Ocean habitats are being destroyed everyday due to plastic pollution. Nearly 90% of all liter is plastic. This deadly plastic end up in the ocean and then multiplies every year which results in the deaths of nearly 100,000 forms of marine mammals as well as one million sea birds. We as human beings need to reduce and remove our oceans plastic. Albatross chicks are sea birds that live in the ocean.
Every year 500,000 chicks are born 200,000 will die due to plastic pollution. These chicks do not stand a chance based upon their diet which consists of a regurgitated substance from their parent of their necessary nutrition intakes. The plastic that is picked up from their parents enter into the young chicks causing starvation and dehydration because the plastics’ disturbance to the body’s functions. Albatross chicks are not the only marine birds that are suffering seagulls, penguins and many other birds receive the same fate as well.
Penguins for example are swimmers therefore when they swim into a land fill of plastic and most become ensnared or entangled, this causes suffocation and death. Marine mammals are spread far and wide and they all share the common enemy of plastic. The main marine mammal that is most impacted is the seal. A free spirited animal who loves to frolic in the waves and call out to its friends dies on a daily basis because of ocean plastics. It is not the seals’ fault because their natural habitats are slowly being overpopulated with plastic. The main problem seals face is the fact that they have nowhere to turn so plastic becomes natural part of their habitat when it is not. Seals eat the plastic they mistake for their natural diet of fish and soon create the same ideal ending as the albatross chicks ...
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...ere passed around the time of 1987 they were not enforced. In present day these laws are enforced more because of knowledge that has been gathered based on the conclusion for the future studies show that it is mandatory that we reduce the amount of plastic in the oceans because the potential of causing the extinction of marine life as well and therefore limiting one of most highly anticipated and beneficial industries and life sustaining products.
In conclusion plastic is harming our ocean more rapidly than ever. The marine life that is effected are albatross chicks a form of marine bird as well as marine mammals such as seals and whales. Plastic in the oceans can be lessened through the process of reusing, reducing and recycling. The government is also doing their part to stop plastic from entering the oceans. Stop harming our oceans, remove plastic pollution.
From all of the pollution in the ocean sea turtles suffer from toxic metals poisoning, this affects the liver and the kidneys of the turtle. If sea turtles get ill from this they become more vulnerable to pray and they become lost which causes them to bump into boats. Even though plastic bags and other plastic like items break down from sunlight the molecules from the plastic will still be there just broken down into smaller pieces. All of the small particles from the plastic coalesce in the oceans currents making it go down in rivers that lead to the ocean where it can hard marine life such as sea turtles. When this happens sea turtles consume the plastic not knowing the dangers behind it.
So many of the ocean animals are eating tiny pieces of plastic and causing them to ingest toxic
Large mammals such as whales, consume over 24,000 tons of plastic per year. The survival of many species, including the Hawaiian Monk Seal and the Loggerhead Turtle are being jeopardized and are nearly extinct. “The economical effects of plastic pollution cause an estimated $1.27 billion dollars in vessel damages per year and the cost of removing this debris cost $1,500 to $25,000 per ton” (Sounds Like Garbage). That’s over 13 billion dollars the government is using each year to try and remove some percentage of the plastic debris that has accumulated over the years. Plastic pollution also releases toxic chemicals that are being absorbed by the plastic, increasing the concentration a million times more. Which results in toxic chemicals entering our food chain that leads towards cancer, malformation, breast cancer, and even death. If plastic pollution continues to go unsolved, the ecological, economical and eco-toxicological effects it has had will basically begin, no it has already began, to destroy Earth and we are the ones who did this to
Recently, an uninhabited island in the South Pacific Ocean was found to be polluted with 38 million pieces of plastic that had been carried over by currents (Wang, “No one lives on this remote Pacific island”). The island, dubbed ‘trash island’, is home to diverse animal populations that have all been devastated by the pollution. On the beach, hundreds of birds were seen dead by reporters and scientists. When analyzed, the primary cause of death turned out to be consumption of plastic. When animals ingest plastic, it clogs their stomach and poisons their body with toxic chemicals. These toxic chemicals cause an array of issues, such as reproductive and endocrine problems. Eventually, this leads to death (Knoblauch, “The environmental toll of plastics”). But due to the nature of plastics, it can take hundreds or even thousands of years to completely degrade, meaning that as plastic pollution continues to build up, more places like ‘trash island’ will be discovered. According to conservation scientist Alex Bond, “…[The island] is just an indicator of what’s floating around out there” (Wang, “No one lives on this remote Pacific
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the largest garbage dump in the world. According to estimates made by experts, the patch holds approximately three and a half million tons of garbage. Majority of this garbage is made of plastic. This waste is a threatening problem to the patch’s surrounding wildlife. Many animals are caught in the floating pieces of trash and it is the cause of the deaths of about one million birds and about one hundred thousand other sea animals. Due to the oceans nature and constant moving currents, the trash is also constantly moving. Therefore the size of the patch never stays the exact same. However, scientists believe it be approximately two times the size of Texas. The plastic is mostly broken down from larger materials into small pieces. The patch has been referred to as one scientist as a, “plastic soup”. This garbage poses such a threat mainly because it does not biodegrade. These plastics will be in the ocean essentially forever. Many plastics also contain chemicals, and absorb other chemicals and pollutants they become exposed to. These newly absorbed toxins are then leaked and distributed back into the ocean over time. The chemicals can directly enter the bodies of the animals which consume them. A study was being conducted by scientists of the fish that inhabit the area around the patch. What the researchers found inside the belly of one fish (that was no larger in size than that of a finger), was eighty four small fragments of plastic. It does not take scientists to recognize the impact of this problem, Zach Gold, who is sixteen, is from Santa Monica California. Zach enjoys s...
