The Impact of Plastic

According to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, 5.8 million metric tons (13 billion pounds) of trash, most of which is plastic, enter oceans each year. Apparently, 80% of marine debris comes from lands. Due to its chemical component, plastic does not easily biodegrade and stays in the water almost forever.

The Ambivalence of Plastic

Indeed, the reasons for which plastic was created are those harming oceans. These reasons are:

1. Lightweight: It easily floats on the water surface

2. Robust: Marine animals, including birds and mammals, get entangled by it

3. Resistant: It does not break and, therefore, biodegrade easily

4. Cheap: Since it is affordable to create, the amount of produced plastic is immense

Marine Dangers

Much of the waste present in garbage patches is plastic waste which can cause physical or chemical harm to oceanic flora and fauna. Larger pieces can become entangled in wildlife or lodged within a body when mistaken for food. Smaller microplastic particles can act as magnets to other ocean pollutants. When these particles are consumed by wildlife, the toxins upon and within them can and do bioaccumulate throughout the food web.

Plastic harms oceans, animals, and humans in many ways:

• Entanglement: Marine animals get injured and even killed because of such plastic items as bags and other packaging.

• Ghost fishing: Fishing nets left in the ocean continue catching animals and trap them without the ability to untangle.

• Ingestion: Animals ingest the debris which this way destroys them from within.

• Non-native species: Attached to plastic, the species move throughout the ocean to the places where it is not supposed to be. Some species like algae adapt and multiply quickly and change the microclimate.

• Hazards for humans:

• • Food: Microplastic is found in seafood, sea salt, beer, and honey. However, its effect on human health is not estimated.

  • Vessel safety: Ships can get tangled up in the net and other debris that may lead to major breakage.