Plastic Pollution

Throughout the world even as you read this, loads of plastic enters into our oceans, creating our once blue and clean oceans into a place that replicates a landfill. Plastic pollution is getting worse and worse and in time will have many negative effects to the world and the environment.

One huge impact plastic pollution has on the rest of the environmental is it’s direct and deadly effect on wildlife in the ocean and even on land. Many marine creatures like turtles, seals, and other animals are killed after consuming and being entangled by plastic particles and objects. Some species have become endangered due to the sudden huge plunge in their population numbers and as a result, the food chain that links which organisms consume each other is disrupted and if a certain part of the food chain falls, then other parts will fall as well.

Another reason why plastic pollution should be managed is because it is harmful for human health. People that are exposed to plastic fibers are proven to have lung problems and reduced lung capacity. It is also known that chemicals used to create certain plastics are also harmful toward humans at high concentrations.

Lastly, plastics take hundreds and hundreds of years to fully decompose. This is because more plastics nowadays are not organic which make them almost indestructible when trying to decompose them. Bacteria is also unable to consume the material plastics are made out of. As a result, plastic adds a huge amount of pollution to the world because it takes so long to decompose.

In conclusion, plastic pollution is a huge problem to society that is only getting worse and worse and brings many issues to the world and society. Next time, pick up a piece of plastic and throw it away, and think twice before using plastic bottles daily in order to properly maintain the wellbeing of Earth and society.

Sources:

1. Center for Biological Diversity. 2019. “Ocean Plastics Pollution.” Biologicaldiversity.org. May 17, 2019. https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/ocean_plastics/.

2. Wolchover, Natalie. 2011. “Why Doesn’t Plastic Biodegrade?” Live Science. Live Science. March 2, 2011. https://www.livescience.com/33085-petroleum-derived-plastic-non-biodegradable.html.

3. ‌Association, American Lung. 2022. “How Plastic Waste Is Hurting Your Health.” http://Www.lung.org. September 1, 2022. https://www.lung.org/blog/plastic-waste-your-health.

4. ‌Parker, Laura. 2024. “The World’s Plastic Pollution Crisis, Explained.” National Geographic. National Geographic. February 21, 2024. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/plastic-pollution.