Plastic pollution as explained by Ereksen, Lebreton, Carson et al. (2014), is an intermittent issue evidenced by an increase in plastic waste throughout the marine waters. The ease of disposing of plastics coupled with low recycling rates has seen the global production of plastics on the rise. The plastics find their way into the oceans through transportation by rivers, rainwater, and flood events. With the help of various processes such as photo degradation, the plastics disintegrate and diffuse into the ocean. Another process that encourages the pollution involves the accumulation of the various particles to form subtropical gyres that present a challenge through the intoxication of marine life. Marine fauna in this sense such as zooplankton, cetaceans, ingest the pollutants. This affects all other marine life as they form the basic level of the food chain, with other marine creatures relying on them for nutrition. The impact of pollution carries negative effects with the evidence of floating plastics having us reconsider the mechanisms of disposing plastics. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (2015), through the incorporation of the various primary, secondary, and tertiary processes in recycling, the utilization of each dimension, encourages manufacturing companies to reduce plastic waste.
In a study by Reisser, Shaw, Hardesty, et.al (2013), the research reveals the influence of the digital age in facilitating the presence of plastic waste in marine waters. Their study aimed to synthesize data collected from different parts of the world while providing an overview of how plastic pollution is an issue. The report reveals a worldwide distribution of plastic on the surface of the open ocean with the distribution not just limited to large particles of plastics, but also the presence of micro particles. The metabolism of plastics in water is intricate such that exposure of the plastic objects to solar radiation encourages fragmentation through wave action. The plastic present in water undergoes ingestion by the marine creatures and birds. Some of the notable effects of this are the increase in gastrointestinal obstruction of sea birds, (Reisser, Shaw, Hardesty, et.al, 2013). The increase of plastics in the ocean encourages the need for the implementation of recycling procedures by manufacturing industries. It also encourages increased awareness of the potential dangers of the improper disposal of plastic.
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Plastics as explained by Cole, Lindque, Halsband & Galloway (2011), present significant challenges to the marine environment, with them having links to carcinogenic agents. With marine life taking in the microplastics, the quality of the seafood we get then is in question and so is our health. This calls for scientists to investigate the potential effect of consumption of seafood. The unfortunate aspect about the contamination is that individuals exacerbate the process unconsciously, for example, through the litter of plastics. A common scenario, for instance, is when at the beach, it is easy for individuals to leave around their soda and water bottles most of which are plastic. The waves come in play and carry the objects offshore to the sea. This reveals a need, not only for companies to engage in the recycling process, but also for individuals to exercise responsibility in managing plastic materials.
Most studies on plastic focus on their effect on the land environment, but few have expressed consideration on the effects to marine life. In an elaborate study of a Harbor in Canada, results showed an increase in plastic waste because of litter from plastic water bottles and fishing nets, (Cole, Lindque, and Halsband & Galloway 2011).
In a report by Thomson, Olsen, Mitchell, et.al (2004), there is a need to evaluate the use of plastics by companies and various entities. This is possible through initiating collaborative efforts in recycling. One of the ways that can help in the recycling process is the reduction of the use of plastic. For example, having manufacturing companies especially soft drink based using alternative bottling option such as glass will help reduce the litter associated with plastic. The effort is not one-sided, with input from governmental agencies being necessary. Through the implementation of various procedures to curtail how manufacturing industries carry out their operations, then the policies in place to manage plastic are steady. According to UNEP (2015), the strength of the law provides a sense of security against pollution. For example, the disposal of plastic in marine waters is illegal as part of the International Maritime Organization. It aims to protect the maritime environment b having limits on the activities carries out, to reduce potential harmful effects to the environment. The initiative has made its way to other sea agencies that have in place, mechanisms to curtail the flow of plastics into the waters. Countries have picked up the mantle through active investigations and implementing procedures that help in mitigating the flow of plastics into the waters. As UNEP (2014), further, asserts there is a need to create an awareness of the presenting consequences of plastics in harming the environment. This is possible through the provision of education for young people, a collection of innovative ideas from people.
A useful and working solution is the Plastic Disclosure Project. It facilitates the measurement of annual plastic waste in carrying out their activities. When manufacturing industries embrace such a system, then a sense of accountability is apparent. Various industries are working towards the presentation of solutions with some designing proposals aimed at providing new ways of reconstructing plastic such as using it as fuel, UNEP (2014). There is the need to involve scientists in this regard, to provide sustainable and objective solutions to the issue. The need to reinvent the use of plastics is necessary, with the major environmental challenges finding ties to the use of plastic such as global warming. Scientists and researchers need to fill knowledge gaps and provide solutions into alternative products that are environmentally friendly as opposed to plastic.
The challenge then falls to manufacturing industries to find a way of better recycling plastic. From the review of literature and examination of the various articles, the threat of plastic pollution in marine waters is real to the extent of seeing plastic material float at sea. As individuals, there is also a responsibility to refrain from littering when in beaches or at sea. With such information in mind and the impending gaps in the effects of plastics on marine life, manufacturing industries should work closely with researchers to fund sustainable solutions to the issue.
References
Cole, Lindque, Halsband Galloway. (2011). Micro plastics as contaminants in the marine environment: A review. Marine Pollution Bulletin Volume 62, Issue 12. Print.
Eriksen, M, Lebreton, L. C, Carson, H. S, Thiel, M., Moore, C. J, Borerro, J. C, Reisser, J. (2014) Plastic pollution in the world's oceans: more than 5 trillion plastic pieces weighing over 250,000 tons afloat at sea PloS one , 9 (12), e111913.
Li, N., Mahat, D., & Park, S. (2009). Reduce, Reuse, and Replace: A Study on Solutions to Plastic Wastes. An Interactive Qualifying Project Submitted to the faculty of Worcester Polytechnic Institute .
Reisser, J, Shaw, J, Wilcox, C., Hardesty, B. D., Proietti, M, Thums, M, Pattiaratchi, C. (2013). Marine plastic pollution in waters around Australia: characteristics, concentrations, and pathway s PloS one , 8 (11), e80466.
Setälä O, Fleming-Lehtinen V, Lehtiniemi M (2014) Ingestion and transfer of microplastics in the planktonic food web . Environ Pollution 185:77–83. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2013.10.013
Thompson, R. C., Olsen, Y., Mitchell, R. P., Davis, A., Rowland, S. J., John, A. W., ... & Russell, A. E. (2004). Lost at sea: where is all the plastic? Science , 304 (5672), 838-838
UNEP. (2014). UNEP Year Book 2014 emerging issues update: Plastic Debris in the Ocean . Print.
