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Ocean plastic pollution an overview: data and statistics
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mfava
Marta Fava

09 May 2022

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https://oceanliteracy.unesco.org/plastic-pollution-ocean/

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Plastic is one of the most enduring materials man has created. Nowadays, we all
know that it can take hundreds of years for plastic to degrade, and research is
showing that it is possible that it does not even fully degrade, but becomes what
we call microplastic.

Microplastics are tiny particles of plastic that can be eaten by marine animals and
end up in their bodies and tissues, entering the food chain and leading to
disastrous consequences for the health of our planet and all its inhabitants.

Even if human beings are becoming more and more aware of the hazards this material
poses to life, the presence of plastic in our ocean is continually increasing, and
plastic pollution is still one of the main causes of marine species extinction,
health problems for human beings and animals alike, and the destruction of our
ecosystems.

In this article, we will look at ocean plastic pollution and lay out the data and
statistics you need to understand the daunting issue we are facing. Most
importantly, we will also look at what we can do as individuals and as part of our
society to prevent plastic pollution and save our planet.

Let’s start!

Plastic Pollution in the Ocean: Where does it come from?

It is clear that plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues
we are currently facing, but how did it come to be? Moreover, where does all the
plastic in the ocean come from?

Plastics produced from fossil fuels are just over a century old, but they
revolutionized our life completely. It allowed the invention of many life-saving
devices and the implementation of new technologies that changed the course of
history.

However, the great advantages plastic offered led to a throwaway trend that made us
discover plastic’s dark side: the threat it poses to our environment and life.

The majority of plastic pollution in the ocean is caused by littering: we buy or

use disposable plastic items (food wrappings, plastic bags, razors, bottles, etc.)
and do not dispose of them properly, which cause them to end up in the waterways
and eventually in the ocean.

Yet, not all-plastic waste in the ocean is an effect of littering: many plastics
and microplastics are the product of improper manufacturing processes and about 20%
of the ocean’s plastic pollution comes from industrial fishing.

Plastic Pollution: Key Facts

Plastic waste makes up 80% of all marine pollution and around 8 to 10 million
metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year.
Research states that, by 2050, plastic will likely outweigh all fish in the sea.
In the last ten years, we have produced more plastic products than in the previous
century.
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has stated that basically 100% of all
plastics human beings have ever created are still in existence.
Plastic generally takes between 500-1000 years to degrade. Even then, it becomes
microplastics, without fully degrading.
Currently, there are about 50-75 trillion pieces of plastic and microplastics in
the ocean.
This plastic either breaks down into microplastic particles (see below), or floats
around and ends up forming garbage patches.

Garbage Patches in the Ocean

Most of the plastic we find in the ocean comes from land: it flows downstream
through rivers all the way to the sea. At first, it may stay in coastal waters, but
it can soon be picked up by rotating ocean currents, called gyres, and transported
literally anywhere in the world.

According to National Geographic, scientists found plastic coming from Russia, the
United States, Europe, South America, Japan, and China on Henderson Island, an
uninhabited isolated atoll halfway between Chile and New Zealand.

Usually, marine plastic debris groups up in what we call garbage patches, plastic
accumulation areas, in the center of the ocean’s gyres. The biggest is the Great
Pacific garbage patch, located between Hawaii and California.

Consequences
Today, plastic production and use is still at its highest, but the data on
recycling are not at all promising: only about 10% of the plastic we produce is
currently being recycled. The rest is either incinerated, causing air pollution, or
it ends up in our oceans and environment.

Harm to Wildlife
Plastic pollution in the ocean has a devastating impact on marine life and
ecosystems. The most obvious one being the damage plastic items cause to animals
when they come into contact with or ingest them, which include suffocation,
entanglement, laceration, infections and internal injuries.

17% of the species affected by the presence of plastic in the ocean are on the
International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species.

Yet, there are more problems related to plastic: floating plastic items can help
transport invasive species, which leads to threats for marine ecosystems,
biodiversity and the food web.

Harm to Human Beings

As we explained above, microplastics have now become part of the food chain and
have been found everywhere: in drinking water, salt, beer and in the soil where we
grow our vegetables.

Plastic materials are carcinogenic and can affect the body’s endocrine system,
causing developmental, neurological, reproductive and immune disorders. Another
health hazard is given by toxic contaminants that often accumulate on plastic’s
surface, and are then transferred to humans through the consumption of seafood.

Climate Change
Plastic pollution and climate change are two sides of the same coin: plastic
production, as it is created from fossil fuels, highly contributes to the climate
crisis.

