Plastic pollution is having a detrimental impact on our oceans. We have known this for a number of years, especially in regards to the effect that plastic bags have had on turtle populations. For at least the last couple of decades environmentalists and scientists have seen the impact that plastic items like supermarket shopping bags blowing into the ocean have had on turtle populations. The main problem with this is that the turtles think that plastic bags are jellyfish and eat them. This also happens with other larger marine life which mistake plastic for food and eat it.
This can cause a number of problems for the animals, which for many can lead to death.
This can cause a number of problems for the animals, which for many can lead to death.
Another impact is the bio accumulation of both plastic debris and micro plastics up the food chain. This happens when larger animals eat other smaller creatures that have ingested plastic. The larger animals then end up eating large amounts of plastic - not all of which can pass through their bodies. Currently, it is estimated that about 250 species are directly affected by plastic debris in the ocean.
This can then lead to a number of problems that we are aware of and others that are not yet proven.
Ocean plastic once ingested can affect both animals and humans in a number of ways; one of the most significant being the disruption to the endocrine system. This can disrupt the hormones in the body of the animal by mimicking increased estrogen and then significantly affecting the hormones and reproductive system of the animal. This is due to the chemicals that are used to create plastic mimicking naturally occurring estrogen. We don’t yet know how this will affect animals and the affect it has had on ourselves.
Aside from this plastic also acts like sponges for other toxins in the ocean. This means other toxins like mercury are attracted to the plastic and cling on to it. This is especially true of nylon and polyester micro-plastic fiber which have a large surface area leading to more toxins clinging to this large surface area. Some studies have found over 1000x more toxins on micro plastics compared to the surrounding ocean.
It is amazing to think that we only really started producing plastic in the 50's and already this is a big problem. Another way that plastic affects the ocean is the problem with it being photo degradable. This means light breaks it down, which can be a huge problem when the plastic in question is out at sea. Aside from making it then more difficult to clean up as it breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, it also results in further contamination of the water cycle. Once the plastic breaks down to a certain size it can then contaminate water without detection. Even our drinking water in the UK is now contaminated with large amounts of plastic that can't be cleaned out through water treatment as they are too small.
The detrimental affect that plastic pollution is having on the ocean is not yet fully understood. We know of some of the impacts that this has had on marine life but we are still figuring out the full cost of plastic pollution.
The encouraging thing is that there is hope. It is estimated that a third to half of all the plastic found in the ocean is from beverage containers. Meaning reusable cups will really make a difference. Switching to reusable cups like those from Net Zero. Or any other brand can really help. There are also ocean clean-up projects underway to rid the ocean of micro plastics like the one designed by Boyan Slat. I think the best thing we can all do for the ocean is to stay positive and try and fix the pollution; we can do this by reducing our plastic and help with clean-up efforts.
This can then lead to a number of problems that we are aware of and others that are not yet proven.
Ocean plastic once ingested can affect both animals and humans in a number of ways; one of the most significant being the disruption to the endocrine system. This can disrupt the hormones in the body of the animal by mimicking increased estrogen and then significantly affecting the hormones and reproductive system of the animal. This is due to the chemicals that are used to create plastic mimicking naturally occurring estrogen. We don’t yet know how this will affect animals and the affect it has had on ourselves.
Aside from this plastic also acts like sponges for other toxins in the ocean. This means other toxins like mercury are attracted to the plastic and cling on to it. This is especially true of nylon and polyester micro-plastic fiber which have a large surface area leading to more toxins clinging to this large surface area. Some studies have found over 1000x more toxins on micro plastics compared to the surrounding ocean.
It is amazing to think that we only really started producing plastic in the 50's and already this is a big problem. Another way that plastic affects the ocean is the problem with it being photo degradable. This means light breaks it down, which can be a huge problem when the plastic in question is out at sea. Aside from making it then more difficult to clean up as it breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, it also results in further contamination of the water cycle. Once the plastic breaks down to a certain size it can then contaminate water without detection. Even our drinking water in the UK is now contaminated with large amounts of plastic that can't be cleaned out through water treatment as they are too small.
The detrimental affect that plastic pollution is having on the ocean is not yet fully understood. We know of some of the impacts that this has had on marine life but we are still figuring out the full cost of plastic pollution.
The encouraging thing is that there is hope. It is estimated that a third to half of all the plastic found in the ocean is from beverage containers. Meaning reusable cups will really make a difference. Switching to reusable cups like those from Net Zero. Or any other brand can really help. There are also ocean clean-up projects underway to rid the ocean of micro plastics like the one designed by Boyan Slat. I think the best thing we can all do for the ocean is to stay positive and try and fix the pollution; we can do this by reducing our plastic and help with clean-up efforts.
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