Plastic Pollution In Ocean - Term Paper Example

Plastic Pollution In Ocean (Marine Life) Due TO Human Activity Introduction The term plastic is used to refer to carbon-based polymers that are artificial in nature and are made up of characteristics such as durability, low-price, and solid and very light in weight (Derraik 1). Plastic pollution is a term used to refer to the incident of buildup of products that are made of plastic in the oceans and due to this the oceans as well as the wildlife in these oceans are negatively affected. It is not the plastic itself that pollutes the marine environment; it is the characteristics of plastic pollution (Derraik 1). The pollution caused by plastic has become an issue of major concern for various stakeholders. The pollution caused due to plastic is increasing at a very fast pace and that is because the demand for products produced through plastic is increasing day by day. According to Andrady 80 million tons of plastic and plastic waste is found in the marine regions throughout the globe (Andrady 1). There are various causes as well as harmful effects of plastic pollution in marine life, but at the same time several steps can be taken to solve the issue of oceanic regions being polluted due to plastic. Body Causes Of Plastic Pollution In Oceans There are various causes due to which plastic pollution in oceans is experienced. One of these causes is that plastic enters the oceans and water in an indirect manner. There are many ways through which plastic can enter the water in an indirect manner. One of the most common ways is that plastic based garbage is left on the coastal areas by those individuals who are recognized as beachgoers. The problem is that water reaches the coastal areas and absorbs the plastic waste and travels back into the sea area along with plastic products. Another method through which plastic waste reaches the oceans is recognized as land runoff. This event takes place when huge amount of rain water moves plastic waste from the land area to the sea area. A third method through which plastic debris reaches the ocean is through the route of sewage. This means that plastic waste travels to the oceans when that waste is dumped in sewage and rivers which carries the waste to the sea. A fourth method through which plastic waste reaches oceans is through the heavy winds that blow plastic debris from land area to oceans (Andrady 1). According to Andrady, around 80% of the plastic waste or debris that is found in the oceans is caused due to the plastic waste that enters the oceans through indirect means such as littering of the coastal regions by those who are beachgoers (Andrady 1). Other than indirect transfer of plastic waste to the oceans, there are direct methods through which plastic debris reaches oceans. Plastic waste is no longer directly dumped by organizations in the oceans due to strict laws. But there have been moments when plastic waste and raw materials used to make plastic have spilled in the oceans directly and have caused increase in quantity of plastic debris in oceans. Furthermore, gears that are used by swimmers as well as fishing professionals are even made up of plastic and there are several instances in which these gears have been dumped in the oceans. According to Driedger et al., 3% of the plastic waste that is found in oceans is from the plastic gears used by swimmers and for the purpose of fishing (Driedger 1). Dangers Of Plastic Pollution In Oceans There are various issues and risks associated with pollution of oceans caused due to plastic waste being directly or indirectly dumped in the oceans. One of the greatest dangers is the ingestion of these plastics by marine life. All forms of plastics are not ingested by marine animals. Plastic waste with certain form of shape as well as colors attracts different marine animals and they ingest this plastic waste. Derraik has cited a study that states that out of 1033 seabirds studied, around 568 seabirds had ingested different form of plastic wastes and this is because they perceive plastic waste as food (Derraik 1). The problems associated with ingestion of plastic waste are that sea animals experience a reduction in the portion of meals they consume each day because their stomach contains plastic debris. Due to their inability to consume appropriate amount of food they face issues with their physical development. Furthermore they even fail to migrate over long distances and their reproductive ability is even hampered. Other than the consequence of being able to reproduce, sea animals such as small fishes that consume plastic debris may even experience internal injuries and may experience demise. Other than harmful effects of ingestion of plastic debris, sea animals even experience a major threat of experiencing entanglement as a result of gears used for swimming as well as fishing. Due to the experience of being entangled, sea animals may experience failure to swim properly and may drown or they may lose ability to catch food and may even experience serious injuries. According to a study cited by Derraik, around 29% of the gannets (form of sea animals) experience death due to the issue of being entangled (Derraik 1). Effects Of Plastic Pollution In Oceans Plastic debris in oceans has various direct and indirect consequences associated with