Table of Contents

We love plastic and use it every single day. Reasons to this is because we know it as a cheap, versatile and durable material, which are attractive qualities to us. There are several advantages with plastic that can be compared to other substances. The material is long-lasting and it is lightweight. Plastic can resemble glass and can look equally beautiful as glass, except it does not have to be handled as carefully. Plastic in form of helmets, cellphones and IV-bags at hospitals are essentials to our lives and have molded our society into a safer place.

Plastic is however a substance the earth can not digest. As commonly known, the increasing accumulation of plastic material is dangerous to the world. It does not only affect wildlife and natural habitants, but humans. 50 percent of plastic that we use, is thrown away after being used once. The largest ocean garbage site in the world is called The Great Pacific Garbage Patch and it is located in the coast of California. This floating accumulation of plastic material is twice the size of Texas, with plastic fragments outnumbering sea life six to one. Enough plastic is used every year to circle the earth four times. This must be drastically changed now.

2.0 Consequences

Plastic affects every being alive in some way. On every beach around the world you find washed up plastic. Even the most remote places you encounter plastic. When the element enters the ocean, it is difficult to clean up in an efficient way. Most of it sinks to the bottom of the sea. Millions of tons of plastic seem to be disappearing into the deep. Only 1 percent ends up as waste on the beach or caught in the ice. Most types of the material never decompose entirely, but are slowly broken down to tiny splinters. Some may be consumed by marine fauna, accumulated or essentially ends up in ourselves. Over 663 species of marine wild life are either suffering from ingestion and entanglement every year.

2.1 Consequences sea life

Marine creatures found entangled in our plastic debris, becomes a more common prospect in the news every day. Plastic waste that is found in the sea is often consumed by seabirds and marine creatures. About 100 000 seals, whales, turtles and other animals are killed every year due to plastic, according to the environmental group; Planet ark. A million of seabirds also suffers a horrible death because of our plastic abuse. Birds such as the now endangered Albatross, are feeding plastic pellets to their young ones, because they mistake it as food. The chicks eventually die as a result, causing the already endangered species to slowly vanish. Higher up in the food chain, the predators appear. They are unwittingly consuming prey that have consumed plastic, and they will also have problems processing it.

“Albatross, victim of plastic ingestion”

(Unknown, 30.03.17)

A short while ago, a rare stranded whale appeared in the news. The ill Cuvier's beaked whale was clearly in a tremendous amount of pain and eventually had to be put asleep. During the autopsy, the scientists were utterly shocked when they examined the mammal´s stomach. About 30 plastic bags was retrieved followed by different sorts of plastic debris. The plastic waste the whale had consumed came from all over the world and had accumulated into a large mass inside the whale which clotted the animal´s intestines. A situation like this is already common, but environmentalists predict that occurrences such as this will double within a few years. Our plastic bags look like jellyfish to whales which is a common meal to them.

2.2 Effects humans and planet

Tiny plastic fragments called micro beads are commonly found in toothpaste, facial scrubs and other toiletries. The heart of the problem is this exact particle, however people are quite unaware of this issue and risk. A single shower can cause over 100 000 microscopic plastic particles entering the ocean. A tube of face wash can contain over 330000 bits of micro plastics. These pieces are slowly contaminating lakes with clean water. Micro beads are so tiny, that they pass through the filtration and into the water. Many sewage treatment facilities do not capture synthetic floating particles at the size of under 0.5 mm. Therefore, billions of plastic micro beads are flowing into our global waterways. Micro plastic particles attract other pollutants in the environment including PCBs, flame-retardants and other chemical substances. A single plastic particle can absorb 100000 times more chemicals than the water around it. When consumed by fish that we later eat, we are getting poisoned. The particles are found in oceanic gyres, gulfs, bays and seas worldwide.

Illustration of plastic accumulation.

2.3 Garbage continent

The great Pacific patch otherwise known as the “garbage continent” is a vortex of aquatic debris located in the North Pacific Ocean. The patch consists of debris, chemical sludge, and other sorts of waste caused by humans. The material has been caught by the currents of the North pacific gyre and accumulated into a mass. The area occupies a large and relatively constant region of the North Pacific Ocean bound by the North Pacific gyre. The gyre´s pattern is constantly rotating and draws waste. As material are captured in the currents, the wind on the surface of the currents are gradually moving floating waste into the center. This traps the waste and forms an “island” of litter.

The waste will ultimately collide with the coasts of Peru and Chile, a large chunk of our 8^th continent will eventually wash up to our shores and start piling up. You could save a turtle´s life by simply using less plastic and make sure your garbage is properly managed. Scientists are currently working on the project of removing the mass. Different machines and submarines have been set to chart the mass so we can learn how to attack the issue. They have not succeeded this mission yet. Our rubbish from the land is polluting our oceans, trapping and choking millions of fish and animals. We must keen our plastic trash out of our ocean and save ocean life.

3.0 Reduction efforts and solution?

How can we rise above our greatest pollution issue? There are ways to become more plastic free in our everyday. If all unite, we can slowly take baby steps towards a greener earth. We must seek alternatives to all plastic that we count on. Begin by refusing single-use plastic equipment; plastic cutlery, straws, plastic bags and other disposable items. Invest in a cloth bag to bring when you are shopping, to refuse plastic bags. You can also request paper bags, that are broken down easier. Go for a metal water bottle instead of multiple plastic ones, that will be used once and thrown away after. In order to refuse plastic, you must also switch your toiletries with brands that does not contain micro beads. There are various brands that are aware of the risk and creates products that can help to solve the issue.

Things that may seem like a bagatelle could assist to clean up the earth. Like for example, give up your gum. Chewing gum is made from synthetic polyvinyl, and you are not only chewing plastic but toxic plastic. The plastic in gum contains a chemical that have caused tumors in lab rats, that shows how dangerous the substance can be. And if you are throwing your used gum on the ground, birds often mistake it as food. The sticky surface of the plastic clogs the bird´s insides, and it suffers a horrible death. Instead of plastic bags for your lunch, invest in a food box. Instead of a lighter for your campfire, try using matches. There are numerous ways to solve our extensive use of plastic. Try to include as many people as possible to refuse and recycle plastic, rise awareness and inform about the hazard.

4.0 Conclusion

To conclude one of the materials that we rely on and use the most, is one of the substances that´s most dangerous to us. The accumulation of plastic is one of the most central global issues. We have allowed it to get to a point where garbage continents are formed, several animals die due to our waste and if we don´t change something now, we will be poisoned by our abuse. Plastic particles absorbs toxins like sponges, it is feared that these toxins find their way to the food chain, and people are the top of the food chain. Babies are born pre-polluted, and it may create fetal disorders and defects once the baby is born. A simple face wash should not be polluting our seas and eventually ourselves. Use as much recyclable material as you are able to. Beat the micro bead. Save the planet step by step.