Brian Barton
Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that poses a significant threat to animal life. While it is challenging to determine the exact number of animals killed daily due to plastic pollution, estimates indicate that approximately 100,000 marine animals perish annually from ingestion or entanglement in plastic. This includes dolphins, sea turtles, fish, crabs, coral, and countless other marine species. Seabirds are particularly vulnerable, with millions dying each year from ingesting plastic debris. Plastic pollution also affects land animals, such as deer and camels, which mistakenly consume plastic waste. The impact of plastic pollution extends beyond the immediate deaths of animals, as it contaminates ecosystems, enters food chains, and poses long-term health risks for humans and wildlife. Addressing this issue requires a collective effort to reduce, recycle, and properly dispose of plastic waste, protecting both animal and human life.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of marine animals killed by plastic pollution each year | 100,000 (according to the World Wildlife Fund) to millions |
| Number of marine animals killed by ingestion of plastic each year | Likely millions |
| Number of marine animals killed by entanglement in plastic each year | 100,000 to 300,000 |
| Number of sea birds killed by plastic each year | 1 million |
| Number of cetaceans killed by entanglement in plastic each year | 300,000 |
| Percentage of fish stocks that have ingested plastic as of 2018 | Over 50% |
| Percentage of seabirds that have ingested plastic | 32% |
| Amount of plastic ingested by blue whales each day | 10 million pieces |
| Amount of plastic in the ocean | 8-10 million tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, with an estimated 46,000 pieces of plastic in every square mile of ocean |
| Amount of plastic waste generated by country | China: 59,079,741 metric tons, United States: 37,825,550 tons, Germany: 14,476,561 tons, Brazil: 11,852,055 tons, Japan: 7,993,489 tons |
| Amount of plastic waste per capita by country | Kuwait: 0.69 kg per person, per day, Antigua and Barbuda: 0.66 kg, Saint Kitts and Nevis: 0.65 kg, United States: 0.34 kg per person, per day |
| Percentage of plastic waste collected for recycling | 15% |
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What You'll Learn
Marine animals ingest plastic, causing death
It is difficult to know exactly how many animals are killed each day from pollution, but it is estimated that about 100,000 marine animals die from plastic ingestion or entanglement every year. This number is likely a gross underestimation, as many animals that die from plastic pollution end up at the bottom of the ocean, where they decompose and release the ingested plastic back into the ocean for other animals to encounter.
Marine animals ingest plastic for a variety of reasons. For those that rely on eyesight, plastic floating in the ocean might appear worth a nibble. For example, a ballooning plastic bag could resemble a squid to some species. For animals that use echolocation, like dolphins and whales, multi-million-year-old sonar systems haven't had time to adjust to the relatively new presence of plastic in the ocean.
Once ingested, plastic reduces the storage volume of the stomach, causing starvation. It can also cause intestinal injury and death, and it can be transferred up the food chain to bigger fish, marine mammals, and humans who eat seafood. Research has found plastic in the guts of fish sold at markets in California, and it is estimated that fish in the North Pacific ingest 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic each year.
Sea turtles are particularly vulnerable to plastic ingestion. They can mistake floating plastic garbage for food, which can cause choking, internal injury, or starvation. Tragically, research indicates that half of sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic, and plastic pollution on beaches is affecting their reproduction.
Microplastics, which cannot be seen by the naked eye, account for untold amounts of animal deaths. They can enter the water table and have been known to spray down like rain. They can also be absorbed into the bodies of marine animals, causing various cancers, clogged digestion systems, and slow, agonizing deaths.
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Abandoned fishing gear entangles and kills
It is difficult to know exactly how many animals are killed by pollution each day, but plastic pollution is known to harm a wide range of organisms, from the largest mammals to the smallest crustaceans. Plastic pollution kills an estimated 100,000 marine animals each year through entanglement or ingestion. This includes birds, fish, sharks, sea turtles, dolphins, crabs, coral, and krill.
