The Ocean's Pollution Crisis: A Global Emergency

Plastic pollution in the ocean is a pressing environmental issue that requires worldwide cooperation. It is estimated that there are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic waste in our oceans, with around 8 million to 11 million tonnes entering the ocean every year. This plastic waste comes from discarded materials that could have been recycled, littering, and industrial waste. The impact of plastic pollution on marine life and ecosystems is devastating, with 100 million marine animals dying each year from plastic waste. It also affects human health, with toxic microplastics entering the food chain. While there are initiatives to curb ocean plastic pollution, such as beach clean-ups and international agreements, reducing plastic production and consumption is essential to combat this issue effectively.

Mismanaged waste

Rich countries tend to produce more plastic waste per person. However, the critical factor in plastic pollution is the mismanagement of this waste. Mismanaged waste is more common in low-to-middle-income countries, which often have poorer waste management infrastructure. For example, many countries do not have recycling programs, and even in those that do, recyclable materials often end up in landfills, where toxins can seep into the soil and make their way to the ocean through rivers. Additionally, lightweight plastics can blow away in transit or from landfills into drainage and rivers.

Middle-income countries, particularly in Asia, are the source of most plastic flowing into the ocean today. This is due to a combination of increasing plastic consumption and inadequate waste management systems. In contrast, high-income countries tend to have more effective waste management systems, which keep plastic out of the natural environment, despite higher consumption rates.

The impact of mismanaged waste on the ocean is evident in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located halfway between Hawaii and California. This trash site, twice the surface area of Texas, contains 100 million kilograms of plastic and outnumbers sea life six to one. The mass of plastics in this region is around 180 times higher than that of marine life, indicating that polluted plastics could be a primary food source for organisms in this area.

Initiatives such as The Ocean Cleanup are working to address ocean plastic pollution by identifying the sources of mismanaged waste leakage and focusing cleanup efforts in those locations. Additionally, their cleanup operations provide a monitoring tool to track pollution levels, evaluate policy measures, and optimize solutions. While progress is being made, the need for cleanup of polluting waterways remains urgent.

Marine life impact

Marine life is facing a severe threat from ocean pollution, with plastic being a significant contributor. Plastic pollution in oceans has been a long-standing issue, and it is estimated that there are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic waste in the oceans, with 269,000 tons floating and 4 billion microfibers dwelling below the surface. Out of this, 236,000 are ingestible microplastics that marine animals mistake for food. Marine plastic is contributing to the death of over 100,000 marine mammals and 1 million seabirds annually. All species of sea turtles are affected by marine debris, with studies suggesting that as many as 50% of sea turtles are ingesting plastic, leading to starvation and death.

Fishing nets, ropes, and pots made from plastic also trap and entangle various marine animals, from blue whales to small crabs. An estimated 300,000 whales, dolphins, and porpoises die from entanglement in ghost gear every year. In 2019, a whale was found washed up with 40kg of plastic in its stomach, mainly plastic bags. Turtles often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, their staple food, and can eventually starve to death. A recent study found that all seven species of sea turtles from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea had traces of microplastics in their gut.

Moreover, the cumulative impact of microplastics in the food chain and the bioaccumulation of toxic chemicals found in plastics pose a significant threat to marine apex predators such as great white sharks and orcas. Biomagnification occurs when chemicals build up in the fatty tissues of animals that have consumed contaminated species. The higher up the food chain, the greater the concentration of toxins. Orcas have been found with high levels of chemicals in their fatty tissues and breast milk, which they feed to their young.

In addition to plastic pollution, climate change is also impacting marine life. Increasing greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels are causing ocean waters to warm, contributing to rising sea levels. The absorption of carbon dioxide is also making seawater more acidic, and warmer water cannot hold as much oxygen as cold water, leading to low oxygen levels. These changes in water temperature and oxygen concentration can affect various marine species, such as plankton, which are sensitive to these factors. Climate change is projected to disrupt marine ecosystems, reduce their diversity, and impact fishing communities.

Human health impact

Ocean pollution is a critical component of global pollution, and its human health impact is significant, though still not fully understood. It is the largest environmental cause of disease, causing an estimated nine million premature deaths per year. The toxins in the ocean put the health and well-being of over three billion people at risk.

