Plastics - Effects on Marine Life & Climate Change

by Martin Nketsiah

Plastic is a synthetic material composed of long-chain polymers, primarily derived from petrochemicals, fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas[1]. It is characterized by its malleability and ability to be molded into various shapes and forms when subjected to heat and pressure. Plastics come in a wide range of types, each with distinct properties, such as flexibility, strength, transparency, and resistance to chemicals.[2] Microplastics are tiny particles of plastic material, typically measuring less than 5 millimeters in size.[3] They can be either intentionally manufactured at this small size known as primary microplastics or result from the breakdown of larger plastic items termed as secondary microplastics. These particles are prevalent in the environment and can be found in various ecosystems, including terrestrial environments, freshwater bodies, and oceans.[4]Due to its versatility, plastic is used in countless applications, including packaging, construction, electronics, textiles, automotive components, medical devices, and more. While plastics have brought significant benefits to modern society, such as lightweight and durable products, their widespread use has also raised environmental concerns.[5]

Annually, a staggering 8 million tons of discarded plastics find their way into our oceans, raising concerns about the toxicity of plastics on marine life. By 2050, the substantial plastic production volume could be responsible for up to 13% of the planet's total carbon budget, exacerbating the climate crisis.[6] Improper disposal of plastic waste has led to plastic pollution in the natural environments.[7] This pollution poses threats to marine life through ingestion and entanglement, disrupts ecosystems, and raises concerns about the long-term impact on human health through the consumption of contaminated seafood and the presence of microplastics in the environment.

Placing plastic in recycling bins ensures its disappearance is a misconception. In reality, a mere 9 percent of plastic waste is recycled on a global scale[8], leaving the vast majority to be improperly disposed of in the natural environment. ?When plastic waste, especially single-use plastics like plastic bags, bottles, and packaging, is not properly managed or recycled, it often ends up in natural environments. This includes rivers, oceans, beaches, and even remote areas, contributing to the widespread problem of plastic pollution. Marine animals, such as sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals, can mistake plastic items for food. Ingestion of plastics can lead to severe injuries, digestive blockages, and even death. Additionally, marine life may become entangled in larger plastic debris, causing physical harm and impairing their ability to move or feed. As plastic waste breaks down over time, it can fragment into microplastics as explained. These tiny particles are now found in various aquatic environments, including seafood. The presence of microplastics in seafood raises concerns about the potential long-term impact on human health when these contaminated items are consumed.

The connection between plastics and climate change is glaring, impacting the environment in various aspects, spanning from their creation and disposal to their repercussions on marine ecosystems. Climate change is the term used to describe regular changes in the earth's climate that are caused by an extensive combination of atmospheric changes and interactions with many components of the earth structure, such as geological, chemical, biological, and geographical forces. A variety of variables continuously alter the atmosphere.[9] These elements makeup a set of factors that influence global climate change. They include solar radiation, patterns of ocean currents, the composition of the atmosphere, and the development of vegetation on land. Some of these factors can undergo rapid changes, such as the redistribution of heat within the oceans, shifts in atmospheric chemical composition, and modifications in surface vegetation. These rapid changes occur over relatively short periods.[10]

Plastics are often overlooked in discussions about climate change, quietly exert their influence as a contributor to this global challenge. Originating from fossil fuels, the production, use, and disposal of plastics release a range of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere, amplifying the heat-trapping effect that drives the planet's warming. The staggering scale of plastic consumption, coupled with inefficient waste management practices, accelerates this environmental dilemma.[11]

As mentioned earlier, the production of plastics is heavily dependent on fossil fuels, primarily oil and natural gas. The extraction, processing, and transportation of these raw materials for plastic production contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). [12]These gases are major drivers of global warming and climate change, leading to shifts in weather patterns, rising sea levels, and more frequent and severe extreme weather events. Plastics have a significant carbon footprint throughout their life cycle, from manufacturing to disposal. This includes the energy-intensive processes involved in producing plastics, as well as the emissions released when plastics degrade or incinerate.

