Bronte Wells
Pollution is a pressing issue that poses a significant threat to animal life. From the oceans to the atmosphere, various forms of pollution are having detrimental effects on different species. Marine animals, for instance, face the risk of ingestion or entanglement in plastic and other marine debris, leading to injuries and deaths. Air pollution, on the other hand, contributes to climate change, slowly destroying ecosystems and adversely affecting both wildlife and plants. This highlights the urgent need to address pollution and its impact on the planet's biodiversity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of pollution | Air pollution, ocean plastics pollution, microplastics pollution, nonpoint source pollution, point source pollution |
| Impact on animals | Entanglement, ingestion, intestinal injury and death, liver and cell damage, disrupted reproductive systems, infections, drowning |
| Species affected | Marine mammals, birds, fish, sea turtles, seals, whales, dolphins, porpoises, humpback dolphins, seabirds, terrestrial animals, soil fauna, mites, larvae |
| Source of pollution | Human activities, runoff, septic tanks, vehicles, farms, livestock ranches, timber harvest areas, oil spills, chemical spills, factories, water treatment systems, plastic waste, landfills |
| Mitigation strategies | Banning single-use plastics, improving recycling infrastructure, economic incentives, grassroots resistance, beach cleanups |
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Ingesting plastic
Plastic ingestion is a significant cause of death in animals. It is estimated that plastic kills 100,000 marine mammals every year, with 81 out of 123 marine mammal species known to have ingested plastic. Fish in the North Pacific ingest 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic annually, which can cause intestinal injury and death, and can also be transferred up the food chain to bigger fish, marine mammals, and humans.
Plastic ingestion can block digestive tracts, pierce internal organs, and choke animals. It can also lead to a reduction in stomach storage volume, making it difficult for animals to eat and causing starvation. This was the case with a wild elephant in Periyar, India, which died in 2018 from ingesting plastic discarded by pilgrims. Autopsy results revealed that plastic had blocked the elephant's intestines, causing internal bleeding and organ failure.
Sea turtles are particularly vulnerable to plastic ingestion, with research indicating that half of sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic. They can mistake floating plastic garbage for food, choke on it, sustain internal injuries, or starve by feeling full from eating plastic. A recent study found that sea turtles that ingest just 14 pieces of plastic have an increased risk of death. Young sea turtles are especially at risk as they are less selective about what they eat and tend to drift with ocean currents, just as plastic does.
Plastic pollution is not limited to the oceans; it also affects land animals. There have been reported cases of land-based mammals, including elephants, hyenas, zebras, tigers, camels, and cattle, accidentally consuming plastic waste and dying as a result.
Furthermore, plastic does not fully decompose but breaks down into tiny plastic particles known as microplastics. These microplastics can pass through animals' digestive systems and have been found in hundreds of species, including seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals. Tests have confirmed that microplastics can cause liver and cell damage and disrupt reproductive systems.
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Entanglement in plastic
Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that is causing the deaths of thousands of marine animals every year. Entanglement in plastic is one of the primary ways in which this occurs. Marine animals, such as whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions, and sea turtles, often become entangled in plastic-based fishing gear and other marine debris. This gear includes lost or abandoned fishing nets, lines, and ropes, as well as plastic trash such as bags, balloons, and plastic sheeting.
The plastic can also cut deep into the animals' skin, leading to physical trauma and potentially deadly infections. For example, a Florida manatee likely died due to a plastic bag, straw, string, pantyhose, and fishing line filling its stomach and colon. In another instance, a northern elephant seal in California, nursing a dependent pup, was found with a packing strap around its neck.
The impact of plastic pollution on marine life is a global problem that requires urgent attention. It is essential that we work towards reducing plastic waste and improving the ways we dispose of and recycle plastic materials to protect marine ecosystems and the animals that inhabit them.
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Oil spills
Different types of oils have varying impacts on animals. Light oils, such as gasoline and diesel fuel, are highly volatile and can ignite or explode. They are also toxic and can kill animals, plants, and humans through direct contact or inhalation of fumes. Heavy oils can stick to the feathers of birds and the fur of mammals, leading to hypothermia. Medium oils have varying degrees of toxicity and can persist in the environment for some time.
Marine mammals, such as sea otters, seals, and whales, are particularly vulnerable to oil spills. Their fur or skin can become coated in oil, losing its insulating ability and leaving them susceptible to hypothermia. Additionally, oil can interfere with their ability to maintain temperature balance and fight off diseases, impacting their overall health and survival.
The impact of oil spills on wildlife is widespread and devastating. It is crucial to address and mitigate the effects of oil spills to protect the diverse range of animals that depend on healthy ecosystems for their survival.
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Climate change
One of the ways climate change impacts animals is through the alteration of their habitats and ecosystems. For example, air pollution can change the chemistry and quality of soils and water. Acid rain, a byproduct of air pollution, can make water bodies too acidic for some animals to survive, and it can also increase the release of heavy metals like aluminum and mercury into water habitats, which is toxic to aquatic life. Additionally, higher carbon dioxide concentrations can increase dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in water bodies, promoting the growth of certain algae species. While some algae are essential to aquatic ecosystems, harmful types like cyanobacteria ("blue-green algae") can produce toxic chemicals, threatening fish and other organisms.
Animal agriculture is another significant contributor to climate change. The industry is responsible for releasing large amounts of greenhouse gases, destroying ecosystems, wasting water resources, and polluting water bodies with fertilizers, pesticides, and manure runoff. The vast land requirements for animal agriculture also contribute to habitat loss and biodiversity loss. Additionally, the routine practices in animal farming, such as mutilations and intensive confinement, cause unnecessary suffering and pain to animals.
The effects of climate change on wildlife are expected to intensify in the coming decades. According to predictions, if no significant changes are made to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, a minor mass extinction event, resulting in a 20-50% animal species loss, is likely to occur by approximately 2100 CE.
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Microplastics
The presence of microplastics has been confirmed in hundreds of species, including sea turtles, seabirds, marine mammals, crustaceans, birds, whales, dolphins, and even in Antarctic krill. A study found that krill can break down microplastics into nanoplastics, which are so tiny they can enter cells and cause damage to proteins.
The impact of microplastics on animal health can be physical, chemical, and behavioural. Tests have shown that microplastics can cause liver and cell damage, disrupt reproductive systems, and affect hormone function. Seabirds are particularly at risk, as they can easily mistake microplastic particles for food, leading to choking and starvation when plastic blocks their digestive tracts or pierces internal organs.
Furthermore, microplastics can act as "'Trojan horses,", absorbing and carrying various pollutants and bacteria, which can then enter and lodge in living organisms. The long-term health consequences of chronic exposure to microplastics are still being studied, but the ability of microplastics to absorb and transport chemicals has raised concerns about potential bioaccumulation.
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Frequently asked questions
Marine animals can die from ingesting plastic or getting entangled in it. Plastic debris can cut into their skin, causing deadly infections. It can also cause intestinal injury and death, transferring up the food chain.
Microplastics can leech into soil and water sources from landfills, reducing the number of species that live below the surface, such as mites, larvae and other tiny creatures. This leads to less fertile soil and land.
The majority of plastic pollution in the ocean comes from human activities along coastlines and far inland. Sources include runoff from septic tanks, vehicles, farms, and timber harvest areas, as well as littering, poor waste management, storm water discharge, and natural events like hurricanes and tsunamis.
To reduce plastic pollution, we can ban single-use plastics, improve recycling infrastructure, and adopt economic incentives like a Deposit Refund Scheme. Individuals can also make lifestyle changes, such as using reusable bottles and reducing clothing made with synthetic materials.
