Plastic pollution is getting worse and threatens our oceans. Wildlife group WWF has rang an alarm over the rising plastic pollution in oceans and has called to form international treaties and end the problem.
According to a report, plastic has infiltrated all parts of the ocean and is found from the “smallest plankton up to the largest whale”. It has reached even the most remote region from the Arctic Sea ice to even the deepest part of the ocean, Mariana Trench. The report states that 88% percent of marine species are affected and many animals have ingested plastic particles, even those consumed by humans.
The report further states that around 19 and 23 million tonnes of plastic waste is washed into oceans. This is largely from single-use plastics products which constitute 60 percent of marine pollution. Countries around the world have moved to ban their use but have not managed to end the menace. This has now reached a saturation point and poses a huge threat to our ecosystem which is on the verge of collapse.
We have seen images of seabirds and turtles choking on straws or wrapped in fishing nets but the problem is much worse. Once in the water, the plastic degrades and becomes smaller until it is ‘nano-plastic’, invisible to the naked eye. The volume of micro-plastics could still double by 2040, causing a four-fold increase in plastic waste.
The only solution is to stop the pollution immediately as there is a limit to what oceans can absorb. There is also insufficient evidence on the harmful effects on human health. A clean-up operation could cost trillions and the only way is to stop polluting our oceans. It is unfortunate that there is no international treaty on worldwide plastics. Environmentalists around the world need to press leaders over the imminent threat and take action against plastic pollution.
We also need to end the use of single-use plastic either straws, cups, wrappers, or shopping bags. This is the habit of a lifetime that we must inculcate in ourselves. This will go a long way and we need to contribute in keeping our seas and oceans clean.