Moreover, as we already mentioned, when plastic waste is incinerated, it releases

carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere, increasing emissions and worsening
global warming.

Economic effects
According to research, the yearly economic costs of plastic in the ocean are
estimated to be between $6-19bn USD. These costs are given by its impact on
tourism, fisheries and aquaculture, and (governmental) cleanups.

Images of Plastic Pollution in the Ocean

Here, we have decided to show you some recent images of plastic pollution in the
ocean.

This will help you comprehend the magnitude of the threat that plastic pollution in
the ocean poses to our planet and life, as we know it, and hopefully help you
develop a deeper awareness of what is going on.

Why it is Vital to Prevent Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution is undoubtedly an issue that requires worldwide cooperation. Its
consequences affect the whole planet and its inhabitants: it threatens ocean
health, the health of marine species, food safety and quality, human health,
coastal tourism, and contributes to climate change.

Reducing the presence of plastic in our oceans will not only allow us to save
marine species and ecosystems, but will improve our overall health and that of the
environment in general, helping us fight climate change and working towards a more
sustainable future.

How to Stop Plastic Pollution in the Ocean

It is quite hard to retrieve plastic from the ocean once it has entered it. New
technologies allow us to catch larger marine debris, but small plastic items and
microplastics are virtually impossible to reach, especially when they are deep in
the ocean.

Therefore, many scientists and conservationists have declared that the best
solution is to prevent plastic waste from entering rivers and seas in the first
place.

This could be accomplished with the improvement of our waste management systems and
the implementation of recycling. In addition, it is essential to reconsider the
design and usage of disposable packaging, and the reduction in manufacturing of
unnecessary single-use plastics.

What Can We Do
There are many ways to keep plastic out of the ocean! Here are some strategies you
can adopt and share with your community:

Reduce plastic use

Think about all the plastic items you use in your daily life. Can you even count
them all? Being more aware of the way you use plastic is a great starting point to
reduce plastic waste.
We know, habits are hard to change, but even a small individual commitment can make
a difference especially when talking about the single-use plastics we mentioned
earlier which, according to data from the European Parliament, are responsible for
49% of all marine pollution.

Here are some new habits you can take inspiration from:

Swap plastic bags for reusable ones, made of cloth or fiber.

Reduce the use of disposable plastic cups, plates, cutlery and bottles. For
example, bring your own reusable bottle to work and a reusable coffee cup for your
morning take-away!)
Buy food and cleaning products in bulk to avoid useless plastic wrappings.
Nowadays, there are plenty of options to choose from, and many supermarkets let you
fill your own jars/bags.
Choose metal or glass food containers and storage options instead of plastic ones.
Avoid buying and using cosmetics that contain plastic microspheres or microbeads.

Participate in (or organize!) a cleanup

If you live by a sea or river, you can volunteer to pick up litter in your local
community, thus remove plastics from the waterways and preventing them from getting
to the ocean in the first place. There are many organizations you can join, or
simply do it on the weekend with your friends and family. Every little helps!

Support the right legislation

Of course, it is essential to change our individual behaviors and habits, but
unfortunately, this is not sufficient to prevent and stop ocean plastic pollution.
It is also essential that you support legislation that aims at reducing the use and
production of plastic, improve recycling facilities and better manage waste in
general.

Support research and organizations

One of the main weapons we can use to stop ocean pollution is research. By
deepening our knowledge of the effects of the issue, we can start implementing
better policies for all.

There are many NGOs and non-profit that rely on donations to develop their projects
and research for reducing and eliminating plastic from the ocean. Here are some
examples:
Oceanic Society
Plastic Pollution Coalition
5 Gyres
Algalita
Plastic Soup Foundation

Sylvia Earle, marine biologist, said: “It is the worst of times but it is the best
of times because we still have a chance.” So, let us make the best of this chance;
we can all make choices to protect our planet, it is not too late!

References
https://www.itsafishthing.com/plastic-in-the-ocean/

https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/plastic-planet-how-tiny-plastic-
particles-are-polluting-our-soil

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/plastic-pollution

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/hazards/marinedebris/plastics-in-the-ocean.html

https://theoceancleanup.com/

https://www.iberdrola.com/sustainability/plastic-in-the-ocean

https://www.wwf.org.uk/updates/how-does-plastic-end-ocean

https://www.oceanicsociety.org/resources/7-ways-to-reduce-ocean-plastic-pollution-
today/

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