Plastic Pollution: A Problem Decades In The Making

Plastic pollution has been a problem for decades. The ocean has been used as a dumping ground for plastic, sewage, industrial and chemical waste, with scientists from the National Academy of Sciences discovering in the 1960s that more than 100 million tonnes of waste had been dumped in the ocean. While plastic pollution was not specifically mentioned in this report, it had recently become a mainstream material, and plastic waste generation more than tripled between the 1970s and 1990s. By the early 2000s, the amount of plastic waste being generated rose more in a single decade than it had in the previous 40 years. Today, plastic waste is ubiquitous, found in the air, soil, freshwater, and the sea.

Plastic pollution in the ocean

Plastic waste enters the ocean from thousands of sources worldwide daily. The primary sources of marine plastic pollution are land-based, accounting for 80% of the total, with the remaining 20% originating from ocean-based sources. Land-based sources include mismanaged waste from households, wastewater, and industries such as agriculture and plastic manufacturing. This mismanaged waste can reach the ocean through littering, wind blowing it from landfills or overflowing garbage bins, natural disasters, accidental spills, or sewage overflows. Rivers play a significant role in transporting plastic waste into the ocean, with over 1000 rivers contributing to 80% of global riverine plastic emissions.

Ocean-based sources of plastic pollution include overboard discharges from ships and discarded fishing gear. Once in the ocean, plastic waste breaks down into smaller particles, known as microplastics, through the action of sunlight, wind, and waves. These microplastics spread throughout the water column and have been found in various environments, from Mount Everest to the Mariana Trench. They are virtually impossible to recover from the open ocean.

The durability of plastic materials contributes to the persistence of plastic pollution in the ocean. The oldest pieces of plastic found in cleanup efforts date back to the 1960s, indicating that plastic can remain in the marine environment for extended periods. Plastic pollution has impacted at least 267 species worldwide, including sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals. Entanglement and ingestion of plastic waste have affected 914 megafaunal species, with more than 100 of them being endangered.

The ingestion of plastic by marine life has led to liver and cell damage, disruptions in reproductive systems, and reduced egg production in some species. Studies have also found plastic particles in the tissues of wild-caught animals, raising concerns about bioaccumulation and biomagnification in the food chain. Additionally, floating plastics in the ocean can accumulate pollutants and transport them through ocean currents, further contaminating marine life and potentially entering the human food chain.

Addressing plastic pollution in the ocean requires a multifaceted approach. Improving waste management strategies, particularly in poorer countries where most ocean plastics originate, is crucial. International cooperation and legally binding instruments, such as the resolution "End Plastic Pollution: towards an International Legally Binding Instrument" adopted by the UNEA-5.2, are essential steps towards tackling this global issue.

Plastic production and consumption

Plastic production has sharply increased over the last 70 years. In 1950, the world produced just two million tonnes. It now produces over 450 million tonnes, with an annual increase of 1.6 percent. Asia is the largest producer, with China alone accounting for 32 percent of global production in 2022. North America ranks second, with a 17 percent share in 2022. The versatility of plastic accounts for its ever-growing production and market value. Plastics have displaced other materials such as wood, metal, and glass, and are used in a wide variety of products.

The widespread adoption of plastic can be traced back to the period surrounding World War II, from 1933 to 1945. Copper, aluminium, steel, and zinc were being used for the war effort, so plastic technology came to the forefront. Plastic is a cheap, versatile, and sterile material used in construction, home appliances, medical instruments, and food packaging. However, when plastic waste is not recycled, incinerated, or kept in sealed landfills, it becomes an environmental pollutant.

Rich countries tend to produce the most plastic waste per person, but the amount of mismanaged plastic waste is higher in low-to-middle-income countries. It is estimated that one to two million tonnes of plastic enter our oceans yearly, with rivers being a dominant pathway. This affects wildlife and ecosystems, as plastic can kill marine animals through entanglement or ingestion.

Plastic pollution was first noticed by scientists carrying out plankton studies in the 1960s and 1970s. By the 1970s, it became clear that plastic does not "go away" but breaks up into smaller pieces called microplastics. During this period, plastic production increased significantly, resulting in more pollution. In the early 2000s, the amount of plastic waste generated rose more than in the previous 40 years.

To address plastic pollution, it is crucial to improve waste management practices, especially in poorer countries. Domestic policies and foreign investments in waste management infrastructure can help tackle this issue.

Plastic waste management

Plastic pollution has been a problem since the 1950s, and it is still a growing issue today. The world produced 367 million metric tons of plastic waste in 2020, a number that is set to increase exponentially in the coming years.

The OECD Global Plastic Outlook reported that in 2019, the world generated 353 million tonnes of plastic waste, more than double the amount produced in 2000. Of all the plastic produced since the 1950s, nearly 80% has ended up in the environment or in landfills. Without proper waste management systems, plastic pollutes the air, soil, and water, causing harm to ecosystems and people. Rivers are a dominant pathway for plastics to reach the ocean, and once there, plastic pollution can kill marine life through entanglement or ingestion.

