Helena Joyce
Marine pollution is a pressing issue that poses a threat to marine life, ecosystems, and human health. Every year, billions of pounds of trash and pollutants enter the ocean, with plastic waste accounting for a significant portion of this pollution. The amount of plastic pollution in the ocean is estimated to be between one and two million metric tons annually, and it is increasing. This plastic pollution comes from a variety of sources, including mismanaged waste, runoff, and dumping, and it has severe consequences for marine wildlife, ecosystems, and human health.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amount of plastic entering the ocean yearly | 1-2 million tonnes |
| Percentage of plastic waste that ends up in the ocean | 0.5% |
| Percentage of plastic waste that is mismanaged | 25% |
| Percentage of plastic that is recycled | 9-10% |
| Percentage of plastic that goes to landfill | 50% |
| Amount of plastic in the ocean | 50-75 trillion pieces |
| Number of garbage patches in the ocean | 5 |
| Largest garbage patch | Great Pacific Garbage Patch |
| Size of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch | Twice the size of Texas |
| Number of hypoxic zones in the ocean in 2008 | 400 |
| Number of megafaunal species affected by entanglement and ingestion | 914 |
| Number of human-made chemicals in the ocean | 1 |
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic waste: 1-2 million tonnes of plastic enter oceans yearly
- Marine life: plastic pollution harms marine animals and ecosystems
- Human health: microplastics enter the human body and can cause disorders
- Oil spills: 12% of ocean oil is from spills, the rest from runoff
- Nonpoint source pollution: rainfall/snowmelt picks up pollutants, depositing in water
Plastic waste: 1-2 million tonnes of plastic enter oceans yearly
Plastic waste is a significant contributor to ocean pollution. It is estimated that 1 to 2 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans yearly, making up 80% of all marine pollution. This plastic waste comes from a variety of sources, including mismanaged waste, which is not recycled, incinerated, or disposed of properly, as well as runoff from human activities along coastlines and inland areas. The impact of plastic waste on the oceans is devastating, affecting wildlife, ecosystems, and human health.
Plastic waste enters the ocean through a variety of pathways. One significant source is mismanaged waste, which can be leaked into rivers, lakes, and oceans. This occurs when plastic is not recycled, incinerated, or disposed of in sealed landfills. It is estimated that only 9% of the world's plastic waste is recycled, with half going to landfills and a fifth being mismanaged. This mismanaged plastic waste is particularly vulnerable to polluting the environment and making its way into the ocean.
The probability that mismanaged plastic waste enters the ocean varies depending on factors such as location, river systems, proximity to coastlines, terrain, and precipitation patterns. Studies have shown that Asian countries contribute significantly to ocean plastic emissions, with a 2017 study estimating that Asian nations contributed 86% of plastic emissions to the ocean. Additionally, it is important to note that richer countries tend to produce more plastic waste per person, and improving waste management practices in these countries can significantly impact reducing ocean plastic pollution.
The impact of plastic waste on the oceans is far-reaching and devastating. Plastic can take hundreds of years to degrade, and even then, it may only break down into microplastics without fully disappearing. These microplastics are ingested by marine animals, entering the food chain and leading to health issues for both marine life and humans. Additionally, plastic pollution contributes to climate change, as it is created from fossil fuels, and when it is incinerated, it releases carbon dioxide and methane, worsening global warming.
The economic costs of plastic in the ocean are also significant, estimated to be between $6-19 billion USD annually. The presence of plastic in the ocean also affects marine life in other ways, such as entanglement, suffocation, and ingestion, leading to injuries and deaths. To address the issue of plastic waste in the oceans, it is crucial to improve waste management practices, reduce plastic production and consumption, and hold plastic producers accountable for the harmful waste they generate.
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Marine life: plastic pollution harms marine animals and ecosystems
Plastic pollution in the ocean has a devastating impact on marine life and ecosystems. It is estimated that between 1 and 2 million tonnes of plastic enter our oceans annually, making up 80% of all marine pollution. This plastic waste comes from human activities, with most of it originating in poorer countries.