Abandoned fishing gear, also known as "ghost gear", is a significant contributor to this problem. It is considered the most harmful form of marine debris, with more than 700,000 tons of fishing gear left in the ocean annually. This abandoned equipment entangles and kills millions of sea animals, including whales, dolphins, seals, turtles, sea lions, and birds. The durability of the plastic in ghost gear means that it can continue to trap and kill animals for years, even after the first animal entangled in it has died.
Ghost gear can cause immense pain and suffering to animals, as they become chronically entangled and unable to feed, leading to starvation. It can also cause infections, attract predators, and result in amputations or drowning. The impact of ghost gear extends beyond the immediate snaring of animals, as it slowly breaks down into microplastics over centuries, affecting the food chain and potentially harming humans as well.
The causes of ghost gear include accidental gear loss due to gear conflicts, extreme weather, strong currents, and a lack of accessible onshore gear disposal facilities. Some gear loss is also intentional, such as in the case of illegal fishing. For example, local fishers in Mexico use illegal nylon gillnets to catch the totoaba fish, a critically endangered species. These gillnets also entangle and drown the vaquita porpoise, driving the species to the point of extinction.
Efforts to address the problem of abandoned fishing gear include urging UN member states to include ghost gear in their negotiations of the international legally binding instrument on plastics. Additionally, individuals can make a difference by reducing their use of disposable plastics, recycling, and volunteering to clean up beaches or wetlands.
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Microplastics cause untold animal deaths
Plastic pollution is a pervasive issue, affecting all types of environments and organisms. While it is difficult to know exactly how many animals are killed by plastic pollution each day, it is safe to say that the numbers are vast and continue to rise. Marine animals, in particular, are highly susceptible to the dangers of plastic pollution, with an estimated 100,000 marine animals killed annually through plastic ingestion or entanglement. This figure does not account for the likely thousands more at the bottom of the ocean, whose decomposed remains will release ingested plastic back into the ocean ecosystem.
Microplastics, tiny plastic particles no bigger than a grain of sand, are a significant contributor to animal deaths. These particles are often ingested or inhaled by animals, causing internal damage and health complications. Research has shown that microplastics can damage vital organs and alter hormone functions in animals, leading to detrimental health effects. For example, a study on dolphins in Louisiana's Barataria Bay found that all 11 dolphins examined had breathed in microplastic fibres, which are shed from synthetic clothing.
The impact of microplastics on animal health is widespread and affects a broad spectrum of species across terrestrial and aquatic habitats. In aquatic environments, microplastics have been found to decrease feeding behaviour and fertility, slow larval growth and development, and increase oxygen consumption in invertebrates. In fish, microplastics can cause structural damage to vital organs like the intestine, liver, gills, and brain, while also affecting metabolic balance, behaviour, and fertility.
Furthermore, microplastics can absorb and carry pollutants, enhancing their negative effects. This ability to adsorb and transport chemicals has raised concerns about the bioaccumulation of pollutants in animals and the potential for these toxins to enter the human food chain.
The ubiquity of plastic pollution in habitats, water sources, and the air means that microplastics are pervasive and accumulate in the bodies of living organisms, including humans. This constant exposure to microplastics has unknown long-term consequences for both animal and human health, highlighting the urgent need to address plastic pollution and reduce our collective reliance on disposable plastics.
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Plastic pollution affects land animals too
It is difficult to know exactly how many animals are killed each day from pollution, but it is safe to assume that plastic pollution plays a significant role in animal deaths. Plastic pollution has been a problem for almost as long as plastic has existed, and it affects all wildlife, including marine and land animals.
While plastic pollution in oceans often takes centre stage, it is important to recognise that plastic waste also endangers terrestrial animals. Land animals suffer just as much as marine animals when it comes to plastic pollution. For instance, a deer in Japan died with 4.3 kg of plastic in its stomach, and this issue has been observed in deer in the UK as well. In addition, Arabian camels often ingest plastic bags, leading to the deaths of half of their population each year.
