Student: Layla Dunn
Science Investigation
1. Develop an Inquiry Question
Inquiry Question: How does plastic pollution from human activities impact marine life
and what measures can be implemented to mitigate these effects?
2. Complete Preliminary Research and Gather Primary/Secondary Data
These are the key facts about plastic pollution in the ocean according from UNESCO
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission:
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, or floats around and ends up
forming garbage patches.
Source: Ocean plastic pollution an overview: data and statistics ([Link])
According from BBC News, more than 171 trillion pieces of plastic are now estimated to
be floating in the world's oceans, according to scientists. Plastic kills fish and sea animals and
takes hundreds of years to break down into less harmful materials. The concentration of plastics
in the oceans has increased from 16 trillion pieces in 2005, data suggests.
It could nearly triple by 2040 if no action is taken, scientists warn single-use plastics
like bottles, packaging, fishing equipment or other items break down over time into smaller
pieces due to sunlight or mechanical degradation. Wildlife like whales, seabirds, turtles and fish
mistake plastic for their prey and can die of starvation as plastic fills their stomachs.
Source: Oceans littered with 171 trillion plastic pieces ([Link])
Where does plastics in the ocean coming from?
Most of the plastic in our oceans comes from land-based sources: by weight,
70% to 80% is plastic that is transported from land to the sea via rivers or
coastlines. The other 20% to 30% comes from marine sources such as fishing nets,
lines, ropes, and abandoned vessels.
Plastic pollution is dominant where the local waste management practices are
poor. This means there is a large amount of mismanaged plastic waste that can enter
rivers and the ocean in the first place. This makes clear that improving waste
management is essential if we’re to tackle plastic pollution. Second, the largest emitters
tend to have cities nearby: this means there are a lot of paved surfaces where both
water and plastic can drain into river outlets.
Source: Where does the plastic in our oceans come from? - Our World in Data
The world produces around 350 million tons of plastic waste each year. Estimates vary, but
studies suggest that 1 to 2 million tons enter the oceans annually. That means 0.5% of plastic
waste ends up in the ocean.
Human Contribution to Plastic Pollution in the Ocean
Plastic pollution in the ocean is mainly contributed by human activities and
innovations. Marine trash encompasses all manufactured products (by humans) —most of
them plastic—that end up in the ocean. Littering, storm winds, and poor waste management all
contribute to the accumulation of this debris, 80 percent of which comes from sources on land.
Common types of marine debris include various plastic items like shopping bags and beverage
bottles, along with cigarette butts, bottle caps, food wrappers, and fishing gear. Plastic waste is
particularly problematic as a pollutant because it is so long-lasting. Plastic items can take
hundreds of years to decompose.
Most of the 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.
(Source: Ocean plastic pollution an overview: data and statistics ([Link]))
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.
Several human activities contribute significantly to plastic pollution in the ocean:
1. Improper Waste Disposal: Littering and inadequate waste management systems lead
to plastic waste being carried by wind and water into the ocean. This includes everyday
items like plastic bags, bottles, and food wrappers.
2. Industrial Activities: Industries often release plastic waste into the environment. This
includes microplastics from manufacturing processes and larger plastic debris from
construction and packaging.
3. Fishing and Maritime Activities: Discarded fishing gear, such as nets and lines,
contributes to marine plastic pollution. Additionally, plastic waste from ships, including lost
cargo and waste disposal, adds to the problem.
4. Urban Runoff: Stormwater runoff from urban areas can carry plastic debris into rivers
and streams, which eventually flow into the ocean. This runoff often contains plastic litter
from streets and other urban surfaces.
5. Agricultural Practices: The use of plastic products in agriculture, such as plastic mulch
and greenhouse coverings, can result in plastic waste entering waterways and reaching the
ocean.
6. Tourism and Recreational Activities: Coastal tourism and recreational activities often
lead to plastic waste being left on beaches and coastal areas, which can be washed into
the ocean
Sources: Plastic Pollution - Our World in Data, Plastic pollution - resource | IUCN, Unveiling
Plastic Pollution in Oceans | UNEP - UN Environment Programme
Local Scenario
Each square kilometre of Australian sea surface water is contaminated by
around 4,000 pieces of tiny plastics, according to a study published recently in journal
PLOS ONE and data repository Figshare. These small plastic fragments, mostly less than
5mm across, are loaded with pollutants that can negatively affect several marine species,
from tiny fish and zooplankton to large turtles and whales. Plastic pollution hazards to
Australian species and ecological communities are therefore likely broader than those
officially recognised.(Source: Australian waters polluted by harmful tiny plastics
([Link]) )
One of the researches has shown that approximately three-quarters of the rubbish
along the Australian coast is plastic. Most is from Australian sources, not from overseas,
with debris concentrated near urban centres. In coastal and offshore waters, most floating
debris is plastic. The density of plastic ranges from a few thousand pieces of plastic per
square kilometre to more than 40,000 pieces of plastic per square kilometre.
Debris is more highly concentrated around major cities, suggesting local sources.
Human deposition is the most important factor in determining how much debris can be
found at a site. Water flow (e.g. storm water) and wind contribute to the transport of debris
towards marine ecosystems. (Source: Marine pollution: sources, distribution and fate -
CSIRO)
The most up-to-date stats show Australians generated 67 million tons of waste
in [Link] that, about 54 million tons is known as "core waste", and is dealt with by
the waste and resource recovery industry.