it for the entire society. The direct consequences are that marine life is disrupted as a result of ingestion as well as entanglement of marine animals experienced due to their contact with plastic waste. There are several indirect consequences of plastic waste in oceans experienced by human beings, governments and various other stakeholders. There are lack of studies that have recorded the health consequences experienced by human beings as a result of consuming marine life that have ingested plastic waste. But there are studies that have recorded the harmful effect of plastic on those humans who have directly ingested or contacted plastic debris. According to a study cited by Rochman et al., individuals who undergo implants that are plastic in nature experience disruption of their bodily cells and tissues (Rochman 170). Rochman has even cited United Nations that have assigned ranking to the level of hazard posed to human beings due to their contact with plastic. The United Nation states that more than 50% of different forms of plastics that exist in the society are extremely hazardous for human beings (Rochman 170). Furthermore a huge amount of money is spent on efforts to reduce plastic waste from the environment including the sea. Various methods have been employed to reduce the prevalence of plastic in the environment. These methods include the cleanup programs of ocean’s coastal areas and recycling. The cost of dealing with plastic waste experienced by United States alone totals to $520 million (Rochman 170). Solutions To Plastic Pollution In Oceans Various steps can be taken to control the issue of plastic pollution in oceans. These steps include educating the citizens as well as other stakeholders regarding the harmful effects of plastic waste in oceans. Spreading awareness can work as deterrence when people are well aware of the harmful consequences of plastic waste on their own health. Education regarding plastic waste and its harmful effects on human and marine life should especially be provided to the youth of the society. The youth of the society is the majority of the population that is beachgoers and they are one of the primary causes of plastic pollution in oceans (Derraik 1). Furthermore, the youth of the society has the ability to influence the behaviors of the adults of the society which can be helpful in stopping adults from causing plastic pollution. The government and the international regulators can adopt policies to decrease the amount of plastic waste being dumped directly and indirectly in the oceans. Government need to counter the causes of plastic pollution in oceans. They need to put a ban and levy penalties on those who liter the coastal areas of seas. They especially need to target fishing fleets as well as other beach goers. Such restrictions have already been applied at the international level by the MARPOL and various nations have indulged in following the restrictions that have been levied (Derraik 1). Furthermore changes in the techniques and the ingredients used to produce plastic can be a major helping hand in reducing plastic pollution in oceans (Derraik 1). Conclusion Plastic waste or debris is a major source of pollution in the oceans throughout the world. Plastic pollution in oceans is caused due to both direct and indirect means. The direct means include the dumping or spillage of plastic waste in oceans and the indirect means includes the plastic waste being transferred from land area to the oceans. The problem with plastic waste in oceans is that it is ingested by marine animals and marine animals experience entanglement due to this waste. As a result of ingestion and entanglement, marine animals experience health issues, failure to reproduce and death. Furthermore, the plastic waste consumed by sea animals may have a direct impact on the health of those individuals who consume marine diet. The government and the society even has to face a huge monetary cost as a result of interventions that may be implemented to reduce plastic waste from the society. The government and the international regulators need to create regulations to counter this issue. This issue can be further countered through education and awareness of the society members. Works Cited Andrady, AL. "Microplastics in the Marine Environment." Marine Pollution Bulletin. 62.8 (2011): 1596-605. Print. < http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X11003055> Derraik, José G. B. "The Pollution of the Marine Environment by Plastic Debris: a Review." Marine Pollution Bulletin. 44.9 (2002): 842-852. Print. < http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X02002205> Driedger, A G, H H. Durr, K Mitchell, and Cappellen P. Van. "Plastic Debris in the Laurentian Great Lakes: a Review." Journal of Great Lakes Research. 41.1 (2015): 9-19. Print. < http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0380133015000064> Rochman, Chelsea M, Mark A. Browne, Benjamin S. Halpern, Brian T. Hentschel, Eunha Hoh, Hrissi K. Karapanagioti, Lorena M. Rios-Mendoza, Hideshige Takada, Swee Teh, and Richard C. Thompson. "Policy: Classify Plastic Waste As Hazardous." Nature. 494.7436 (2013): 169-171. Print.< www.researchgate.net/profile/Mark_Anthony_Browne/publication/235620600_Policy_Classify_plastic_waste_as_hazardous/links/0f3175350345d37bc5000000.pdf> Read More