THE EFFECT OF PLASTIC POLLUTION ON AQUATIC LIFE

Abstract

Plastics are one of the most widely used materials in the world; they are broadly integrated into today’s lifestyle and made a major contribution to almost all product areas, be it the product itself or its packaging. Majority of consumer products used today thus uses some form of plastic or the other. Estimates show that worldwide almost 280 million ton of plastic materials are produced annually, much of which finally ends up in landfills or oceans. Plastics are lightweight, durable and inexpensive and these qualities can make them very harmful to wildlife, especially once they are in any form of water body. Plastics are often thrown mindlessly beside the roads or directly into water bodies after use. Once seaborne, plastics are more likely to be found circulating in ocean gyres. Plastics being lightweight and durable are capable of travelling long distances, ending up in huge amount along shoreline or floating in the open ocean. A growing concern is that once plastic reach wildlife; they may cause entanglement, death from ingestion and can even carry small invasive species. Globally, at least 23% of marine mammals, 36% of sea birds and 86% of sea turtle species are known to be affected by this menace. The animals of even ponds and lakes are facing similar problems. We often fail to realise that if a large section of us behaves in such irresponsible and mindless ways, our actions can cause potentially devastating ripple effects for virtually all residents of our planet. With respect to the particular problem concerned, it is still probably not too late to make more wise decisions individually as well as collectively to significantly decrease plastic use and pollution.