Compared with other similar developed countries, the Department of Environment says
we generate "more waste than the average" and recycle "a little less than the average".
And it's estimated about 130,000 tons of Australian plastic ends up in waterways and
oceans each year. The three main ways it ends up there, according to WWF, are littering,
products like wet wipes being flushed and plastic flying away from landfill processing
(Source: Australians create 67 million tonnes of waste each year. Here's where it all ends
up - ABC News).
Impact on Marine Life:
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.
Plastic pollution has a profound and detrimental impact on marine life. Here are
some keyways it affects the ocean’s inhabitants:
1. Entanglement: Larger pieces of plastic, such as fishing nets and six-pack
rings, can entangle marine animals like turtles, seals, and birds. This can
lead to injuries, drowning, or starvation as the animals are unable to move
or feed properly.
2. Ingestion: Many marine species mistake plastic debris for food. Ingesting
plastic can cause internal injuries, blockages, and even death. For example,
seabirds often consume small plastic fragments, which can lead to
malnutrition and starvation.
3. Toxic Contamination: Plastics can absorb harmful chemicals from the
water. When marine animals ingest these plastics, the toxins can
accumulate in their bodies, leading to health issues and affecting the entire
food chain.
4. Habitat Disruption: Plastic debris can smother coral reefs and other vital
habitats, disrupting the delicate balance of these ecosystems. This can
hinder the growth and reproduction of marine organisms. billions of pieces
of plastic waste are lodged in the reefs across the Asia-Pacific, with
potentially devastating results. The massive amount of plastic rubbish
located in 159 reefs from Thailand to Australia is a huge concern for the
marine environment and especially coral. Debris like plastic bags, straws,
bottles stresses coral through “light deprivation, toxin release, and anoxia,
giving pathogens a foothold for invasion”. The risk of coral disease
increases when plastic clogs up the coral. It is even worse when coral is
entirely draped in plastic, causing the risk of coal disease to surge by a
staggering 20-fold.
5. Microplastics: Over time, larger plastic items break down into tiny particles
called microplastics. These are ingested by a wide range of marine life, from
plankton to whales, and can have long-term health effects.
Sources: How does plastic pollution affect marine life? | Fauna & Flora ([Link]),
Plastic pollution and marine litter | UNEP - UN Environment Programme,
marine_plastic_pollution_issues_brief_nov21.pdf ([Link])
3. Proposed Solutions:
A. Plastic Reduction Initiatives - by banning the production and sale of unnecessary
plastic items with simultaneous efforts to incentivise reusing, recycling, and the
production and utilisation of alternate compostable materials. people can help
minimize the impact of plastic finding its way into the ocean by changing their habits.
For example, stop using single use bags, don’t use single use plastic coffee cups,
reusable water bottles, and Tupperware containers versus single use water bottles
and takeaway containers. People can also make sure they dispose of their rubbish
responsibly. This can be done by always taking your rubbish with you and putting it in
the right bin, and not putting rubbish into already full bins. Pick up rubbish that is
near you and dispose of it correctly. Encouraging the reduction of single-use plastics
through policies, public awareness campaigns, and incentives for using alternative
materials can help decrease plastic waste.
B. Policy Implementation: Advocate for stricter regulations on plastic production and
disposal, including bans on single-use plastics. Implementing and enforcing laws that
restrict the use of certain plastics, regulate waste disposal, and hold industries
accountable for plastic pollution can drive significant change4.
C. Community Engagement: Launch educational campaigns to raise awareness about
the impact of plastic pollution and promote sustainable practices. Raising awareness
about the impacts of plastic pollution and educating the public on how to reduce
plastic use can foster a culture of environmental responsibility.
D. Clean-Up Initiatives: Organize regular clean-up drives in and around our oceans to
remove existing plastic debris. Organizing and participating in beach clean-ups and
ocean clean-up initiatives can help remove existing plastic debris from marine
environments.
E. Research and Innovation: Investing in research to develop biodegradable plastics
and innovative waste management technologies can provide long-term solutions to
plastic pollution.
F. Development of effective waste management - Enhancing waste management
systems to ensure proper disposal and recycling of plastics can significantly reduce
the amount of plastic entering the oceans. Without proper waste management
systems, this growth in consumption leads to a significant increase in mismanaged
waste. This leads to pollution of the ecosystems such as rivers, lakes, and the
ocean. Improving waste management practices can also help us to reduce the
number of raw materials generated. By recycling, we can reduce (although not
eliminate) the production of new resources.
According from one of the studies in Australia, regardless of where plastic
pollution originates, the management interventions made at the local level are crucial to
the global success of reducing plastic pollution. Reduced plastic consumption and
pollution have been observed in communities with plastic taxes and educational
programs. However, there is currently a lack of a quantitative framework that connects
local actions to measurable reductions of plastic loads in the nearby coastal
environment. Here, we explore whether changes in municipal waste management efforts
corresponded to decreases in coastal plastic pollution across the continent of Australia.
Our research shows that local strategies can result in large-scale benefits. We observed
an average reduction in coastal litter of 29% over 6 years at the continental scale.
Strategies that encouraged stewardship of coastal areas and economically motivated
appropriate waste disposal were correlated with reductions in plastic pollution. This work
can guide the efforts of policymakers and citizens alike to reduce plastic pollution at
local, national, and global scales. (Source: Local waste management successfully
reduces coastal plastic pollution - ScienceDirect)