The ocean is the recipient of toxic chemicals, which are either dumped intentionally by industries or flow naturally from the land into rivers and streams that eventually lead to the sea. These include oil, mercury, lead, pesticides, and other heavy metals. When these toxins enter the ocean, they contaminate water supplies and enter the food chain, especially seafood. Long-term exposure to these pollutants can lead to serious health issues, including hormonal disruption, reproductive problems, nervous system damage, and kidney damage.

The production and disposal of plastics also contribute to environmental injustice, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities living near plastic production and waste sites. These communities are more exposed to groundwater contamination, fires, toxic spillages, and air pollution, increasing their risk of cancer, respiratory diseases, leukemia, developmental issues, and miscarriages.

With climate change and increasing pollution, the risk of Vibrio infections, including cholera, is expected to rise in frequency and spread to new areas. Additionally, pathogenic marine bacteria can cause gastrointestinal diseases and deep wound infections.

Initiatives to combat ocean plastic pollution are underway, ranging from grassroots beach clean-ups to international agreements. The United Nations Environment Assembly has agreed to develop a legally binding treaty to address plastic pollution, and organizations are calling for reductions in production and consumption, as well as bans on single-use plastics.

Initiatives to reduce pollution

Ocean pollution, particularly plastic pollution, is a pressing environmental issue. There are an estimated 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic waste in our oceans, with an additional 8 million tons of plastic entering the oceans annually. Marine animals are dying as a direct result of plastic debris in the ocean, and the toll would be much higher if emissions from plastic production and transport were considered.

Initiatives to reduce ocean pollution:

• Beach clean-ups: Grassroots beach clean-up initiatives are a great way to remove plastic waste that has already accumulated on beaches and in the ocean. Organisations like Ocean Conservancy are leading the way in such efforts.
• International agreements: The United Nations Environment Assembly agreed in March 2022 to develop a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution. This is a significant step forward in addressing the issue on a global scale.
• Bans on single-use plastics: Some countries and states have implemented bans on single-use plastics, with fines and incarceration for those who do not comply. Kenya, for example, has made the use, sale, and manufacturing of plastic bags illegal.
• Extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation: Several initiatives aim to introduce EPR legislation, making plastic producers and distributors responsible for their products and packaging at the end of their life cycles. This includes the 2021 Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act in the United States.
• Innovative technologies: Organisations like The Ocean Cleanup are developing and scaling technologies to rid the oceans of plastic. Their dual strategy involves intercepting plastic in rivers to prevent it from reaching the oceans and cleaning up plastic that has already accumulated in the ocean.
• Individual actions: Individuals can also play a role in reducing ocean pollution by using less plastic, reusing and recycling plastic products, and properly disposing of waste. Other individual actions include using less water, choosing sustainable seafood, using fuel-efficient vehicles, and volunteering for beach clean-ups.

Recycling and waste management

The majority of ocean pollution comes from human activities, with sources ranging from littering to oil spills. One of the biggest sources of pollution is nonpoint source pollution, which occurs as a result of runoff from septic tanks, vehicles, farms, livestock ranches, and timber harvest areas. Point source pollution, which comes from a single source like an oil or chemical spill, occurs less often but can have a large impact.

The problem of ocean plastic pollution is largely a result of inadequate waste management systems. While only a small proportion of plastic is disposed of incorrectly, an even smaller part of that enters waterways and ends up in the ocean. However, the amount of plastic that leaks into the ocean is still massive, with estimates ranging from one to eleven million metric tons per year. The majority of this plastic comes from middle-income countries, particularly in Asia, where plastic usage is growing but waste management systems are lacking.

Rivers are the primary way that plastic travels from land to sea, with 1000 rivers making up 80% of plastic emitted from rivers into the oceans. Coastal cities in these countries are the world's plastic emissions hotspots, as they are closest to the ocean. Once in the ocean, plastic debris groups up in garbage patches, with the biggest being the Great Pacific garbage patch, located between Hawaii and California.

To reduce ocean plastic pollution, it is essential to improve waste management systems and implement recycling. This includes improving waste management infrastructure in low-to-middle-income countries, as well as reducing the production and consumption of plastic, especially single-use plastics. California has introduced a law that makes producers and vendors of plastic packaging responsible for waste, and other countries can consider similar legislation. Individuals can also play a role by reducing their plastic use and supporting organizations that work to reduce and eliminate plastic from the ocean.

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