Brian Barton
Plastic pollution in the ocean is a pressing issue that poses a significant threat to marine life. Marine animals, such as seabirds, sea turtles, seals, whales, and other marine mammals, are vulnerable to the harmful effects of plastic pollution, which can lead to their demise. The ingestion of plastic and entanglement in plastic debris or abandoned fishing gear are the two primary ways in which pollution poses a fatal risk to these creatures. Plastic pollution has far-reaching consequences, not only for marine ecosystems but also for human health, as contaminants can accumulate in seafood consumed by people. The impact of plastic pollution on marine life underscores the urgency of addressing this environmental crisis through preventative measures, improved waste management, and a shift in how we produce, consume, and dispose of plastic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Marine debris | Plastic, derelict fishing gear, oil spills |
| How it affects marine life | Ingestion, entanglement, toxic contamination, starvation, injury, infection, predator vulnerability, smothering and breaking coral reefs |
| Number of marine mammals killed by plastic annually | 100,000 |
| Percentage of whale, dolphin and porpoise species that have consumed plastic | 56% |
| Number of marine bird species that have eaten plastic | 60% |
| Percentage of plastic in the Pacific Garbage Patch that is made from fishing lines | 46% |
| Amount of plastic in the body of a juvenile Cuvier's beaked whale | 88 pounds or 40 kilograms |
| Amount of plastic that enters the ocean annually | 8 million tonnes |
| Amount of plastic that enters the ocean annually that is ghost fishing equipment | 640,000 tonnes |
| Amount of plastic that leaks into Australian oceans annually | 130,000 tonnes |
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What You'll Learn
Ingesting plastic
Plastic ingestion is a major cause of death for many sea animals. It is estimated that plastic pollution kills 100,000 marine mammals every year. Research indicates that half of sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic, mistaking it for prey. This ingestion can lead to intestinal blockages and internal injuries, causing slow and painful starvation. Sea turtles that ingest just 14 pieces of plastic have an increased risk of death. The young are especially at risk as they tend to drift with currents, just as plastic does.
Seabirds are also highly affected by plastic pollution, mistaking small plastic fragments on the water's surface for food. It is estimated that 60% of all seabird species have eaten plastic, with that number predicted to increase to 99% by 2050. Ingesting plastic can lead to starvation as it fills up their stomachs, or suffocation. Some seabirds are able to regurgitate plastic, but others, like petrels, find this difficult. Dead seabirds have been found with stomachs full of plastic, and they have also been observed feeding plastic to their young.
Fish are also impacted by plastic pollution, with over two-thirds of 500 studied fish species having consumed plastic. Molluscs such as mussels and oysters ingest microplastics when filtering seawater to feed. Even apex predators like great white sharks and orcas are at risk from the cumulative impact of microplastics in the food chain and the bioaccumulation of toxic chemicals found in plastics.
Plastic in the ocean also affects larger marine mammals. It is estimated that 56% of the planet's whale, dolphin and porpoise species have consumed plastic. Plastic debris can cause internal injuries and infections, and entanglement can lead to drowning. Rare species such as the humpback dolphin have been observed with plastic tightly wrapped around their bodies.
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Entanglement in plastic
Plastic pollution has a direct and deadly impact on marine wildlife. Entanglement in plastic debris has led to injury and mortality in several marine species. Plastic debris in the ocean comes from human activities, such as littering, poor waste management, storm water discharge, and natural events like hurricanes and tsunamis. Some debris, like derelict fishing gear, is ocean-based and continues to capture and kill wildlife, damaging their habitats and active fishing gear.
Sea turtles, for instance, often mistake floating plastic garbage for food. They choke, sustain internal injuries, or starve by thinking they are full from eating plastic. Plastic bags, bottles, balloons, and packaging materials contribute to this debris. Large plastics break down into smaller, more toxic pieces that are more easily ingested and act as hosts for invasive species. Certain plastics contain toxic additives that are distributed into the water and enter the food chain.
Endangered wildlife, such as Hawaiian monk seals and Pacific loggerhead sea turtles, are among the nearly 700 species that eat and get entangled in plastic litter. Large amounts of plastic debris have been found in the habitats of these critically endangered seals, including areas that serve as pup nurseries. Similarly, entanglement in plastic has led to injury and death in the endangered Steller sea lion, with packing bands being the most common entangling material.
Marine mammals, such as whales, also ingest and get tangled up in plastic. Dead whales have been found with bellies full of plastic. Seabirds are another victim of plastic ingestion, which reduces their stomach storage volume, causing starvation. It is estimated that 60% of all seabird species have eaten plastic, with that number predicted to rise to 99% by 2050.
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Plastic toxicity
Ingestion
Plastic waste in the ocean is often mistaken for food by marine animals. Sea turtles, for example, frequently eat plastic bags and balloons, which resemble their natural prey, such as jellyfish. Seabirds also fall victim to this, with plastic debris sitting on the water's surface being consumed. This can lead to intestinal injuries, choking, and starvation. As plastic does not decompose quickly, it can remain in the animal's stomach, giving a false sense of fullness, leading to starvation. This phenomenon has been observed in sea turtles and albatross chicks, with devastating consequences.
