5.25 trillion.
This is the staggering number of plastic pieces reported to be present in the world’s oceans as shared by National Geographic.
There is no longer any need to imagine our natural landscapes and seascapes drowning in trash. We are seeing this right now, today. A quick online search will lead you to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an accumulation of marine debris found in the North Pacific Ocean. You will find news that plastic has been found three times in the bottom of the Marianas Trench, the deepest part of the ocean explored by man.
These are the reasons why environmental awareness and action are more important now than ever before.
Pack Away the Plastics
Perhaps most (if not all) of us is guilty of using single-use plastic. Even die-hard environmentalists and conservationists have, at some point in their lives, used plastic items and may still struggle to avoid using it to this day. It is an undeniable fact of modern life – plastics are all around us.
Plastic is said to be one of man’s greatest inventions. But while plastic has many valuable uses, we have become addicted to single-use or disposable plastic — with severe environmental consequences.
Numerous studies, in-depth research, and environmental awareness programs have led us to the conclusion that the irresponsible use of single-use plastic is truly wreaking havoc on our planet. According to the data on marine pollution gathered by UNESCO, every year, there are over 220 million tons of plastic produced, and most of these are carelessly disposed into our rivers, lakes, and oceans. In 2006, the United Nations Environment Programme released an estimate that there are 46,000 pieces of plastic floating around in every square mile of ocean.
While it is true that plastic materials have made life easier or more convenient for us, improper disposal has made it one of the world’s most lethal threats. If left unaddressed, there will soon be more plastic in the ocean than fish. This is the forecast in the report released by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation shared at the World Economic Forum in 2006. More than a decade after, plastic pollution remains to be a problem.
Here are three urgent reasons why you should seriously stop using single-use plastic now:
1. Plastic kills the ocean.
Plastic is all around us. It is in the phones we use daily, the furniture we sit on, the cars that we drive, and the buildings that we step into. It is used to wrap our food and we use it so we can eat our food. According to the International Coastal Cleanup Report 2019, plastics used in food packaging are the second most common item found during their beach cleanups. Plastic forks, spoons, and knives have also made it to the list.
Unfortunately, most of these plastics are non-recyclable. Single-use plastic items such as bottles, cups, stirrers, and straws have also been collected among the trash floating in the ocean. According to the MacArthur report, only five percent of plastic trash is effectively recycled. The rest either goes to a landfill, is burned (releasing low levels of toxic substances), or is leaked into oceans.
The United Nations has reported that at least 800 species are affected by aquatic debris worldwide. Eighty percent of this debris is made up of plastic litter that can drown, starve, and suffocate both aquatic and avian creatures such as seabirds, sea turtles, fish, and marine mammals. These animals can die from ingesting plastic pieces, getting entangled in plastic items, or even getting trapped inside one. Ingested plastics also have toxins that may affect their immune systems or harm breeding patterns.
What’s more, according to a four-year study of 159 reefs in the Pacific by researchers from Cornell University, the likelihood of coral reefs contracting disease increases from 4 to 89 percent when they come into contact with plastic because it can encourage pathogen growth in the ocean.
2. Plastic kills livelihoods.
Single-use plastic can kill livelihoods and communities.
Trash, being an eyesore, can be a problem for coastal communities whose economy depends on tourism. Who would want to swim in a beach that is full of trash or covered in a sea of algae?
It also kills the livelihood of subsistence fishermen. Garbage in the sea causes oxygen levels to lower to a point where it is impossible for fish and other marine life to survive. These areas called “dead zones” are popping up all over the world with a combined coverage the size of the United Kingdom, according to a study called “Spreading Dead Zones and Consequences for Marine Ecosystems” by authors Robert J. Diaz and Rutger Rosenberg. Fishermen who live near dead zones also experience the death of their livelihood, as there are no more fish to catch.
For those who are still fortunate to catch some fish in other areas, they still face the problem of spending on damaged propellers or fishing nets. This is because garbage dumped in the ocean like broken glass, tin cans or wooden crates can get stuck in the propellers or nets. Repair or replacement of these items can be a huge dent in their income.
3. Plastic is damaging to human health.
Larger plastic items such as plastic bags can break down into smaller particles and become microplastics. There are also primary microplastics in the form of tiny particulates (such as shower cream microbeads or tire abrasions). These microplastics are found to be contaminating the food we eat, the water we drink, and even the air we breathe.
According to a recent study conducted by the University of Newcastle in Australia (commissioned by the World Wildlife Fund for its report "No Plastic in Nature: Assessing Plastic Ingestion from Nature to People"), an average person could be ingesting about 5 grams of microplastic per week. This is roughly the size of one credit card. Microplastics in the ocean that are ingested by fish and other marine life can also be passed on to humans when we eat seafood.
The same study reveals that an average person potentially drinks 1,769 plastic particles a week just from drinking water.
Depending on the environment, plastic particles that can be inhaled are more concentrated indoors than outdoors. This may be due to poor air circulation and exposure to airborne microplastic from household dust and synthetic textiles.
While the exact effects of plastic and its by-products on humans are still inconclusive, some studies have shown that exposure beyond a certain level can produce adverse health issues. For example, extensive inhalation of microplastics can lead to mild inflammation of the respiratory tract.
There are also other types of plastic that carry chemicals and additives with possible effects on human health. Recognized health risks are caused by additives, dyes and pigments in plastics, and production process residues. Some of these have been identified to have an effect on fertility and sexual function, and to increase the occurrence of cancers and mutations. Pollutants from surrounding environments may also carry airborne microplastics.
Be Part of the Solution
Plastic pollution is a serious problem that we all face. It is therefore every person’s responsibility to work with everyone else in the community to help solve this problem. For the reasons cited above, it is clear to see that excessive use of single-use plastic has devastating consequences.
You can act by refusing single-use plastics and taking measures such as refusing, reusing, and recycling waste. You can take your action a step further and join beach cleanups, citizen science activities and other environmental initiatives to promote and spread proper waste management.
Get in touch with us at Connect with Nature today to learn more about environmental protection activities in the UAE.