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Each year, 14 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean making plastic the cause of 80% of all marine debris. The influx of plastic debris in the ocean is resulting in detrimental impacts that not only cause harm to marine species but humans as well.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency landfills receive around 25 million tons of plastic a year. This immense disposal of plastic leads to dangerous ocean pollution that will have major consequences.
Not only do plastic products like straws and bottles harm the marine ecosystem but one of the most damaging results of ocean pollution, microplastics, are causing harm as well. Microplastics are not only contaminating the ocean but contaminating the food chain as they are easily consumed by marine life and in turn, humans.
Take a moment to look through a collection of photos displaying plastic and waste that is polluting our oceans.
Suffocation, entanglement, and ingestion are just a few of the ways that marine life is threatened by plastic. No marine species are left untouched by the effects of pollution: seabirds, fish, and even coral are dying because of the damage that humans are causing to the marine ecosystem. The ocean is a significant aspect of the biosphere and in order for productive ecological function we need a healthy ocean.
Sea Turtle entangled with fishing wire in its mouth.
Seabird with plastic in its beak and surrounded by plastic waste.
100 million marine animals die each year from plastic waste alone.
Marine animals are not the only ones suffering, you are too
of the fish species we eat have been found with microplastics in their gastrointestinal tract
When plastics enter the ocean, they enter the food-chain. Fish is a major part of many diets around the world but today 55% of the fish we eat have been reported to have microplastics in their GI tract. When fish eat plastic, so do you. Its estimated that humans consume around five grams of microplastics a week and about 1 of every 3 fish we consume contain microplastics that contribute to this.
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