Millions of tons of plastic float in the sea and pollute our oceans. But how do these vast quantities of trash actually end up in the world's oceans? And what are the consequences of ocean littering for the environment and animals?
Every year, about 10 million tons of plastic and other trash end up in the ocean. Some of this accumulates into five large garbage patches, ]one of which is in the Pacific Ocean. The so-called Pacific Garbage Patch covers an area of 1.6 million square kilometers and consists of about 80,000 tons of plastic - making it three times the size of France. More and more trash is accumulating there - and so the vortex is also getting bigger.
Three-quarters of the trash in the ocean is plastic. Much of this waste is generated by pollution on land, where plastic bags, PET bottles or cigarette butts are carelessly thrown into nature. Via the wind and rivers, the waste eventually ends up in the oceans.
According to estimates, between 4.8 and 12.7 million tons of plastic end up in the oceans every year. There are now 18,000 pieces of plastic floating on every square kilometer of ocean surface - but even more problematic is that 90 percent of the waste sinks to the ocean floor hidden from our eyes.
Animals that filter their food from the water mistake the tiny plastic pieces for plankton. This is how the plastic gets into the organisms of small invertebrates such as water fleas, lugworms or barnacles. The plastic then continues to spread through the food chain until it arrives on people's plates.
The plasticizers and flame retardants ingested by the plastic harm both animals and humans: Up to 135,000 marine mammals and one million seabirds die each year due to ocean litter.
Larger pieces of plastic are often mistaken for food by wildlife. Sea otters choke on plastic rings from can six-packs and sea turtles mistake shopping bags for jellyfish. Birds perceive the smell of plastic waste as a food odor and feed it to their young, causing chicks to starve to death with full bellies. One study showed that 93 percent of fulmars had plastic debris in their stomachs. Increasingly, carcasses are being found with plastic parts in their stomachs.
Scientists:inside predict that by 2050, just about every seabird will have plastic in its stomach if marine pollution continues at this rate. Sea turtles also react to the scents of plastic, they perceive the same smell as in their food and are attracted by it. Even a little plastic in their stomach can be a death sentence for them.
Pollutants from trash enter the human body mainly through fish from the oceans. Microplastics and environmentally harmful substances are ingested by fish and ultimately end up in the human body through the consumption of these animals.
Although the health consequences have not yet been adequately researched, the WHO already warns that small particles are not excreted but instead remain in the body and can trigger inflammation in organs. In addition to plasticizers, these include PCB, which is considered carcinogenic, or the insecticide DDT in microplastic particles that enter the human body. These pollutants have been linked to the impairment of the endocrine system.
Plastic particles from cosmetics are another problem: When shellfish or corals ingest microplastics, it is fatal to them. It is estimated that around 1,000 metric tons of microplastics from cleaning agents and cosmetic products enter the waterways through the sewage system.
Protect the environment and help to free the oceans from plastic waste. Just pick up trash on the beach on your next vacation or take it out of the water - the animals and the environment will thank you.
In addition, you can help reduce the amount of plastic entering the oceans. Reduce your waste and thus your consumption of resources to a minimum. Buy fruit and vegetables without plastic packaging, go to unpackaged stores or the weekly market, use a microfiber wash bag when washing your textiles and buy cosmetic products without microplastics.
