Microplastics and Marine Life – Article by Ruwanthika Sandali – ZeroPlastic Community at Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka.
Microplastics are small plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in size, which have now become pervasive pollutants in the world’s oceans. Excerpted from tiny pieces of plastic arising from the degradation of larger plastic items and from synthetic clothing and personal care products, these microscopic pieces of plastic have become ubiquitous pollutants in the world’s oceans.
Scientists now found microplastics from the surface waters down to the deepest trenches of the world’s oceans, and an estimated 50 trillion microplastic particles are floating in our seas, which is posing severe risks to marine ecosystems.These are then ingested by marine life, which mistakes microplastics for food and stores them in their bodies. Physical blockages may consequently occur, followed by chemical contamination and transferring it up the food chain by larger predators consuming contaminated prey. Microplastics were discovered in fish, shellfish, and even plankton tissues at the very base of the ocean’s food web.
Beyond the threats that it poses to marine life, however, it is the risks to human health that become a concern for the scientists. These small plastics break down further into microplastics, which leach toxic chemicals into the water; some of these are known carcinogens. Eventually, these microplastics and their associated contaminants could make their way into humans through seafood consumption.
The microplastics crisis in the oceans will be a call for rigorous action on plastic waste reduction, improved waste management, and development of new materials that can replace at least one single-use plastics application. Keeping our ocean healthy and full of life is key to the future of our planet.