Plastic in the ocean harms marine animals in several ways. Firstly, animals can become entangled in plastic debris, leading to injury or death. This is a particular threat to marine mammals such as seals and sea turtles, with research indicating that half of sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic. Plastic debris can also be mistaken for food by marine animals, leading to starvation or internal injuries. Seabirds are especially vulnerable to this, with plastic ingestion reducing the storage volume of their stomachs and causing starvation. It is estimated that plastic debris kills more than a million seabirds each year.
Another way plastic enters the food chain is through microplastics, tiny particles of plastic that do not fully degrade. These are ingested by marine animals and can accumulate in their bodies and tissues. A recent study of mussels from UK waters found that 100% of samples contained microplastic pieces. Microplastics can also be ingested by filter feeders such as mussels and oysters, leading to a build-up of toxins in their fatty tissues. These toxins can then be passed up the food chain to larger animals and even humans, causing health problems such as developmental, neurological, reproductive, and immune disorders.
The accumulation of plastic debris in the ocean can also have negative consequences for ecosystems. Plastic debris can form large garbage patches in the ocean, pulled together by rotating ocean currents called gyres. These garbage patches can reach from the surface of the ocean to the ocean floor and can be found in all five of the Earth's major ocean gyres. The largest of these is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located between Hawaii and California. Plastic pollution can also contribute to the distribution of invasive species, such as algae, which can harm ecosystems and impact economic activities such as fisheries and tourism.
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Human health: microplastics enter the human body and can cause disorders
Plastic pollution in the ocean is a pressing issue, with an estimated one to two million tonnes of plastic entering our oceans annually. This plastic waste, which comprises 80% of all marine pollution, has severe consequences for marine life and ecosystems and human health.
Microplastics, tiny particles of plastic that do not fully degrade, have been found in various organisms and multiple parts of the human body, including the blood, lungs, and intestines. Human exposure to microplastics occurs through oral intake, inhalation, and skin contact. The presence of microplastics in seafood, drinking water, salt, beer, and soil further contributes to human ingestion.
The potential health hazards of microplastics are a growing concern. While the specific impacts on humans are still being studied, research has identified several red flags. Laboratory tests on animals have shown that microplastics can cause harm to reproductive systems, stress the liver, and lead to intestinal damage. Studies on mice have also indicated that microplastics can cross the blood-brain barrier, resulting in cognitive decline similar to dementia.
In humans, microplastics have been linked to intestinal injury, liver infection, flora imbalance, lipid accumulation, and metabolic disorder. They increase the expression of inflammatory factors, inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity, reduce the quality of germ cells, and negatively impact embryo development. The exposure to microplastics may also be a contributing factor to various chronic diseases.
Additionally, microplastics can carry toxic contaminants, which can be transferred to humans through seafood consumption. These contaminants can accumulate in the body, potentially leading to developmental, neurological, reproductive, and immune disorders.
While the full extent of the harm caused by microplastics to human health is yet to be determined, their pervasive presence in the environment and the human body underscores the urgency of further research and the need for proactive measures to address this global issue.
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Oil spills: 12% of ocean oil is from spills, the rest from runoff
Oil spills are a significant source of ocean pollution, but it is important to recognise that they are not the only source. Marine debris, including plastic waste, is a persistent problem that affects the entire ocean and the Great Lakes. Plastic waste accounts for 80% of all marine pollution, with an estimated one to two million tonnes of plastic entering our oceans each year. This plastic waste comes from the mismanagement of plastic, which includes plastic that is not recycled, incinerated, or stored in sealed landfills.
Oil spills, on the other hand, account for 12% of ocean oil pollution. While this is a relatively small proportion compared to runoff, it is still a significant issue. Oil spills can have severe environmental and economic consequences. For example, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 resulted in a $1.9 billion loss in revenue from fishing in the Gulf of Mexico due to fishing closures and a decline in demand.
