Image by FLY
Written by Saanvi Bapat
Going to the beach to spend a relaxing day in the warm sand while gazing upon the vibrant blue ocean is something that many people look forward to. But below the surface, a disaster is slowly unfolding.
Strolling along the shore and munching on snacks like chips, pretzels, and those mouthwatering sandwiches you packed in Ziploc bags may seem like a completely innocent act; however, if you forget to pick up one small runaway Ziploc or chip bag, it can contribute to a global crisis.
There are about 75 to 199 million tons of plastic in our beloved oceans. All this plastic ends up here mainly because of three reasons: the lack of recycling, littering, and putting plastic products into toilets or washing machines.
Of the total annual 260 million discarded plastic products only about 12% get recycled. Most of this plastic is either incinerated (creating pollution and contributing to global warming), thrown into the landfill, or directed into the ocean. Since plastic is so lightweight, it can easily be blown away in the wind, even when it is being transported to the landfill, escaping into the environment and, inevitably, the ocean.
Littering is another way that plastic enters our oceans. Littering is essentially synonymous with using the environment as a trash can; by just dropping plastics on the street, beach, or anywhere else, the plastic will most likely be carried by wind or rainwater towards drains or rivers, which lead to the ocean, or even just directly carried into the ocean itself. Unsurprisingly, littering from boats also plays a huge role, and it is estimated that about half of the pollution in the North Pacific Garbage Patch is due to waste generated by boats.
Another way that plastics enter our oceans is by directly exposing them to our waterways. Flushing products like cotton buds, wet wipes, and sanitary products down toilets as well as washing clothes with plastic microfibers releases plastics that are too small to be filtered by wastewater plants, and as a result, these tiny plastics end up in our oceans.
But why are these plastics so harmful? When the plastic reaches the ocean, it begins to break down into tiny microplastics due to the constant barrage of wind and water and decomposes very slowly. These microplastics then get pulled into whirlpools and form islands of plastic and debris such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
The microplastics also enter the marine food chain, causing inconceivable damage. Many of the smaller species at the base of the food chain that eat plankton mistake these microplastics for plankton. The plastics will then move through the whole food chain, becoming harmful and toxic for each organism involved. Ingesting microplastics causes all sorts of problems for animals, such as a decline in feeding behavior and fertility, increased oxygen consumption, and structural damage to organs. This impact also extends to humans, meaning that if we consume a fish or marine animal that has microplastics in its body, our digestive tract can also be damaged.
In addition to the harm done by microplastics, large pieces of plastic debris can also be dangerous. Many animals get suffocated or entangled, and researchers estimate that over one million animals die each year after ingesting or becoming trapped in plastic.
Plastic also harms the ocean landscape itself. For instance, coral’s flow of oxygen and light can be obstructed by plastics, and even larger debris, like shipping containers, can crush habitats and release toxins as well.
So, what can we do to stop this? First of all, we should make sure to recycle whatever and whenever we can. Reducing the use of single-use plastics, such as plastic cutlery, plastic bags, and plastic water bottles avoids the waste that ultimately ends up in our oceans. Additionally, installing filters on washing machines will catch the thousands of microplastics that are released into wastewater, and eventually the ocean, every time we wash our clothes. Furthermore, participating in beach and river cleanups will prevent plastic debris from returning to the ocean which protects marine life from harm.
So, the next time you go to the beach, be mindful of what plastics you may be carrying. If you spot a piece of trash, be sure to pick it up. That piece of innocent plastic can do enormous damage to our oceans and the beautiful creatures living in it.
Works Cited:
Bryce, E, ( June,2020).How does plastic pollution affect the ocean?. China Dialogue Ocean . Retrieved August , 2023
from https://chinadialogueocean.net/en/pollution/14200-how-does-plastic-pollution-affect-the-ocean
Where does the plastic come from that inundates our oceans?. Iberdola. Retrieved August , 2023 from
https://www.iberdrola.com/sustainability/how-does-plastic-get-into-the-ocean
Zolatova, N, ( June,2022).Harmful effects of the microplastic pollution on animal health: a literature review. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved August , 2023
About Author
