170 trillion Plastic Particles Afloat In The World’s Oceans

Subject: Environment

Section: Pollution

Concept:

170 trillion plastic particles are currently afloat in the oceans across the world, according to a new study, which added that if no urgent action is taken then this number could nearly triple by 2040.

Details of the study

‘A growing plastic smog, now estimated to be over 170 trillion plastic particles afloat in the world’s oceans — Urgent solutions required’, done by researchers from 5 Gyres Institute, Win Cowger of Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research and Stockholm Resilience Centre.
In 2014, it was estimated that there were 5 trillion plastic particles in the ocean.
From 1990 to 2005, the number of plastic particles more or less fluctuated.
One of the reasons for this could be due to the effective implementation of important policy measures at the time.
In the 1980s and 90s, there were some international policies, like MARPOL Annex 5 that enforced laws against dumping trash at sea. They were powerful laws that were enforceable and were preventative.
Since 2005 humanity has produced more than 5,000,000 tons of new plastic into the world, and with more plastic there is more pollution.

About microplastics

Plastic debris is found in the environment in a very wide range of sizes.
Researchers first reported finding tiny beads and fragments of plastic, especially polystyrene, in the ocean in the early 1970s.
The term ‘microplastics’ was introduced in the mid-2000s.
Today, it is used extensively to describe plastic particles with an upper size limit of 5 mm.

Why are microplastics in the ocean receiving increasing attention?

Marine litter – especially plastic debris in the ocean – is a major global environmental issue.
Physical effects
Microparticles can be ingested by filter-feeding marine organisms such as oysters and mussels.
They have been observed to close the gut wall and induce a reaction within the tissue.
Microplastics in the seawater present an additional stressor if they affect the filter-feeder system inside the whale’s mouth.
Chemical effects
The ecotoxicological profiles of compounds added to plastics to achieve certain properties are generally well known. These additives can be transferred from a plastic particle into an organism.
Seawater is contaminated with a wide variety of organic and inorganic pollutants. Many plastics absorb organic contaminants, such as the pesticide DDT and polychlorinated biphenols (PCBs), to a high degree.
These compounds can cause chronic human health effects, including disruption of the hormonal system (endocrine disruption), inducing genetic changes (mutagenicity) and cancer (carcinogenicity).
Once ingested by fish, birds or sea mammals, the compounds – which penetrate the structure of the plastic – may start to leach out.
Organisms become continuously contaminated by contact with their environment and by ingestion of contaminated food.

Sources of plastic debris

Sea-based sources include:
- Merchant shipping – rope, galley waste
- Fishing – nets, boxes, rope, wrapping bands, galley waste
- Aquaculture – nets, floats, rope
- Offshore oil and gas platforms – galley waste, sewage-related
- Cruise ships – galley waste, sewage-related (may be equivalent to a medium-sized town)
- Recreational boating – galley waste, sewage-related
Land-based sources include:
- Coastal tourism – packaging, cigarette filters
- Population centres – sewagerelated, storm drains, street litter
- Horticulture/agriculture – plastic sheeting, tubing
- Poorly controlled waste sites and illegal dumping – all waste types
- Industrial sites – plastic production and conversion, packaging
- Ship-breaking

Global Partnership on Marine Litter :

GPML is a voluntary, open-ended partnership for governments, international agencies, businesses, academia, local authorities, NGOs and individuals, launched during the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in June 2012.

Honolulu Strategy

The Honolulu Strategy is a framework for a comprehensive and global effort to reduce the ecological, human health and economic impacts of marine debris. The framework consists of three goals and associated strategies: