How Does Plastic Pollution Affect Marine Life?
Plastic is a major contributor to the pollution of our planet - clogging up our oceans, harming marine life and ultimately putting human health at risk. In fact, an estimated 12 million tonnes of plastic ends up in our oceans every year. The impact of plastic pollution on our planet is staggering, but how exactly does it affect our marine life? Let's take a closer look.
Entanglement.
One of the most common ways that plastic pollution affects marine life is through entanglement. Plastic litter, such as fishing nets, lines and plastic bags, can easily get entangled around marine animals, including sea turtles, dolphins, seals, whales and seabirds. These animals can then become trapped, unable to swim or fly, and often choke or drown as a result.
Ingestion.
Another major impact of plastic pollution on marine life is through ingestion. This occurs when marine animals mistakenly ingest plastic debris, mistaking it for prey. This is particularly common in animals like sea turtles, who mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, and seabirds, who mistake small plastic items for fish. Once ingested, plastic cannot be digested or passed through the animal's system, causing blockages, internal injuries and often resulting in death.
Toxicity.
As well as entanglement and ingestion, plastic pollution also poses a significant toxicity risk to marine life. Plastic debris does not biodegrade, but instead breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, known as microplastics. These tiny pieces of plastic can absorb toxins and pollutants from the surrounding water, and become concentrated as they move up the food chain. This means that marine animals who ingest these microplastics are also ingesting these toxic chemicals - and as these animals are eaten by larger predators, the concentration of these toxins builds up, with potentially serious implications for human health.
Habitat loss.
Finally, plastic pollution also causes serious habitat loss for marine life. Plastic litter can clog up coral reefs and other important habitats, making it difficult for marine animals to find food and shelter, and ultimately causing population decline. Plastic pollution can also affect the reproductive success of marine animals, as it can clog up their reproductive organs or cause hormone imbalances.
What can we do?
The impact of plastic pollution on marine life is clearly significant, but what can we do to help? First and foremost, we need to work towards reducing our use of single-use plastic items, such as straws, bottles, bags and cutlery. We can also support initiatives to clean up our oceans, and ensure that waste is properly disposed of and recycled. Even small actions, such as properly disposing of our waste and reducing our reliance on single-use plastics, can make a big difference in reducing the level of plastic pollution in our oceans.
In conclusion, plastic pollution has a significant impact on marine life - from entanglement and ingestion to toxicity and habitat loss. It's up to each and every one of us to take responsibility for our waste and help to reduce the amount of plastic ending up in our oceans. We owe it to our marine life, and to ourselves, to take action now.
Contact Us.
If you have any questions or concerns about plastic pollution and its impact on our oceans, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are always here to help and provide support in any way we can.
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