemicals from ingested plastic can pass through the marine food web to humans.
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Frequently asked questions
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the largest accumulation of plastic in the world, located in the North Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and California. It is not a solid island of trash, but a plastic soup, with around 100 million kilograms of plastic floating in it.
Plastic pollution in the North Pacific Ocean is caused by a combination of littering, industrial fishing, and improper manufacturing processes. Rivers are the main source of ocean plastic pollution, but plastic waste can also enter the ocean from coastal regions and ships. Once in the ocean, plastic is carried by ocean currents and winds, which cause it to accumulate in convergence zones like the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre.
Plastic pollution in the North Pacific Ocean has devastating impacts on marine life and ecosystems. It causes the death of thousands of seabirds, sea turtles, seals, and other marine mammals through ingestion or entanglement. It also enters the marine food web, contaminating the human food chain through a process called bioaccumulation.
To reduce plastic pollution in the North Pacific Ocean, it is crucial to prevent plastics from entering waterways through improved waste management systems, better product design, and reduced use of single-use plastics. Increasing recycling rates and regulating plastics as a pollutant are also important measures to address this issue.
