Bronte Wells
Plastic pollution is a major threat to marine wildlife, killing over 100 million marine animals annually. While the exact number of deaths is unknown, it is estimated that 100,000 marine mammals die each year from ingesting or becoming entangled in plastic debris. This includes whales, dolphins, seals, sea turtles, and seabirds. The impact of plastic pollution extends beyond marine life, as toxins enter the food chain and affect humans as well. With an estimated 8.3 million tonnes of trash entering the ocean every year, the problem is escalating and requires urgent attention to protect marine ecosystems.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of marine animals killed by ocean plastic ingestion or entanglement each year | 100,000 |
| Number of sea birds killed by plastic annually | 1 million |
| Number of marine species affected by plastic pollution | 700 |
| Number of sea lions entangled in plastic debris in Southeast Alaska and British Columbia | 338 |
| Number of plastic pieces in the world's oceans | 15-51 trillion |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic ingestion
It is difficult to know the exact number of marine animals that are killed each year due to plastic pollution. However, it is estimated that plastic kills 100,000 marine mammals annually, with plastic ingestion being one of the two primary causes of death. Marine mammals, such as whales, dolphins, and porpoises, often mistake plastic bags for their prey. For instance, a plastic bag filled with water can appear to be a squid to seals and other marine mammals. Even marine mammals that do not rely on sight to identify prey are at risk. Toothed whales and several dolphin species use echolocation to find their prey, but they still end up consuming plastic.
Seabirds are also highly susceptible to plastic ingestion. They feed from the surface of the ocean, mistaking small plastic fragments floating on or just under the water's surface for food. When ingested, these plastics can lead to starvation or suffocation. Some seabirds, such as petrels, struggle to regurgitate plastic. Northern fulmars are known to ingest plastic pellets, and this issue is now monitored as an indicator of pellet pollution levels in the North Sea. It is estimated that plastic debris kills more than a million seabirds each year.
Fish often mistake small plastic pieces, such as pellets, for food. Mussels and oysters, for example, inadvertently take in microplastics when filtering seawater to feed. A recent study of mussels sourced from UK waters found that all the samples contained microplastic pieces. Microplastics, being invisible to the naked eye, are easily consumed by wildlife. They can adsorb toxins, which then transfer to the fatty tissues of the organisms that ingest them. While the long-term impacts of microplastics are yet to be fully understood, they pose a significant threat to marine apex predators such as great white sharks and orcas due to the cumulative effect of microplastics in the food chain and the bioaccumulation of toxic chemicals.
Sea turtles are another group of marine animals severely impacted by plastic ingestion. Research indicates that half of sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic. Some starve as their stomachs become full, giving them the false sense of being sated. A study found that ingesting just 14 pieces of plastic significantly increases the risk of death in sea turtles. Young sea turtles are particularly vulnerable as they tend to be less selective about what they eat and drift with ocean currents, similar to plastic debris.
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Entanglement in plastic
Plastic pollution is a major threat to ocean wildlife. It has been estimated that about 100,000 marine mammals are killed every year due to entanglement in plastic debris. Turtles are particularly vulnerable, as they mistake floating plastic garbage for food such as jellyfish. Seals, dolphins, smaller whales, and other animals can also become entangled in fishing gear and other plastic debris. Smaller marine animals may drown immediately if the gear is large or heavy. Large whales can typically pull gear or parts of it off the ocean floor and are generally not at immediate risk of drowning, but they do face risks from exhaustion and infection. Entanglement is considered a primary cause of human-caused mortality in many whale species, especially right whales, humpback whales, and gray whales.
In the United States, a report by Oceana found that nearly 1,800 animals from 40 different species had swallowed or become entangled in plastic since 2009. Of those, 88% were species listed as endangered or threatened with extinction under the Endangered Species Act. The report also found that plastics affected animals at all life stages, from recently hatched sea turtles to seal mothers with nursing pups. Plastic packing straps, bags, balloons with strings, and sheeting were the most common items entangling the animals. Other items included bottle caps, water bottles, straws, plastic chairs, plastic forks, toothbrushes, children's toys, buckets, bubble wrap, sponges, swim goggles, plastic grass, sandwich bags, and polystyrene cups.
The North Pacific Ocean is the most polluted ocean with plastic particles, hosting the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which carries a whopping 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic. It is estimated that over 500 spots in the oceans have been declared dead zones, meaning no sea animal can exist. Humans add over 8.3 million tons of trash to the ocean every year, and by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.
The impact of plastic pollution on sea life is alarming and needs to be addressed to ensure the protection of marine wildlife. Responders have developed specialized tools and techniques to disentangle whales and other marine animals from small inflatable rescue boats. It is important to note that freeing a marine animal in distress can be dangerous for both the animal and the rescuers, and should only be performed by trained professionals.
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Toxins in plastics
Plastic pollution is a major threat to ocean wildlife, with an estimated 100,000 marine mammals and over 1 million seabirds killed annually due to plastic ingestion or entanglement. Sea turtles, seals, dolphins, whales, and sea lions are among the most vulnerable species. The toxins in plastics contribute significantly to the problem, posing risks not only to marine life but also to human health.
