Plastic has become a constant of our daily lives, but its widespread use has led to significant challenges for marine life and potentially human life as well. The rapid production of single-use plastics has resulted in a multitude of problems within the ocean, from things like damage to the ecosystem, wildlife endangerment, and even posing risks to human health. Despite seeing all the effects this has on the world around us, we have yet to do anything that would make an impact on the problem.
Through all the talk of single-use plastic and the problems it causes, there is one issue known around the world and it is called “Pacific Trash Vortex.” This vortex is essentially an excessively large amount of trash floating in the Pacific Ocean, resembling a small island of waste. It has expanded to a size three times that of France and harbors over 1.8 billion pieces of discarded plastic. This enormous collection of trash continuously drifts across the ocean, gradually collecting more trash as it travels the seas, leaving a trail of destruction and a harmful impact on anything it comes in contact with.
The impact of the Pacific Trash Vortex extends far beyond its physical dimensions. As the island grows bigger and bigger, it poses a grave threat to marine life, entangling animals and filling their stomachs with pieces of plasticity that aren’t digestible. The ingestion of plastic can lead to internal injuries, starvation, and ultimately death for countless marine species, including fish, seabirds, and marine mammals. Furthermore, the presence of plastic debris alters the natural habitat and behavior of marine organisms, disrupting entire ecosystems and exacerbating the decline of vulnerable species.
The consequences of plastic pollution are not confined to the realm of marine biology; they also have profound implications for human society. The toxins released by decomposing plastic can contaminate seafood, entering the human food chain and posing risks to public health. Moreover, the economic toll of plastic pollution is substantial, as coastal communities grapple with the costs of cleanup efforts and the loss of revenue from tourism and fishing businesses.
The ingestion of these microplastics has caused a multitude of problems that humans seem to just ignore. Microplastics have been found to cause endocrine disruption, reproductive problems, cancer, and respiratory issues along with inflammation and oxidative stress. These are just a few of the effects plastic has on the human body, but yet we have not taken any major actions to fix the problem at hand.
Despite the numerous amounts of evidence of the environmental and societal impacts of plastic pollution, society still turns a blind eye to the problem. Efforts to minimize the effects of this crisis have been not super effective but the effort is still there from cities putting up plastic bands or using alternatives like degradable resources and spreading awareness about the issue to discourage people from using plastic.
