Plastic Pollution in Our Oceans: an Introduction

Author: Scarlett Dudson Image: Rich Carey/Shutterstock

Plastic is a synthetic material derived from polymers in petroleum that can be moulded into any shape giving it many applications. Around half of the 400 million tonnes of plastic produced each year is used to create single-use items including shopping bags, straws and cutlery. Plastic pollution is the accumulation of these synthetic products in the environment, particularly marine ecosystems and has become a massive threat to biodiversity.

Plastic waste is found on the shorelines of every continent in the world with over 14 million tonnes of plastic ending up in the ocean every year, making up 80% of all marine debris. The main sources of this waste are improper waste disposal, littering, sewage overflow and construction. The lack of infrastructure in many countries has increased plastic pollution as ‘plastic leakage’ into the ocean and waterways has become a serious problem where there is no management of disposal systems. Furthermore, the additives in many plastic products that make them more durable, extend their life which has produced litter that takes over 400 years to break down resulting in it remaining in marine environments, damaging the ecosystems.

The plastic debris found in the ocean includes microplastics and nanoplastics which are a result of plastic breaking down under the influence of UV radiation and other natural factors such as wind and wave action. Microplastics have been found worldwide, including the top of Mount Everest, demonstrating the scale of this issue. These small particles have a higher risk of being ingested by marine organisms and have subsequently accumulated in the food web. The consumption of seafood, although it has not yet been identified as a health hazard as research is ongoing, is believed to have led to microplastics contaminating humans’ digestive systems along with the consumption of tap water and salt which are produced from elements of marine environments. This can be toxic as many chemicals in plastic are carcinogenic.

Plastic pollution in the ocean kills millions of animals every year. Nearly every species of seabird has been seen to consume plastic due to its abundance in their ecosystems. Strangulation, entanglement and starvation are also massive dangers posed to marine species, specifically due to abandoned fishing equipment and six pack ring packaging.

Overall, plastic pollution is having a massive impact on the condition of marine ecosystems which are vital for human life. She sheer scale of the issue is unbelievable, emphasising the need for change in society in order to preserve and protect the fragile marine environments. Here at The Big Blue Ocean Foundation, we aim to help the fight against plastic pollution to create a more sustainable future for all and combat the issues that have arisen already. In the next blog, the impacts of marine plastic pollution will be discussed in more detail.