The majority of oil spills are small, such as those that occur during the refueling of ships. However, even these small spills can cause damage, especially in sensitive environments like beaches, mangroves, and wetlands. Large oil spills are major disasters that occur when pipelines break, big oil tanker ships sink, or drilling operations encounter problems. These large spills can have devastating impacts on marine life and ecosystems, including birds and mammals whose insulating abilities are reduced due to oil penetrating their plumage and fur.
While oil spills are a significant concern, it is important to recognise that the majority of ocean oil pollution comes from land-based runoff. This runoff flows from cities, highways, and vehicles into rivers and eventually the ocean. Natural seeps, where oil enters the ocean through fractures or faults in the seafloor, are the second-biggest source of ocean oil pollution. To reduce ocean oil pollution, individuals can play a role by reducing their fossil fuel consumption, transitioning to electric vehicles, and improving vehicle maintenance.
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Nonpoint source pollution: rainfall/snowmelt picks up pollutants, depositing in water
Nonpoint source pollution is one of the leading causes of ocean pollution. It occurs during and after rainfall, snowmelt, and irrigation events, when water runs across the landscape or through the ground and picks up pollutants from nonpoint sources. These pollutants are then deposited into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and groundwater.
Nonpoint source pollution can come from various sources, including urban areas, agricultural lands, and residential areas. For example, excess fertilizer nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus) from agricultural lands and residential areas can be picked up by runoff water and deposited into water bodies. Similarly, sediment from improperly managed construction sites, crop and forest lands, and eroding stream banks can also be picked up by runoff water and transported to water bodies.
Other pollutants that can be picked up by rainfall or snowmelt include pathogens and nutrients from livestock, pet wastes, and faulty septic systems, oil, grease, toxic chemicals, and salts from urban runoff, and pesticides from agricultural lands and residential areas. These pollutants can have harmful effects on drinking water supplies, recreation, fisheries, and wildlife. For instance, polluted runoff can cause excessive algal growth, harmful algal blooms, and unpleasant odors, and can devalue property.
Nonpoint source pollution is a significant issue in many states, including Missouri and New York. In Missouri, over 85% of impaired rivers and streams and over 50% of impaired lakes are affected by nonpoint source pollution. To address this issue, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources takes two general approaches: regulations and voluntary actions. Certain activities, such as land disturbance of an acre or more and specific industries, require a permit from the department. Voluntary actions include programs that offer monetary incentives and grants to encourage land management practices that reduce and slow runoff, thereby decreasing nonpoint source pollution.
In New York, the Nonpoint Source (NPS) Program aims to control pollution from nonpoint sources and protect, maintain, and restore waters vulnerable to or impaired by nonpoint source pollution. The program has developed watershed plans to identify and address water quality concerns, and Best Management Practices (BMPs) are implemented to efficiently, practically, and cost-effectively address nonpoint source pollution.
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Frequently asked questions
It is estimated that between 1 and 2 million metric tons of plastic enter the oceans annually. This is out of the 350 million tons of plastic waste produced each year.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located in the North Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and California, is the largest garbage patch. It is estimated to include 1.8 trillion pieces of trash and covers an area twice the size of Texas.
The Pacific Ocean is considered the most polluted ocean, with an estimated 234.8 million pounds of plastic found. The Atlantic Ocean is the third most polluted ocean, with access to major rivers such as the Amazon, Mississippi, and the Congo, which carry inland plastic into the ocean.
Plastic pollution has a devastating impact on marine life and ecosystems. It causes damage to animals through entanglement and ingestion, which have been found to impact 914 megafaunal species, with more than 100 of them being endangered. Plastic pollution also contributes to coral bleaching, which threatens marine life and their habitats.
Rivers are the main source of ocean plastic pollution, with plastic flowing downstream into the sea. Another major source of plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is fishing gear, which accounts for about 80% of the plastic in that patch.
