Table of Contents
Context: A new study estimates 170 trillion plastic particles, weighing about 2 million metric tons, are currently afloat in the world’s oceans.
Decoding the News
- The study adds that this number could nearly triple by 2040 if no steps are taken to clean up the world’s oceans.
- There were estimated 5 trillion plastic particles in the ocean in 2014. Within the next 10 years, the estimation is 170 trillion.
- Most of these plastic particles found floating on the ocean’s surface are microplastics.
![six-major-marine-regions](https://www.mediafire.com/file/3i3j6qmin940n33/six-major-marine-regions.png)
The Study
- Methodology: Researchers analyzed surface-level plastic pollution data from nearly 12,000 ocean stations in six major marine regions, from 1979 to 2019. This was combined with data collected by them during their own expeditions.
- They used computer modeling to estimate not only how much microplastic currently exists in the oceans but also how their concentration has varied over the years.
- Findings: Between 1990 and 2005, the number of plastic particles more or less fluctuated, which could be due to the effective implementation of important policy measures.
- Since 2005, the plastic production skyrocketed, and with more plastic there is more pollution. Old rules are not enough to thwart plastic pollution.
- In absence of any drastic action about the issue, there will be a 2.6-fold increase in plastic flowing into aquatic environments by 2040.
![Source of Plastic Pollution in Oceans](https://www.mediafire.com/file/xn1s8plshucsdu6/source-of-Ocean-Plastic-Pollution.png)
Impact of Plastic Pollution in Oceans
- Marine ecology: Plastic debris present in the oceans leads to ingestion, suffocation and entanglement of hundreds of marine species.
- Food security: Oceans are one of the major sources of food for a large population. Plastics ingested by marine organisms can enter human body, affecting their health.
- Economic impact: The income generated through marine tourism gets affected as plastics discourage visitors. Fishing income also gets drastically reduced.
- Accelerate climate change: Plastic in the oceans interferes with the oceans capacity to absorb and sequester carbon dioxide, accelerating climate change.
Limiting Plastic Pollution in Oceans
- Global binding practices: There is an urgent need to implement a global measure to limit the production of single-use, throwaway plastic.
- Effective waste management: Urban areas must implement better waste management practices so that plastic waste produced do not leave their territory.
- Reduce chemical additives: Plastic producers must reduce chemical additives in plastic so that they do not harm ocean organism due to leaching.
- Recycling policy: Producers must take more responsibility when it comes to recycling plastic waste generated. This will reduce the amount that is discarded.
- Legally binding rules can be made commit industries to use 75% recycled plastic in any new product.
Microplastics in Oceans
- Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that measure less than 5mm in diameter. They are especially harmful to the oceans as they do not easily break down into harmless molecules.
- Microplastics adversely affect the health of marine organisms, which mistake plastic for food. They can trigger loss of biodiversity and threaten ecosystem balance.
- Impact on Marine life
- Health of marine organisms: Studies have detected microplastics in marine organisms, from phytoplankton to whales and dolphins, which have proven hazardous for them.
- Microplastics absorb many hydrophobic compounds, such as DDT, PCBs and other industrial chemicals, and these chemicals can be released when ingested.
- Carbon cycle: Phytoplanktons absorb atmospheric carbon and are eaten by zooplankton, whose carbon excretion sink to the sea floor in the form of faecal pellets and get mineralized without escaping into atmosphere.
- Microplastics prevent the faecal pellets from sinking to the ocean floor, allowing carbon to be either ingested or emitted back into the atmosphere.
- Health of marine organisms: Studies have detected microplastics in marine organisms, from phytoplankton to whales and dolphins, which have proven hazardous for them.