Have you ever seen one of those articles that explains that we have too much trash in the ocean and it is killing animals? Well, get ready. This is another one of “those articles”. In the article “ Sea turtles are munching on plastic garbage floating in the ocean.” the author explains that we have too much trash and the animals are eating our waste. Most scientists are finding animals dead and their stomachs are full of plastic. “Her study estimates that 52 percent of sea turtles worldwide have eaten plastic waste.” (By Washington Post, adapted by Newsela staff)
The ocean is an abundant source of life. It is home to thousand of different creatures, provides a great source of food, and provides the earth with about one half of the oxygen needed to sustain life. (National Geographic) Pollution especially plastic, is a catastrophic problem. Ironically plastic, which is a material designed to last forever is generally used for things we tend to throw away. Every year about one hundred to two hundred billion pounds of plastic are manufactured. Only 31% of that plastic is actually recycled. Biomass packaging estimates 10% of that plastic ends up in the ocean annually. About 20% of it coming from ships and other platforms, and the other 80% coming from land derived sources, such as international garbage dumping, winds or tides either way it finds its way to the ocean.(Biomass Packaging Co., et al)
Plastic bags kill thousands of marine animals. For example, in the text, “ Plastic Bags: Convenient and Cruel,” Lauren Magaziner says that marine animals mistake the plastic bags for food. If the marine animals swallow the plastic bags, it will block the digestive tract, causing a slow and agonizing death. Marine animals including sea turtles, seals, seabirds, dolphins, whales, and sharks die from these plastic bags. Also from the text, “ Plastic Bags: Convenient and Cruel,” Lauren Magaziner states that since bits of plastic are found in fishes stomachs that
Plastic also damages boat and submarine equipment, litters beaches, discourages swimming, and harms commercial and local fisheries.
The main effect of this plastic is pollution. In passage 3 it states that ” We have so much to thank the oceans for; however, they are threatened daily by natural and manmade pollution. Ocean pollution comes in many forms, but the largest factor affecting the oceans is plastic”.
Plastic is one of the biggest pollutants out there. Humans use it all the time often and don't throw it away in the right ways so it all goes to the ocean. Therefore the ocean is drowning in plastic. Birds and fish mistake it for food and animals get stuck in it. Fish and bird see the small plastic items and think it's there food. They will then eat it and not be able to digest it which will cause them to die. Other oceanic mammals will get stuck in the plastic
The world population is living, working, and vacationing along the coasts. They are contributing to an unprecedented tide of plastic waste. Pollution is defined as the process that alters a substance or molecule on planet earth, the pollution is caused by the physical contact of an organic decaying particle with a clean particle in the same spot, at the time the two particles join together is when occurs pollution in which the environment is greatly altered. Too many, plastic is a modern day miracle, versatile, inexpensive and durable (Rochman 2014). To others, it is a scourge, a non-degradable pollutant that threatens to choke the global environment. Plastic pollution has led to the deaths of many animals, natural resources, and people (Rochman 2014). It is time to change America’s thinking and to learn from past mistakes.
At least 88% of the ocean’s surface is covered in plastic trash. This number, while already extremely high, can’t even begin to encompass the rest of the debris that isn’t on the top of the ocean, but under the surface (Walia). Ocean pollution is a national problem that affects not only the marine life living in the Earth’s oceans, but that affects humans, too. Plastics destroy ocean habitats and kill 100,000 marine mammals annually, along with 1 million sea birds (D'Alessandro). The plastic garbage in the ocean is often choked on by animals who mistake the plastic for food; even if they avoid choking and are able to swallow it, they can starve because it blocks their digestive tracts (10 Things You Can Do to Save the Oceans). Animals are also
Although plastic bags appear to be fragile and light, their negative environmental effect is devastating. Plastic bags may cause large amounts of pollution in every step of their limited life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials, production, transportation, and recycling or disposal. Plastic bags can be defined as the most damaging form of environmental pollution. They can have a damaging effect on marine animals and wildlife in addition to the aesthetic effects on beaches, parks, and trees. Plastic bags are potentially one of the main causes of death to marine animals (Harbor keepers,2008). Up to one hundred thousand marine animals or more die each year from eating plastic bags which are mistaken for food. This can result in blocking the animal’s intestines and possibly lead to the animal’s death. Another possible situation is that wildlife, such as birds, can get tangled in plastic bags causing choking and immobility, which may eventually lead to death. (Senior, 2008) and (Citizen Campaign, 2010). In other situations, after plastic bags photo degrade they remain toxic and could be eaten by fish, shellfish or any other marine life and survive this allows the toxins to enter our food chain through bioaccumulation (Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, 2011).
Research from the University of California San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography said that species in the ocean consume a projected 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic every year in the Pacific Ocean (Nall, 2014). Pollution of recyclable materials in the oceans is one of the leading causes of why some marine species are nearing extinction. Many authors of articles and books analyzing this topic tend to agree that pollution of our oceans is a problem. The future of this problem is where their ideas tend to differ. The following four literature reviews attempt to demonstrate and support my belief that pollution is getting worse in the ocean and more marine life ecosystems are being affected, but there are things that we as humans can do to change this. Imagine a world where we didn’t have to constantly worry about the vicious cycle of humans affecting animals and then animals in turn affecting us through consumption.