To address the plastic crisis, it is essential to reduce the generation of plastic waste and improve the management and disposal of existing waste. While recycling is an important part of waste management, it is not always accessible or effective; in 2020, only 9% of plastic was recycled, while almost 50% was landfilled, 19% incinerated, and 22% was discarded in uncontrolled sites or the environment.

To improve plastic waste management, it is necessary to implement controlled disposal services and regular waste collection on a global scale. Additionally, understanding the "plastic cycle", or the fate and transport of plastic pollution, can help address the problem more effectively.

Plastic pollution and wildlife

Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues, with the rapidly increasing production of disposable plastic products overwhelming the world's ability to deal with them. Plastic pollution is not just a problem for oceans and remote environments; it is also a growing threat in our cities.

Marine Wildlife

Marine wildlife is particularly vulnerable to plastic pollution. Nearly every species of seabird eats plastic, mistaking small plastic fragments on the water's surface for food. Seabirds can regurgitate pieces of plastic, but some species, like petrels, find this difficult. Northern fulmars are known to ingest plastic pellets, and the species is now monitored as an indicator of pellet pollution levels in the North Sea. Many species of seabird have also been found feeding plastic pieces to their young. It is estimated that 60% of all seabird species have eaten plastic, with that number predicted to increase to 99% by 2050. Dead seabirds are often found with stomachs full of plastic, leading to starvation or suffocation. Plastic debris causes the deaths of more than a million seabirds each year.

Marine mammals are highly vulnerable to plastic entanglement, particularly from ghost fishing gear. Fishing ropes, nets, and pots that are discarded or abandoned at sea can trap various marine life, from blue whales to small crabs. An estimated 300,000 whales, dolphins, and porpoises die from ghost gear entanglement annually. Marine mammals can also ingest plastic, with an estimated 56% of whales, dolphins, and porpoises consuming plastic. Plastic blocks the breathing passages and stomachs of these animals, leading to death. Seals and sea lions are particularly affected by plastic entanglement, which decreases their ability to swim freely, eat, and breathe, causing sickness and death.

Microplastics are also a significant threat to marine wildlife. Due to their small size, they are easily consumed by marine organisms, from molluscs like mussels and oysters to fish and marine mammals. Microplastics can block the digestive tracts or pierce the organs of organisms, leading to death. They can also adsorb toxins, which transfer to the fatty tissues of the organisms that ingest them. These toxins bioaccumulate as they move up the food chain, impacting apex predators like great white sharks and orcas, which feed on contaminated species.

Urban Wildlife

Urban wildlife, including birds, rodents, and even domestic pets, are increasingly exposed to plastic pollution. Birds often mistake plastic debris for food, leading to internal blockages, malnutrition, or death. They can also become entangled in plastic, resulting in injury or death. Mammals are similarly affected, with studies finding microplastics in the tissues of urban animals. Birds have been observed using plastic debris in their nests, increasing mortality rates and decreasing reproductive success. The combination of chemical exposure from microplastics and the physical dangers of larger plastic debris creates a hostile environment for urban wildlife.

Plastic pollution and human health

Plastic pollution has been a problem since at least the 1960s, when scientists from the National Academy of Sciences discovered that more than 100 million tonnes of waste had been dumped in the ocean. While this report largely concerned chemical, industrial, and sewage waste, plastic pollution was soon recognised as a major pollutant of the ocean too.

Plastic pollution has been found to negatively impact human health at every stage of its lifecycle, from extraction to disposal. Humans are exposed to toxic chemicals and microplastics through inhalation, ingestion, and direct skin contact. According to the WWF, an average person may ingest approximately 5 grams of plastic every week. Scientific results indicate that plastic causes diseases, disabilities, and premature death. The toxic chemical additives and pollutants found in plastics have been linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, weight gain, insulin resistance, and reproductive, growth, and cognitive impairment.

Vulnerable groups, including children, pregnant women, waste sector workers, and marginalised communities, are particularly at risk. Children in the womb and young children are more susceptible to the adverse effects of plastic, with increased risks of prematurity, stillbirth, birth defects of the reproductive organs, neurodevelopmental impairment, impaired lung growth, and childhood cancer.

Microplastics, tiny particles of plastic less than 5mm in size, have been found in seafood, tap water, bottled water, beer, and salt. These microplastics can infiltrate food chains through agricultural soils, and their presence in the environment poses numerous health risks. While the specific health impacts of microplastics are still being researched, their omnipresence has become a matter of growing concern for human health.

To address the health risks associated with plastic pollution, it is essential to reduce plastic production, use, and disposal worldwide. A lifecycle approach to plastic pollution is necessary to fully understand and mitigate the toxic impacts of plastics on human health.

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