Furthermore, the ingestion of plastic can cause a condition called "plasticosis", where the rough edges of plastic create internal injuries and scarring (fibrosis). This scarring impairs the digestive abilities of seabirds, making it difficult for them to obtain the necessary nutrients for survival and reproduction.
Plastics also have the ability to adsorb toxins, which can then transfer to the fatty tissues of animals that ingest them, leading to toxic contamination.
Entanglement
Large pieces of plastic, such as fishing gear, ropes, and nets, can entangle marine mammals and fish, restricting their movement, causing injuries, and making them vulnerable to predators. Entanglement can also lead to drowning, especially for marine mammals that need to surface to breathe, such as dolphins and seals.
The impact of plastic toxicity extends beyond the individual animals affected. It has been estimated that by 2050, the weight of ocean plastics will exceed the combined weight of all the fish in the seas. This crisis is not limited to the oceans, as plastic microfibers have been found in a quarter of fish sold in California markets, transferring up the food chain to larger fish, marine mammals, and eventually human seafood eaters.
Addressing the plastic toxicity crisis requires urgent action, including reducing plastic leakage into the environment, making plastics less toxic, and promoting reuse, repurposing, and recycling.
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Microplastics in the food chain
Plastic pollution has a direct and deadly effect on marine life. Marine animals often mistake plastic debris for food, leading to intestinal injuries, starvation, and death. Plastic pollution also entangles marine animals, causing injury and mortality. These issues are not limited to a few species, as hundreds of marine species are negatively impacted by plastic pollution.
Microplastics, a significant form of plastic pollution, have been detected in the human and animal food chain, with marine life such as fish and shellfish consuming them. Microplastics are microscopic plastic particles that can easily spread to various environments, including remote areas. They originate from the breakdown of larger plastic items and are also intentionally manufactured for specific purposes. The plastic industry has generated waste since the 1950s, and the annual production of plastics has grown exponentially, leading to widespread contamination.
The presence of microplastics in the food chain poses health risks to both marine life and humans. In marine organisms, microplastics can cause intestinal damage and transfer toxic chemicals and microorganisms. They can also accumulate in the cells and tissues of living organisms, leading to potential health hazards such as gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory problems, and even cancer. The impact of microplastics on human health is still being studied, but initial findings suggest they may increase the likelihood of heart attacks, strokes, and death.
Microplastics enter the food chain through various pathways. They are found in the ocean, where they are ingested by marine life, and they also make their way onto farmland through sewage sludge used as fertilizer, eventually reaching waterways through runoff. Microplastics have been detected in various foodstuffs, including honey, tea, sugar, fruit, and vegetables. The use of plastic in agriculture, textile production, consumer items, and health and personal care products contributes significantly to microplastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems.
The pervasive nature of microplastics in the food chain underscores the urgency of addressing plastic pollution. While some countries have implemented bans or taxes on plastic bags, more concerted efforts are needed to tackle this global issue. Standard protocols for the collection, quantification, and characterization of microplastics are essential to understanding and mitigating their impact on the environment and human health.
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Oil spills
One of the most common ways oil spills harm marine life is through ingestion. Animals may swallow oil directly or consume prey that has been exposed to oil. Oil can also mix with water, affecting fish gills and making it difficult for them to breathe, and can damage the liver and kidneys, cause anemia, suppress the immune system, and induce reproductive failure. In some cases, oil spills can even lead to direct mortality.
Marine mammals, such as dolphins and whales, are particularly vulnerable to oil spills as they spend a lot of time near the surface of the water, where oil floats. They can inhale oil, which can affect their lungs, immune function, and reproduction. Oil can also destroy the insulating ability of fur-bearing mammals, such as sea otters, exposing them to hypothermia.
Sea turtles are also highly susceptible to oil spills, from eggs laid on beaches to juveniles and adults. They can inhale oil fumes and swallow oil when breathing at the ocean's surface in or near oil slicks. Oil can also cause developmental impairments in sea turtle embryos, leading to lower hatching rates.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic pollution kills sea animals in two main ways: ingestion and entanglement. Marine animals ingest plastic when they mistake it for food or when microplastics enter the food chain. Entanglement in plastic debris can also lead to injury, infection, and death.
Ingesting plastic can cause intestinal injury and death. It can also reduce the storage volume of the stomach, leading to starvation. Plastic can also contain toxic additives that enter the food chain and cause harm.
Entanglement in plastic debris can lead to injury and death. It can also make animals more vulnerable to predators.
It is difficult to know the exact amount of plastic in the ocean, but it is estimated that 640,000 tonnes of plastic enter the ocean each year. Plastic pollution is present in all five of the Earth's major ocean gyres, with the Great Pacific Garbage Patch being the largest accumulation of plastic in the world.
