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Policy Interventions to Reduce Plastic Pollution at the Source:
Enact bans on single-use plastics and enforce producer responsibility laws to promote alternatives and ensure proper disposal.
Development of Innovative Technologies for Microplastics Removal:
Develop advanced filtration and autonomous vehicles for microplastic removal, alongside promoting sustainable fishing gear and scalable solutions.
Public Awareness Campaigns and Behavior Change Initiatives:
Launch educational campaigns and partnerships to raise awareness, provide alternatives, and encourage sustainable practices for impactful change.
The following organisations are actively addressing the issue of microplastic pollution in our oceans.
To Learn More and Donate,
- Plastic Pollution Coalition
- 5 Gyres
- Ocean Conservancy
Minute plastic particles less than 5mm in size, known as Microplastics, originate from various sources and are present throughout marine ecosystems, posing significant environmental challenges.
Primary Microplastics are released directly into the environment and account for 80% of total microplastics. Microbeads from personal care items, microfibers from textiles, and pellets used in plastic manufacturing are common sources, accounting for approximately 35% of primary microplastics. Moreover, synthetic textile fibers that are discharged after washing contribute to roughly 20% of primary microplastics. Additionally, plastic pellets (nurdles) used in manufacturing processes make up around 25% of primary microplastics. (Rochman et al., 2015)
Secondary microplastics account for the remaining 20% of the total microplastics found in marine habitats. They are formed by the fragmentation and decomposition of larger plastic waste in the marine environment. These processes, which are driven by sunshine, wave action, and microbial activity, degrade macroplastics into smaller particles. (Source: Jambeck et al. 2015)
Microplastic contamination has significant effects on marine ecosystems and animals, with far- reaching ecological ramifications.
There is a major concern that microplastics are often mistaken for food by marine life. According to a recent study, roughly 65% of marine species are affected by the spread of microplastics in their ecosystems, namely filter feeders such as oysters and mussels. These minute plastic particles can potentially accumulate in an animal’s tissues, which raises the additional concern of microplastics moving up the food chain and being ingested by animals and even humans. A study was recently conducted in Indonesian markets that confirmed the presence of microplastics in approximately 73% of the fish samples taken. (Source: Li et al., 2018)
Marine food webs are also believed to suffer the consequences of microplastic pollution. They can alter the marine life’s feeding habits as well as drastically reduce their ability to absorb nutrients, thus creating a much larger impact on the ecosystem dynamics. Microplastics can also settle within marine sediments, causing unwanted changes in the habitats, and adversely affecting life that lives on or below the seabeds. A positive relationship was discovered between various species and the microplastics found in the sediments, implying potential negative ecological changes. (Source: Choy et al., 2019)
Microplastic pollution introduces chemical contaminants and worsens the preexisting issues in marine habitats.
Many harmful chemical compounds, such as heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs), are believed to be transferred by microplastics. According to research studies, these chemicals are found in around 60% of microplastic samples collected from marine environments, placing marine animals and diverse ecosystems in great danger. A study conducted in the Great Lakes region revealed that the concentration of PCBs (a kind of POP), in microplastics was up to 50x higher than in the surrounding water. (Source: Baldwin et al., 2016)
Microplastics can lead to even worse environmental consequences when they intertwine with ongoing Climate change processes. Microplastics can absorb and store heat energy which ultimately gives rise to thermal pollution. Researchers concluded that microplastics are likely to cause a severe 45% increase in thermal pollution. Ecosystems already affected by climate change are likely to further degrade due to these rises in temperature. Moreover, It is also believed that many factors such as ocean currents and temperature regimes greatly affect the distribution and density of microplastics in our oceans. A greater spread of microplastics also makes mitigation efforts exponentially more difficult. (Source: Wright et al., 2020)