Marine Plastic Pollution

Marine Plastic Pollution

Subject :Environment

Section: Pollution

Context: Polymer plume, Over 170 trillion plastic particles are floating in the oceans, says study

More on the News:

• Oceans across the world are polluted by a growing plastic smog composed primarily of micro-plastics, according to a new study.
• An estimated 171 trillion plastic particles, weighing 2.3 million tonnes, were afloat in the world’s oceans in 2019, said the study published in Plos One on March 8, 2023.

Sources of Marine Plastic:

• The main sources of marine plastic are land-based, from urban and storm runoff, sewer overflows, beach visitors, inadequate waste disposal and management, industrial activities, construction and illegal dumping.
• Ocean-based plastic originates mainly from the fishing industry, nautical activities and aquaculture.
• Under the influence of solar UV radiation, wind, currents and other natural factors, plastic fragments into small particles, termed micro-plastics (particles smaller than 5 mm) or nano-plastics (particles smaller than 100 nm).
• In addition, microbeads, a type of micro-plastic, are very tiny pieces of manufactured polyethylene plastic that are added as exfoliants in health and beauty products, such as cleansers and toothpastes. These tiny particles easily pass through water filtration systems and end up in the ocean and lakes.

Impact of Plastic Pollution

• On Marine Environment: The most visible and disturbing impacts of marine plastics are the ingestion, suffocation and entanglement of hundreds of marine species.
• Floating plastics also contribute to the spread of invasive marine organisms and bacteria, which disrupt ecosystems.
• On Food and Health: Toxic contaminants accumulate on the surface of plastic materials as a result of prolonged exposure to seawater. When marine organisms ingest plastic debris, these contaminants enter their digestive systems, and overtime accumulate in the food web.
• Impacts on Climate Change: Plastic, which is a petroleum product, also contributes to global warming. If plastic waste is incinerated, it releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, thereby increasing carbon emissions.
• Impacts on Tourism: Plastic waste damages the aesthetic value of tourist destinations, leading to decreased tourism-related incomes and major economic costs related to the cleaning and maintenance of the sites.

Global Efforts:

• The 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matter (or the London Convention)
• The 1996 Protocol to the London Convention (the London Protocol)
• The 1978 Protocol to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL).
• The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) considers plastic marine debris and its ability to transport harmful substances as one of the main emerging issues affecting the environment.
• At the 2015 G7 summit in Bavaria, Germany, the risks of micro-plastics were acknowledged in the Leaders’ Declaration.
• GloLitter Partnerships (GLP): It is a project launched by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and initial funding from the Government of Norway.
• Clean Seas Campaign:
  • The United Nations Environment Programmelaunched the Clean Seas Campaign in 2017
  • Aim: The goal was to galvanize a global movement to turn the tide on plastic by reducing the use of unnecessary, avoidable and problematic plastics including single-use plastics and phasing out intentionally added micro-plastics.
  • Since then, 63 countries have pledged to do their part to improve plastics management through, among other measures, reducing the prevalence of single-use plastic products.
  • The campaign will now highlight source to sea issues and solutions and call for urgent global action.
  • The Campaign contributes to the goals of the Global Partnership on Marine Litter and the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment.