PLASTIC OCEAN

Facts The facts are that we are changing our environment as we subject our planet to a tidal wave of plastic waste. We have produced more plastic in the last 10 years than we did in the whole of the last century and this plastic production is having a huge impact. It is using vast amounts of precious oil reserves; approximately 8% which equates to the amount used by the whole of Africa. Almost half of the plastic we use is used just once and is then thrown away – the problem is that there is no “away”. The impact on wildlife, the environment and the potential harm to human health are only now becoming clear

A Global Issue Marine litter and in particular plastic waste, is a global problem. The vast majority of plastic waste is destined for landfill sites which limits the impact through ‘containment’ however does not solve the problem. A significant proportion of plastic gets into the water course and eventually ends up in the oceans.

As might be expected the plastic waste on the coastlines is more prevalent around more populated coastal areas. However, once the plastic waste enters the oceans it is influenced by global currents that distribute it around the world.

Plastic has been found in all of the major oceans, not just areas of human habitation, often travelling vast distances. It does not respect international boundaries and has invade even the most remote places. The fact is that it doesn’t matter where you live, plastic waste is pervasive, pernicious and persistent. It reaches every part of the planet and it is all of our responsibilities to resolve this issue.

Environmental Impact Plastic Pollution is having a significant environmental impact particularly on marine life and coastlines. There are three major impacts on marine ecosystems: Entanglement Ingestion Transport of Invasive Species

Entanglement Over 250 species have been known to have ingested or become entangled in plastic (Laist, 1997) Entanglement rates of up to 7.9% have been discovered in some species of seals and sea lions (Allsopp et al) A UNEP report estimates that around 130,000 cetaceans are caught in nets each year (US EPA, 1992)

Ingestion Over 100 species of sea birds are known to ingest plastic artefacts (Laist, 1997) According to Dr Jan Andries van Franeker, around 95% of Fulmers have plastic in their stomachs that affect them in chemical and mechanical ways 31 species of marine mammals are know to have ingested marine plastic (Allsopp et al)

Transport of Invasive Species The increase in marine litter, in particular plastics has resulted in a corresponding increase in species invasion (Allsopp et al) Man-made litter has resulted in a significant increase in the opportunities for the transportation of alien species

‘Biotic mixing’ as a result of human activities is becoming a widespread problem (Barnes, 2002) The hard surfaces of plastic debris is providing an attractive and alternative substrate for a number of organisms. The introduction of non-endemic species can have a catastrophic impact on indigenous species and biodiversity and the increase in synthetic and non-biodegradable material pollution will accelerate the process (Gregory, 2009)

Economic Impact Around half of the world’s population lives close to the sea, a figure that is expected to rise to three quarters by 2025, and approximately 60% of the population gets the majority of its protein from the sea. As well as having a environmental impact, the plastic pollution in our oceans is also having a significant economic impact. One estimate is that plastic pollution alone could be costing developing and industrialised nations up to $1.27 Billion annually as it threatens fishing, shipping and tourism (McIlgorm et al, 2008)

A UN study in 2002 concluded that vast resources of the oceans were at risk, along with many economic benefits that humanity derives from them, estimated at about $7 trillion per year (United Nations, 2002) The aesthetics of plastic waste along coastlines can affect tourism and the ‘well-being’ of local communities. In 2010, the Cinque Terre region of Italy banned plastic bottles after it was estimated that 2 million were left behind by tourists every year. The waste on coastlines is not necessarily locally produced. In 1989, bath toys were lost at sea in the Pacific Ocean. 15 years and 17,000 miles later these toys began arriving at beaches in the UK

Human Health Recent research into chemical additives in plastic have been linked to problems associated with human health, and this is where there is an issue with plastic particles. Plastic is breaking down into smaller and smaller pieces and entering the food chain and releasing chemicals into the fish that eat them (Zarfl & Matthies, 2010). These particles are ingested by fish and retained within their digestive system, slowly releasing chemicals into their bodies. Furthermore research has shown that the plastic surface of these particles is adsorbing chemicals from the surrounding water (Kosier, 2010). Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are being found in concentrations on marine plastics in several orders of magnitude higher than they are free in the water (Thompson, 2010).

The same POPs have been associated with numerous detrimental health conditions: Cancer (Wang et al. 2009,WWF 1999, Ociepa-Zawal et al. 2010, Purdue et al. 2009, McGlynn et al. 2008) Diabetes (Ruzzin et al. 2010, Lee 2008, Carpenter 2008) Low sperm count (WWF 1999) Altered immune systems (WWF 1999, Hertz-Picciotto 2008) Genital defects (WWF 1999) Endocrine disruptors (Cao et al. 2008, Han et al. 2010, Goncharov et al. 2009, Tan et al. 2009) Rheumatoid arthritis (Lee et al. 2007) Endometriosis (Porpora et al. 2009) Low birth weights (Murphy et al., 2010)

Developmental problems in children: Lowered IQ (Jacobson and Jacobson 1996, Park et al. 2009) Lowered reading ages (Jacobson and Jacobson 1996) Affected social skills (Jacobson and Jacobson 1996) Behavioural problems (WWF 1999) Memory and attention problems (WWF 1999, Jacobson and Jacobson)

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