In 2018, a wild elephant in Periyar, India, died due to plastic ingestion. The plastic blocked the elephant's intestines, causing internal bleeding and organ failure. Other land-based mammals, including hyenas, zebras, tigers, and cattle, have also fallen victim to plastic waste, resulting in unnecessary deaths.
Microplastics, tiny plastic particles that cannot be seen by the naked eye, pose a significant threat to land animals. They can leech into the soil and water sources from landfills and other environments. A 2020 study found that microplastic pollution decreased populations of mites, larvae, and other small creatures living below the surface. This decline in species diversity leads to reduced soil fertility.
Furthermore, chlorinated plastic, such as plastic food packaging and medical devices, can release harmful chemicals into the soil and groundwater, contaminating the food we grow and impacting wildlife that relies on these water sources.
Plastic pollution also affects wildlife and forests, with people often dumping plastic waste in unprotected wild land areas. This increases the likelihood of wild animals encountering and being harmed by plastic, whether through ingestion or entanglement.
Overall, plastic pollution is a pressing issue that affects both marine and land animals, leading to deaths and ecosystem disruptions.
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Plastic pollution costs the industry billions
It is challenging to determine the exact number of animals that fall victim to plastic pollution daily. However, it is estimated that about 100,000 marine animals die from ingesting or becoming entangled in plastic annually. This figure includes birds, fish, sharks, sea turtles, and more. Ocean Crusaders reports that plastic kills 1 million seabirds each year, with plastic entanglement playing a significant role in these tragic deaths.
Plastic pollution has severe consequences not only for marine life but also for land animals. For instance, in Japan's Nara Park, a deer was found dead with 4.3 kilograms of plastic in its stomach. Similarly, in the United Kingdom, deer are facing the same deadly fate due to plastic ingestion. According to the Sustainable Business Toolkit, Arabian camels are also severely affected, with half of their population dying annually from ingesting plastic bags.
The impact of plastic pollution extends beyond the direct harm it causes to animals. It also has significant economic implications, costing the industry billions. The presence of litter, particularly on beaches, discourages tourism, resulting in decreased revenue for local economies. Additionally, the clean-up efforts associated with plastic pollution incur substantial expenses. Researchers estimate a loss of 1-5% in marine ecosystem services, amounting to a staggering $500 billion to $2.5 trillion annually. This equates to approximately $33,000 per metric ton of plastic pollution.
Microplastics, originating from sources such as plastic bottles, bags, tire wear, and 3D printing, pose a significant threat to the environment, human health, and ecosystem services. According to reports from the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) and the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), plastic pollution burdens the global economy by approximately $19 billion annually. This raises concerns about long-term ecological sustainability and the impact on society and the economy.
To address the detrimental effects of plastic pollution, it is crucial to reduce the use of unnecessary disposable plastics, such as cups, plates, cutlery, straws, and shopping bags. Recycling and volunteering for clean-up efforts in local parks, beaches, or wetlands can also make a significant difference. By making small changes, we can save the lives of countless animals and mitigate the economic and ecological costs of plastic pollution.
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Frequently asked questions
It is hard to know the exact number of animals killed by plastic pollution each day as many deaths go unrecorded. However, we do know that millions of tons of plastic enter the world's ecosystem each year, and plastic has been found to affect almost every marine creature.
Plastic pollution kills animals in a variety of ways. Marine animals often ingest plastic, mistaking it for food, which can clog their digestive systems and introduce toxic substances into their bodies. Plastic can also cause the deaths of animals through entanglement, which can trap them, prevent them from finding food and shelter, and stop them from reaching the surface to breathe.
Marine animals are particularly vulnerable to plastic pollution, with fish, dolphins, sea turtles, coral, krill, seabirds, and whales all known to be affected. However, land animals such as deer and camels are also impacted by plastic pollution.
Reducing plastic pollution requires a combination of individual, community, and governmental actions. Individuals can reduce their plastic consumption, recycle, and participate in cleanup efforts. Communities can implement bans on single-use plastics and improve waste management systems. Governments can invest in research to better understand the impact of plastic pollution and develop policies to address the issue.
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