Bronte Wells
Marine debris and pollution are persistent global problems that affect the health of the ocean and its inhabitants. The United States, along with other countries, contributes significantly to this issue through various human activities. While the US has implemented measures to address marine pollution, such as the NOAA's Coastal Zone Management Program, the impact of US pollution on the ocean remains a concern. With billions of pounds of trash and pollutants entering the ocean annually, it is essential to explore the extent of the US's contribution to this global issue and discuss potential solutions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amount of plastic in the ocean | 15-51 trillion pieces |
| Amount of plastic produced each year | 400-450 million tons |
| Amount of plastic in the ocean each year | 1-2 million tons |
| Percentage of plastic waste that ends up in the ocean | 0.5% |
| Amount of plastic recycled | 9-10% |
| Amount of plastic that is not collected, improperly disposed of, or ends up as litter | 22% |
| Amount of plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch from fishing activities | 80% |
| Number of seabird species that have eaten plastic | 60% |
| Number of sea turtles that have ingested plastic | 50% |
| Number of marine animals that die due to plastic pollution | 1 million+ |
| Economic costs of plastic in the ocean | $6-19 billion |
| Liabilities related to plastic pollution | $100 billion |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic pollution
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) highlights the impact of marine debris, including microplastics, on the health of oceans and waterways. The majority of pollutants, including plastic waste, originate from human activities along coastlines and inland areas. Nonpoint source pollution, resulting from runoff, and point source pollution, from incidents like oil spills, contribute significantly to this issue.
The United States plays a significant role in the global plastic economy, consuming 18% of global plastic products in 2019, with the highest per capita usage worldwide. While the production and use of plastic remain high, recycling rates are low, estimated at only about 10%. This mismanagement of plastic waste, including inadequate recycling, incineration, and landfill disposal, leads to plastic pollution in rivers and oceans.
The US has taken several steps to address plastic pollution. At the United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA) in 2022, the US joined other countries in adopting a resolution to tackle plastic pollution, aiming to conclude negotiations by 2024. Additionally, the US is leading the End Plastic Pollution International Collaborative (EPPIC), a public-private partnership that promotes collective action, scientific research, and global collaboration to reduce plastic pollution. EPPIC has launched initiatives in Latin America and Africa, empowering communities to combat plastic pollution through innovative solutions.
To effectively address plastic pollution, a worldwide cooperative effort is necessary. While new technologies assist in removing larger marine debris, small plastic items and microplastics remain challenging to retrieve once they enter the ocean. Therefore, the focus should be on preventing plastic waste from entering waterways and oceans in the first place, emphasizing improved waste management strategies and reducing plastic consumption.
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Oil spills
Marine debris and pollutants in the ocean are persistent problems that affect the entire ocean and the Great Lakes. The majority of pollutants that enter the ocean are a result of human activities along coastlines and far inland. One of the biggest sources of pollution is nonpoint source pollution, which occurs as a result of runoff from sources such as septic tanks, vehicles, farms, and timber harvest areas.
Point source pollution, which occurs less frequently but can have a large impact, includes pollution from a single source such as an oil or chemical spill. Oil spills can happen anywhere oil is drilled, transported, or used. When oil spills happen in the ocean, the U.S. Coast Guard is the primary federal government agency charged with overseeing the response. NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration provides additional scientific support and expertise to help inform decisions during these emergency operations.
Every year, NOAA responds to over 150 oil and chemical spills in U.S. waters. Oil spills can threaten life, property, and public natural resources, as well as disrupt marine transportation and cause widespread economic impacts. Oil spills can harm sea creatures, ruin beaches, and make seafood unsafe to eat. It takes scientific expertise to clean up the oil, measure the impacts of pollution, and help the ocean recover.
One notable example of an oil spill is the Taylor Energy spill, which has been ongoing since 2004 when their MC20 oil production platform collapsed in an underwater mudslide caused by Hurricane Ivan. The volume of the spill is not known, but detailed flow rate monitoring in 2018 indicated the release of approximately 900 gallons per day. From 2019 to 2022, 1 million gallons were collected via a containment system.
