Trash Pollution
Found
on beaches and at all depths of the ocean, marine debris consists of all forms
of trash, including plastics, paper, wood, metal and other manufactured
materials.
Marine debris is 60-80% plastic (Rios et al 2007).
80% of marine debris comes from sources on land (US Department of Commerce 1999).
Approximately 20% of marine debris, or 636,000 tons per year, comes from ocean vessels (US Department of Commerce 1999; Ramirez-Llodra et al. 2011).
Cruises represent only 1% of marine vessels, but produce 25% of ship-sourced waste.
On average, a single cruise passenger produces 3.5 kg of waste per day (Butt 2007).
Marine debris is 60-80% plastic (Rios et al 2007).
80% of marine debris comes from sources on land (US Department of Commerce 1999).
Approximately 20% of marine debris, or 636,000 tons per year, comes from ocean vessels (US Department of Commerce 1999; Ramirez-Llodra et al. 2011).
Cruises represent only 1% of marine vessels, but produce 25% of ship-sourced waste.
On average, a single cruise passenger produces 3.5 kg of waste per day (Butt 2007).
Top Marine Debris Items Found in Cleanups Over the Last 25 Years
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Which Goals Does This Affect?
How Was It Measured?
Although
studies are available for several areas, global data do not exist for marine
trash at sea.
As a proxy, marine trash is measured as total trash collected (lbs) at International Coastal Clean-up Days for 111 countries according to data from the Ocean Conservancy (2011). For each Ocean Health Index region, intensity of trash pollution (tons/km) was reported by dividing the total weight of trash collected by the length of coastline cleaned.
As a proxy, marine trash is measured as total trash collected (lbs) at International Coastal Clean-up Days for 111 countries according to data from the Ocean Conservancy (2011). For each Ocean Health Index region, intensity of trash pollution (tons/km) was reported by dividing the total weight of trash collected by the length of coastline cleaned.
What Are The Impacts?
ECOLOGICAL IMPACT
Floating
marine debris often accumulates in particular regions because of wind patterns
and currents known as gyres. The ocean’s five largest gyres are the North
Pacific Gyre, the South Pacific Gyre, the North Atlantic Gyre, the South
Atlantic Gyre and the Indian Ocean Gyre. The North Pacific Gyre has received most
attention as the ‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch’, but floating trash accumulates
in all of the major gyres as well as in many smaller ones worldwide.
Seabirds, turtles, marine mammals and fish can mistake floating trash for food; if ingested, it can choke them or block their digestive systems. Large debris, such as old fishing gear and nets, can kill animals by strangulation or prevent them from performing vital activities such as swimming or diving. Plastic trash smaller than 5mm (microplastic) poses an additional threat because it adsorbs toxic chemicals, including DDT and PCBs, which can cause cancers, weaken the immune system and make animals more susceptible to diseases and other infections.
More than 260 species are known to have ingested or been entangled by plastic debris (STAP 2011).
Of the 120 marine mammal species listed on the IUCN Red List, 54% are known to have ingested or been entangled in plastic debris (STAP 2011).
Seabirds, turtles, marine mammals and fish can mistake floating trash for food; if ingested, it can choke them or block their digestive systems. Large debris, such as old fishing gear and nets, can kill animals by strangulation or prevent them from performing vital activities such as swimming or diving. Plastic trash smaller than 5mm (microplastic) poses an additional threat because it adsorbs toxic chemicals, including DDT and PCBs, which can cause cancers, weaken the immune system and make animals more susceptible to diseases and other infections.
More than 260 species are known to have ingested or been entangled by plastic debris (STAP 2011).
Of the 120 marine mammal species listed on the IUCN Red List, 54% are known to have ingested or been entangled in plastic debris (STAP 2011).
HUMAN HEALTH IMPACT
Ingestion
of plastic trash and the consequent uptake of toxins adsorbed on its surface
can transfer harmful chemicals through the food web into species eaten by
humans; these can include molecules known to increase the risk of birth defects
and cancer.
Careless or unlawful disposal of syringes and other medical waste products can spread diseases and pose risks to beach-goers.
Careless or unlawful disposal of syringes and other medical waste products can spread diseases and pose risks to beach-goers.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Marine
debris decreases the economic value and productivity of coastal regions,
particularly in the tourism, recreation, and seafood industries, and creates
additional costs.
In the United States, 85% of tourism revenue comes from coastal ocean states.
Economic activity directly related to the ocean generated $138 billion in 2004, and contiributed 47 million jobs in 2007 (Dorfman and Rosselot 2010).
In the United States, 85% of tourism revenue comes from coastal ocean states.
Economic activity directly related to the ocean generated $138 billion in 2004, and contiributed 47 million jobs in 2007 (Dorfman and Rosselot 2010).
What Has Been Done?
Scientific Advisory Technical Panel Presents Solutions-Based Approach to Plastics Pollution
The Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel of the Global Environment Facility (STAP) provides a thorough overview of the plastics pollution problem, including sources, geographic distribution, size distribution, environmental effects and other key information. The panel provides a conceptual strategy for nations and international bodies to address the problem in a comprehensive way.
Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup Yields Data and Debris
For
the past 25 years, the Ocean Conservancy has organized ocean clean-ups in 152
countries. Local volunteers walk beaches to collect trash, SCUBA divers collect
debris from the ocean floor, and volunteers in boats collect floating debris,
yielding staggering amounts of trash. Data from these cleanups are used by
ocean scientists, and can help inform policymakers.
Plastic Bag Policies Reduce Pollution in Bangladesh
Before 2002, 10 million plastic bags
were used in Bangladesh each day. Littering city streets and country fields,
plastic bags entered the watershed through sewers, canals and rivers and
clogged storm drains and prevented the water from receding. In the capital city
of Dhaka, the impact was particularly severe. Floodwaters lingered, increasing
the risk of water-borne illnesses. Damage to private property and city
infrastructure in Dhaka exceeded $137 million, and that year, diarrheal
diseases from water-borne pathogens like cholera accounted for 35% of all
food-related illnesses.
In 2002, the Ministry of Environment and Forests instituted a ban on plastic bags as a revision to the 1995 Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act. Since the ban, the streets have been cleaner and nearly plastic bag free. Reusable bags made from jute, a strong vegetable fiber produced in Bangladesh, have provided an economical alternative that supports local farmers while benefitting ocean health.
In 2002, the Ministry of Environment and Forests instituted a ban on plastic bags as a revision to the 1995 Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act. Since the ban, the streets have been cleaner and nearly plastic bag free. Reusable bags made from jute, a strong vegetable fiber produced in Bangladesh, have provided an economical alternative that supports local farmers while benefitting ocean health.
Get More Information
United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): Marine Debris Program
Educational
and informative source regarding the impact of marine debris.
Plastic Debris / Rivers to Sea: Algalita Marine Research Foundation & the California Coastal Commission
The PDRS Project is dedicated to minimizing land-based
sources of marine debris.
Ocean Conservancy: Tracking Trash: 25 Years of Action for the Ocean
A
report detailing results of the last 25 years of working toward trash-free
oceans
Ocean Conservancy: Trash Free Seas Program
International
Coastal Cleanup for collecting and recording marine debris.
Marine Debris Solutions
An
organization providing information on the causes of marine debris and potential
solutions.
Scientific Advisory Technical Panel (STAP) of the Global Environment Facility
STAP provides a thorough overview of the plastics pollution problem, including sources, geographic distribution, size distribution, environmental effects and other key information, and provides a conceptual strategy for nations and international bodies to address it in a comprehensive way.
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PHOTO(S): © Keith A. Ellenbogen