Plastic Pollution And Its Effects

In 1988, it was determined that the United States alone, was producing 30 million tonnes of plastic per year (Derraik, J.G.B., 2002). This can be compared with the global and annual production of 260 million tonnes of plastic as of 2012 (Pearson, E., 2014). Plastics are lightweight, durable, and cheap to make. This makes them incredibly easy to sell and manufacture. However, these attributes are many of the reasons why plastics are the most prominent type of marine debris, and why they are a serious hazard to various ecosystems and the organisms that live within them (Derraik, J.G.B.,

One of the issues that is currently harming the ocean is the presence of pollution. Studies have shown that over the past thirty years, people have increased their use of plastics and synthetic materials and recently it has become even more abundant (Laist). The amount of plastic debris that has entered the ocean is partially due to people 's inability to properly dispose of plastic and waste. This has immeasurable effects on the physical ecosystem, as well as the creatures who inhabit it. While plastic is very buoyant, it takes a very long time to degrade, and it is usually eaten by

The ocean’s vast marine life is dying more and more each year due to plastic. Over 100,000 marine animals die each year from plastic entanglement and ingestion says Gianna Andrews, author of the 2012 “Plastic in our Oceans Affecting Human Health” on ser.carlton. Chemicals in the plastic are also intoxicating the marine life. Reducing the use of plastic could save thousands of sea animals and make our ocean a cleaner place. There are many questions concerning our ocean, like how much plastic is in our ocean? What are the effects? How do we stop it? These questions will be answered by explaining and describing our ocean’s plastic.

Plastic has become a staple, and the use of plastic products is abundant in everyday life even if it is not apparent. The production and use of plastics has increased dramatically over the last sixty years, and a vast majority of plastic being produced is not recovered after it is used. It is clear that much of what we have today would not be possible without plastics, but the fact that it is not biodegradable and toxic creates a product that just takes up a vast amount of space and poisons animals. The overflow of plastic eventually makes its way into the ocean and is affecting marine life at an alarming rate. Plastic debris pollutes oceans all over the world as it breaks down into smaller pieces and are ingested by a large range of species. Animals exposed eat the plastic products and it causes health problems throughout the marine ecosystem. Some humans rely on these animals for food without knowing that they have been exposed to toxic products. The smallest organisms or exposure to chemicals can wreak havoc on the human body causing serious illness. It is clear that much of what we have today would not be possible without plastics, but the fact that plastic is not biodegradable and toxic creates a product that takes up a vast amount of space and poisons animals. Plastics contain chemicals that can interfere with the bodies natural functions and can cause adverse health issues if left untreated. Plastic pollution is rampant all over the globe exposing everyone

For decades, oceans have been one of the biggest dumpsters used throughout the world. Plastics among other pollutants have affected our oceans and freshwater as well as marine life. Plastic pollution effects not only the ocean and its’ marine life, but humans as well and not just in the United States, but everywhere. Landfills are running into water systems every day, carrying more plastics and trash into all of the oceans. For instance, in the Mediterranean Sea, sewage is untreated and that totals eighty percent. Sewage can lead to eutrophication, which is an enrichment of chemicals in an ecosystem, but it can cause human diseases as well. (Oceans) In reality, exposure to all marine organisms will be some sort of toxin or chemical, whether it is from the ocean or contaminated from human chemicals like pesticides. Deliberately dumped plastics and toxins spread into water systems daily. During the 1970’s dumping radioactive waste, chemical weapons, pesticides, and plastics have been disposed into oceans. The reason being was that people believed that since the oceans were so big that all the pollutants should be diluted, broken down, and dispersed throughout the ocean floor. In reality after disposal has continued for years, not a single pollutant has disappeared. In fact, 80% of plastics float, which means they will float for years until someone has picked them up or they have been broken down into smaller parts of oceans. Ocean pollution should end, even if it is recycling

In more recent times, policy changes in many countries have reflected the view that the ocean does not have an infinite capacity to absorb our waste. However, marine pollution remains a major problem and threatens marine life in the ocean at all levels. Micro plastics is another issue to our environment as it is killing and polluting the environment. Micro plastics are bathroom products such as facial exfoliators, body scrubs, and toothpaste is tiny pieces of plastic that are affecting animals, not only marine life but also birds such as seagulls, penguins, Cuban bird, pelicans and so many more other birds also seal, crocodiles, polar bears are also dying from this. The plastic pollution travels easily from land to sea. It blows in from bins and garbage dumps, or flows through stormwater drains into our waterways and eventually ends up in the

We 're treating the oceans like a trash bin: around 80 percent of marine litter originates on land, and most of that is plastic. Plastic that pollutes our oceans and waterways has severe impacts on our environment and our economy. Seabirds, whales, sea turtles and other marine life are eating marine plastic pollution and dying from choking, intestinal blockage and starvation. Scientists are investigating the long-term impacts of toxic pollutants absorbed, transported, and consumed by fish and other marine life, including the potential effects on human health.

Every year, millions of tons of plastic are tossed into the ocean, harming all types of marine animals as well as the environment. Hundreds of marine mammals like whales and dolphins are found washed ashore filled with bottle caps, plastic bags and basically anything they can swallow. Not only does plastic pollution harm marine life, but it affects the entire ecosystem. If a predator is dependent on a certain species for prey and the predator has a role in the environment, it is important for the prey to not be disturbed by pollution. If that species of prey were to go extinct, then the predator species could be seriously impacted as a result. These problems warrant the need for more research into the magnitude and causes of plastic

Due to humans’ excessive use of plastic and our inability to properly dispose of our waste, our ocean is unfortunately facing the consequences. This increasing problem is due to the fact that as plastic breaks down, it truly doesn’t completely decompose, instead it turns into microscopic pieces of plastic known as “microplastics”. These tiny pieces of plastic cover every inch of our ocean and there is nowhere on earth they cant be found. In addition research has shown that these microplastics act as sponge for chemicals existing in our ocean and when marine life inevitable consumes these toxic pieces of plastic it bioaccumulates through the food chain until eventually reaching humans. Overall, because our plastic pollution is increasing

This research question aims to think deeper on the circumstances of the overuse of plastic and paper, and what could happen more to the animals/birds, our environment, and our bodies if consumers keep on using plastic and paper products. This research question should be asked to raise awareness to users and most importantly designers, so they consider using other eco friendly material in designing their products.

As we all know that nowadays garbage is to much, we can find them very easy; it can be find in the shore, river, air, and also in the oceans. The problem of garbage in this world is causes by producing of goods from the company to all people around the world and to package their product, the company uses plastics. In the other hand, the lack of the awareness of people also support the environmental damage. The use of plastic as the package and production material should be stopped or at least reduced because of the amount of plastic waste that always increase in every year and it caused the damaging of the environment.

Plastic pollution is all over this world. People purchase plastic almost everyday, even if someone does not realize they are purchasing this synthetic product, most of the time the item’s packaging is made of plastic. Even cleaning products and clothes contain plastic. When plastic was man-made the only thought was the benefits it can create, the deficits were not thought of. Humans and animals are being physically harmed by hazardous chemicals inside plastic and sadly, fifty percent of plastic is hazardous. The environment as well is being affected with pollution because of the amount of resources that are taken and used. Many authors have researched the effects of the plastic we use daily. ZHigui He’s article “Pollution characteristics and health risk assessment of volatile organic compounds emitted from different plastic solid waste recycling workshops” researches the various volatile compounds found in different recycling shops that lead to health risks. Charles Talsness’ article is explaining the health risks of the components found in plastic on humans and animals. Along with the article written by Chelsea Rochman, assistant professor, that classifies plastic waste as hazardous as well and W.C. Li’s article focuses on the effects of the plastic waste in the marine environment. All the while, Robert LeBlanc has found many statistics on all negative aspects inside his article “Plastic Recycling Facts and Figures”. All of these articles connect in the agreement of plastic

The overuse of plastics in today's society has become major environmental issue for our oceans. Plastic pollution is the dumping, littering, or disposing of any type of man-made plastic that has been produced and has ended up in our ocean and has not been recycled.

These toxic microbeads are labeled as “polyethylene(PE), polypropylene, (PP), polyethylene (PET), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polytetraflouoroethylene (PTFE) and nylon” (Aldred). In addition to these microbeads, many consumer products are made of polystryrene and polyvinyl, used in larger items, which then disintegrate into smaller pieces, which are also considered micro plastics (Tox Town). This litter is added from urban and agricultural runoff, waste management companies, and ocean dumping by cruise ships, and waste from shipping and fishing companies (Tox Town). Even the simple task of washing clothes in a washing machine releases nylon and synthetic fibers micro plastics into the water supply (Krieger). This plastic is not biodegradable, so all of this used manmade consumer plastic must go somewhere. Unfortunately, as a society, we have just dumped this pollution into our environment and particularly into our water supply.

Plastic is a man made chemical that has been invented in 1907. Back then, plastic did not