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Nonpoint source pollution
In Illinois, NPS pollution comes from agriculture, urban runoff, and habitat modification. Urban runoff flows directly into lakes and streams through storm drains and a network of pipes, carrying pollutants such as fertilizers and animal waste. Habitat modification includes the channelization of streams and the disturbance of riparian corridors, which are essential for maintaining water quality.
Farming and ranching activities can impact water quality across multi-state watersheds. Forestry activities, such as removing streamside vegetation, road construction, timber harvesting, and mechanical preparation for tree planting, can also contaminate coastal waterways. Hydromodification activities, including channelization, dam construction, and streambank and shoreline erosion, can further degrade water quality.
Sediment, a form of NPS pollution, is soil eroded from farm fields, construction sites, and streambanks. When sediment reaches lakes and streams, it reduces water clarity, impairs aquatic life, damages fish gills, and hinders fish spawning. Sediment can also carry toxic pollutants, such as metals and chemicals, further degrading water quality.
While nonpoint source pollution is a significant issue, it's important to note that the majority of plastic pollution in the ocean is a result of littering and the mismanagement of waste, with only about 10% of plastic being recycled.
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Point source pollution
The EPA identifies two broad categories of pollution: point-source and non-point-source. Point-source pollution is typically caused by factories and sewage treatment plants, which discharge polluted water (effluents) directly into a water body. Some factories discharge their effluents, which may contain harmful chemicals, directly into a water body. For example, during heavy rains, combined sewer overflow systems can mix raw sewage with rainwater runoff and discharge it directly into the nearest water body without treatment. This can cause unsafe drinking water and restrict activities like fishing and swimming.
Another example of point source pollution is an oil spill. This is when a pipe or ship leaks oil into the ocean, which can have devastating effects on marine life and ecosystems. Oil spills are considered point source pollution because they come from a single source. Other sources of point source pollution include large farms that raise livestock, known as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).
In the United States, the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act have helped to limit both point-source and non-point-source pollution. These legislative initiatives have made America's air and water cleaner today than they were for most of the 20th century.
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Marine debris
The United States is a significant contributor to marine debris, particularly plastic pollution. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates that between 20 million and 1.8 billion pieces of plastic litter the US shoreline at any given moment. This debris, including derelict lobster traps and fishing gear, poses threats to marine life and breeding birds. Sea turtles, for example, often suffer entanglement and injuries, leading to fatalities.
Plastic pollution is a critical environmental issue. Plastics, derived from fossil fuels, have brought convenience and innovation but also a throwaway culture that endangers the environment. The majority of plastic pollution in the ocean stems from littering and improper waste management. While plastic has many valuable applications, such as in construction and medical instruments, its mismanagement leads to environmental degradation. Only about 10% of produced plastic is recycled, with the rest incinerated or ending up in our oceans and environment.
To combat this issue, waste management strategies must improve. While rich countries produce the most plastic waste per person, the critical factor is how this waste is handled. Incineration and sealed landfills can help, but currently, three-quarters of plastics in the United States go to landfills. Marine debris prevention and education programs are also crucial to keeping trash from entering our oceans and waterways. By preventing marine debris, we can mitigate this global problem and protect marine life and ecosystems.
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Frequently asked questions
The US contributes to ocean pollution through nonpoint source pollution, which includes runoff from septic tanks, vehicles, farms, and other sources. While the amount of plastic pollution from the US is unclear, it is estimated that around 1 million tons of plastic enter the ocean each year globally, with most plastic emissions coming from middle-income countries.
Rivers are the main source of ocean plastic pollution, carrying plastic from land to sea. However, in coastal waters, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is primarily composed of plastic from fishing activities, such as buoys, crates, and nets.
Plastic pollution has a devastating impact on marine life and ecosystems. Marine animals, such as sea turtles and seabirds, can mistake plastic for food, leading to choking, internal injuries, and death. Plastic ingestion can also reduce the storage volume of the stomach, causing starvation. Additionally, plastic pollution can damage marine habitats and contribute to climate change.
To reduce ocean plastic pollution, it is crucial to improve waste management strategies, especially in middle-income countries. This includes increasing recycling rates, properly disposing of plastic waste, and preventing plastic from entering rivers and seas. New technologies can help catch larger marine debris, but small plastic items and microplastics remain challenging to remove from the ocean.
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