Ocean Plastic Pollution an Overview : Data and Statistics

An Overview on Ocean Plastic Pollution 

Plastic is one of the longest-lasting man-made substances. Plastic’s degradation time has been estimated at hundreds of years, and new studies suggest that it may not even disintegrate entirely, instead becoming microplastic.

Microscopic pieces of plastic, known as microplastics, can be ingested by marine animals and then distributed throughout their bodies and tissues, with severe repercussions for human and environmental health.

Plastic pollution is one of the leading causes of marine species extinction, health problems for humans and animals alike, and the destruction of our ecosystems, despite the fact that people are becoming more aware of the dangers this material poses to life.

This essay will examine plastic pollution in the ocean and provide the supporting information you’ll need to grasp the gravity of the situation we now face. We will also consider our roles as people and as members of society in the effort to reduce plastic waste and save Earth.

Read more: What is Ocean Bound Plastic ?  Is it Helpful? 

Where does all of the plastic waste that ends up in the oceans come from?

One of the most obvious environmental problems we face today is plastic waste, but how did this situation develop? Furthermore, from where does the ocean’s plastic pollution originate?

Plastics made from fossil fuels have only been around for a little over a century, but they have had a profound impact on society. Many innovations in medicine and healthcare as well as revolutionary advances in technology would not have been possible without it.

Despite its many positive attributes, plastic has become increasingly disposable, exposing us to the dangers it poses to our planet and our very survival.

Most marine plastic pollution originates from improper waste disposal, namely the improper disposal of single-use plastics (such as those used for food packaging, shopping bags, razors, and bottles).

However, not all marine plastic pollution is the result of careless disposal; some plastics and microplastics are byproducts of flawed production methods, and industrial fishing accounts for around 20% of the problem.

Facts About Plastic Waste Pollution

• Eight to ten million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean every year, accounting for eighty percent of all marine pollution.
• According to studies, plastic will have a greater mass in the ocean than fish will by the year 2050.
• More plastic goods have been manufactured in the last decade than in the entire preceding century combined.
• According to the Environmental Protection Agency, virtually all of the plastics ever made by humans are still around today.
• Degradation of plastic typically takes between 500 and 1000 years. Even after being broken down into smaller pieces, it remains plastic.
• There are currently between 50 and 75 trillion plastic and microplastic fragments floating around in the water.
• Both microplastic particles (discussed further down) and floating rubbish patches are the results of the breakdown of this plastic.

Oceanic trash islands

The majority of the plastic debris floating about out there washed up on beaches because it washed downstream from land. It may remain in coastal seas at first, but eventually it will be scooped up by ocean currents known as gyres and taken absolutely everywhere.

National Geographic reports that on Henderson Island, an uninhabited atoll midway between Chile and New Zealand, scientists have discovered plastic from Russia, the United States, Europe, South America, Japan, and China.

Garbage patches, or plastic accumulation areas, are regions of the ocean where plastic waste tends to accumulate. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch between Hawaii and California is the largest.

Video 01: Plastic pollution: is it really that bad?