The plastic floating on the surface is estimated to be just 1% of the plastic dumped in our oceans. As a result, some compounds used in plastics, such as phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE), have come under close scrutiny and regulation. A study published in 2017 estimated between 1.15 to 2.41 million tonnes of plastic enters the oceans via rivers annually, with peak months being between May and October. Once ingested, sharp plastic pieces can cause internal injuries, or the plastic builds up in their stomach until they can’t digest food. Did you know that half of all seabirds and turtles have plastic in their stomachs? Phthalates are plasticizers—softeners used to make plastic products less brittle. Amphibians, mollusks, worms, insects, crustaceans, and fish show effects on their reproduction and development, including alterations in the number of offspring produced, disruption of larval development, and (in insects) delayed emergence—though studies investigating resulting declines in those populations have not been reported. Seabirds feed plastic pieces to their babies. The problem of tiny, hard-to-detect plastic particles in Earth's oceans. Eduardo Leal’s Plastic Sea raises awareness about plastic pollution by focusing on hundreds of pieces of plastic that wash ashore at a remote beach in Colombia. Learn why environmental scientists are worried about microbeads. By working together, we can create a plastic free world. Drainage systems become clogged with plastic bags, films, and other items, causing flooding. Studies are needed to fill this knowledge gap, as are studies of the effects of exposure to mixtures of those compounds on animals and humans. PBDE is added to plastics as a flame retardant. Phthalates act against male hormones and are therefore known as anti-androgens; BPA mimics the natural female hormone estrogen; and PBDE has been shown to disrupt thyroid hormones in addition to being an anti-androgen. Learn how to prevent litter from ending up in the ocean. Of special concern are plastic pollution, largely due to the mass production of single-use plastics; the problem of electronic waste, which is exacerbated by planned obsolescence by manufacturers; and the generation of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Several million tonnes of debris end up in the world’s oceans every year, and much of it is improperly discarded plastic litter. Millions of tons of plastic enter the oceans every year -- and huge amounts flow there through our rivers. View Posters. Understanding how plastic is made and how researchers are working to make it greener. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. As waste dumps expand in residential areas, the scavenging poor are often found living near or even on piles of residual plastics. All these compounds have been detected in humans and are known to disrupt the endocrine system. Find out how to reduce your plastic use with 25+ ways to go beyond just saying no to plastic bags. In addition to being nonnutritive and indigestible, plastics have been shown to concentrate pollutants up to a million times their level in the surrounding seawater and then deliver them to the species that ingest them. A report on microbead (microplastic) pollution and its effect on marine life. Fines for littering have proved difficult to enforce, but various fees or outright bans on foamed food containers and plastic shopping bags are now common, as are deposits redeemed by taking beverage bottles to recycling centres. BPA, used in the manufacture of clear, hard polycarbonate plastics and strong epoxy coatings and adhesives, is present in packaging, bottles, compact discs, medical devices, and the linings of food cans. Such small pieces of plastic, which are less than 5 mm (0.2 inch) in length, make up a sizable fraction of plastic waste in the oceans. The first oceanographic study to examine the amount of near-surface plastic debris in the world’s oceans was published in 2014. Turtles, seabirds and even dolphins get caught in these plastic traps. The plastic floating on the surface is estimated to be just 1% of the plastic dumped in our oceans. Capt. The other gyres are the North and South Atlantic Subtropical Gyres and the Indian Ocean Subtropical Gyre. They are found in medical devices, food packaging, automobile upholstery, flooring materials, and computers as well as in pharmaceuticals, perfumes, and cosmetics. By 2020, scientists had estimated that at least 14 million metric tons (15.4 million short tons) of microplastic particles were resting on the floor of the ocean, and other research had revealed that the movement of deep-sea currents was creating microplastic “hot spots” in parts of the oceans, such as one located in the Tyrrhenian Sea that contained nearly two million microplastic pieces per square metre (about 186,000 pieces per square foot). We acknowledge that this land and sea was and always will be Aboriginal land and sea. These compounds have also been implicated in hormone disruption of animals in terrestrial, aquatic, and marine habitats. We can save animals from entanglement by banning plastic bags and balloons, and working to ensure fishers don’t discard fishing lines carelessly into the sea. The mass of plastic is not greater than that of other major components of waste, but it takes up a disproportionately large volume. Charles Moore of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation, discoverer of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Find out about what happens to microplastic pieces in our ocean. Many of these products readily enter the environment in wastes.…. Stop plastic at the source and save animal lives, by getting plastic out of your supply chain. Located at Earth’s midlatitudes, these gyres include the North and South Pacific Subtropical Gyres, whose eastern “garbage patches” (zones with high concentrations of plastic waste circulating near the ocean surface) have garnered the attention of scientists and the media. Help spread awareness about the impact of plastic on our precious oceans. Learn about the microplastic problem. Sadly, the animals will slowly starve and die. Learn where marine debris—trash in the ocean—comes from. Plastic pollution - Plastic pollution - Plastic pollution in oceans and on land: Since the ocean is downstream from nearly every terrestrial location, it is the receiving body for much of the plastic waste generated on land. There are also terrestrial aspects to plastic pollution. We’ve done the research and put together the facts on the worst consumer plastics that are hurting our ocean creatures. Awareness of the serious consequences of plastic pollution is increasing, and new solutions, including the increasing use of biodegradable plastics and a “zero waste” philosophy, are being embraced by governments and the public. So-called extended producer responsibility, or EPR, schemes make the manufacturers of some items responsible for creating an infrastructure to take back and recycle the products that they produce. For others, the plastic strings may choke them or cut off circulation to their limbs. There are some technological solutions for the resulting problems of…, …major source of BPA is plastic pollution. Single-use items like plastic cutlery, straws, bottle caps, take-away containers and plastic bags are just some of the many items that get eaten by animals. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. The people most vulnerable to such hormone-disrupting chemicals are children and women of reproductive age. Microplastics are present in a variety of products, from cosmetics to synthetic clothing to plastic bags and bottles. Donate your container deposit scheme refund to marine conservation, and help us fight plastic! Plastics, once in the ocean, are known to absorb a range of hazardous chemicals. Find out about what happens to microplastic pieces in our ocean. Fish icon by Sergey Demuskin from the Noun Project. Get the latest news and alerts on our campaigns to save our oceans. However, although seawater expedites the breakdown of BPA plastics, the tendency for leached BPA to accumulate in the tissues of marine species is quite low. We don’t know whether these pollutants are being passed up the food chain to us humans, but it’s likely that they are an increasing risk to human health. Big ocean feeders like whales scoop up plastic along with the plankton that they eat.