Plastics are made with toxic chemicals, such as styrene, phthalates, PFAS, flame retardants, bisphenols, and pesticides. These chemicals are linked to various adverse health effects, including cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, hormone disruption, lower IQ, obesity, low birth weight, and gestational diabetes. They can escape into the air and dust inside homes, contaminating indoor environments.
The production and disposal of plastics release hazardous chemicals like benzene and ethylbenzene, which disproportionately impact low-income communities and communities of color. Incinerators and landfills in these areas further expose residents to toxic combustion products. Even before birth, children are exposed to plastics that can interfere with their development. The toxic ingredients in plastics have been found in breast milk, potentially affecting infants in their first few months of life.
Additionally, the toxics in plastics can enter our food supply. Plastics used in food packaging, such as polystyrene, can leach toxic chemicals into the food we consume. This is particularly concerning as these chemicals can accumulate in our bodies and have long-term health effects.
The impact of plastic pollution extends beyond the individuals who directly consume or come into contact with plastics. Toxins can move up the food chain, affecting species higher on the food chain, including humans. This is because smaller organisms that ingest plastics are then eaten by larger predators, resulting in a transfer of toxins through the food web.
Furthermore, plastic pollution in the oceans contributes to the creation of "dead zones" where no sea animal can survive. One example is the North Pacific Ocean, which hosts the Great Pacific Garbage Patch containing 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic. The presence of plastics in these areas interferes with the ability of phytoplankton to oxygenate the water through photosynthesis, leading to de-oxygenation and the subsequent death of marine organisms that rely on oxygen.
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Ghost fishing lines
One example of the devastating effects of ghost fishing lines is the case of a ghost net found in the Maldives, which had trapped an unidentified vertebrate. Ghost nets often sink to the seafloor and can be found in sensitive habitats, causing damage to coral reefs and blocking access to sunlight, which is essential for the health of the ocean ecosystem.
The problem of ghost fishing lines is not limited to the immediate impact on marine life but also has broader ecological implications. Ghost fishing lines can travel great distances, spreading across ocean basins and accumulating microorganisms that hitchhike along the way. This can lead to the introduction of invasive species and the disruption of marine ecosystems over vast areas.
The issue of ghost fishing lines is a global one, affecting oceans and seas worldwide. It is a consequence of problematic fishing practices, where fishing gear is lost or carelessly discarded. While it is difficult to quantify the exact impact of ghost fishing lines, the presence of these abandoned fishing lines in the marine environment poses a significant threat to marine life and the health of ocean ecosystems.
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Plastic pollution in food sources
Plastic pollution is a major threat to ocean wildlife, with an estimated 100,000 marine animals killed by plastic ingestion or entanglement each year. This figure is likely an underestimate, as many more animals are believed to be lying at the bottom of the ocean, decomposing and releasing plastic back into the environment. In addition to the direct impact of plastic on marine life, the toxins found in plastics can be transferred up the food chain, threatening species such as dolphins, whales, and even humans.
One of the most affected groups of marine animals is sea turtles. Sea turtles often mistake floating plastic garbage for food, leading to choking, internal injuries, or starvation. Research indicates that half of the sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic, and plastic pollution on beaches is affecting their reproduction rates. Similarly, seabirds are highly vulnerable to plastic pollution, with an estimated 60% of all seabird species having eaten plastic. This number is predicted to rise to 99% by 2050, and many seabirds are found dead with their stomachs full of plastic waste.
Endangered wildlife, such as Hawaiian monk seals and Pacific loggerhead sea turtles, are also among the nearly 700 species that ingest or become entangled in plastic litter. Plastic entanglement has led to injuries and deaths in the endangered Steller sea lion, and large amounts of plastic debris have been found in the habitat of critically endangered Hawaiian monk seals.
In addition to the direct impact on marine life, plastic pollution also affects the food sources of many sea animals. Fish in the North Pacific ingest 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic each year, which can cause intestinal injuries and death. This plastic is then transferred up the food chain to bigger fish, marine mammals, and humans who consume seafood.
The impact of plastic pollution on the ocean ecosystem is alarming, and urgent action is needed to address this crisis. By reducing and eliminating plastic pollution, we can protect marine wildlife from the detrimental effects of plastic toxins and ensure the sustainability of our ocean resources.
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Frequently asked questions
It is estimated that over 100 million marine animals die from plastic pollution each year.
Marine animals die from ingesting plastic or getting entangled in plastic debris. Plastic pollution also kills by causing dead zones in the ocean. These are areas where there is no oxygen, due to the blocking of sunlight needed for plankton to carry out photosynthesis.
Seabirds, cetaceans (such as dolphins and whales), seals, sea turtles, fish, and sharks are among the most affected by plastic pollution.
Ingested plastic disrupts the eating patterns of marine animals and can cause internal deterioration due to toxic chemical exposure. It can also result in various cancers and clog digestion systems.
Entanglement in plastic debris can suffocate marine animals, cause injury, or deprive them of essential resources. It can also leave them vulnerable to deadly infections.