Open burning of waste, a prevalent practice in numerous regions, emerges as a significant contributor to air pollution, with dire consequences for both the environment and human health. When plastics are incinerated in this manner, they unleash a toxic blend of chemicals that inflict harm on our planet and those unfortunate enough to breathe the contaminated air. A particularly alarming outcome of this process is the release of black carbon, a potent pollutant with a global warming potential that can exceed carbon dioxide's impact by a staggering factor of up to 5,000 times. Recognizing the detrimental effects of such practices is important as we strive to combat both local and global air quality issues and mitigate the broader implications for our climate.[13] Reducing plastic production and consumption is an essential step in mitigating the carbon footprint associated with plastics.

In conclusion, it is evident that plastics and microplastics contribute to the emergence of global climate change. The evidence points to the interactions between plastic pollution, greenhouse gas emissions from plastic production and disposal, and the disruption of marine ecosystems. The connection between plastics and climate change is undeniable and the persistence of plastics in the environment poses ongoing threats to both marine life and the global health in general.[14] The rise in plastic consumption and the ineffective management of plastic waste is worrisome. This issue emphasizes the importance of adopting sustainable practices, rethinking our reliance on single-use plastics, and embracing circular economy solutions that prioritize reuse and minimize waste generation.[15]

References

·?????? Center for International Environmental Law, ‘Plastic & Climate: The Hidden Costs of a Plastic Planet’ (Ciel.org2020) https://www.ciel.org/project-update/plastic-climate-the-hidden-costs-of-a-plastic-planet/

·?????? Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL),‘The Toxic Impacts of Plastic across Its Lifecycle’ (Center for International Environmental Law2022) https://www.ciel.org/the-toxic-impacts-of-plastic-across-its-lifecycle/

·?????? Edmond C, ‘We Know Plastic Pollution Is Bad – but How Exactly Is It Linked to Climate Change?’ (World Economic Forum19 January 2022) https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/01/plastic-pollution-climate-change-solution/

·?????? Fava M, ‘Ocean Plastic Pollution an Overview: Data and Statistics’ (Ocean Literacy Portal9 May 2022) https://oceanliteracy.unesco.org/plastic-pollution-ocean/

·?????? France-Presse A, ‘9 Percent of Plastic Worldwide Is Recycled, OECD Says’ (VOA22 February 2022) https://www.voanews.com/a/percent-of-plastic-worldwide-is-recycled-oecd-says-/6455012.html

·?????? Hamilton LA and others, ‘Plastic & Climate the Hidden Costs of a Plastic Planet’ (Amanda Kistler ed, Creative Commons Attribution 40 International License 2019)

·?????? Jackson ST, ‘Climate Change | Causes, Effects, & Facts’, Encyclop?dia Britannica (2018) https://www.britannica.com/science/climate-change

·?????? Marsh K and Bugusu B, ‘Food Packaging - Roles, Materials, and Environmental Issues’ (2007) 72 Journal of Food Science https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1750-3841.2007.00301.x

·?????? Mihai F-C and others, ‘Plastic Pollution, Waste Management Issues, and Circular Economy Opportunities in Rural Communities’ (2021) 14 Sustainability 20

·?????? National Geographic, ‘Microplastics | National Geographic Society’ (education.nationalgeographic.org20 May 2022) https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/microplastics/

·?????? Pandey B and others, ‘Microplastics in the Ecosystem: An Overview on Detection, Removal, Toxicity Assessment, and Control Release’ (2022) 15 Water 51

·?????? Rodriguez F, ‘Plastic’, Encyclop?dia Britannica (2018) https://www.britannica.com/science/plastic

·?????? Sharma S, Sharma V and Chatterjee S, ‘Contribution of Plastic and Microplastic to Global Climate Change and Their Conjoining Impacts on the Environment - a Review’ (2023) 875 Science of The Total Environment 162627

·?????? Team Xometry, ‘Plastic: Definition, Types, Properties, Applications, Advantages, and Disadvantages’ (www.xometry.com21 April 2023) https://www.xometry.com/resources/materials/what-is-plastic/

·?????? Tsydenova N and Patil P, ‘6 Reasons to Blame Plastic Pollution for Climate Change’ (blogs.worldbank.org9 November 2021) https://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/6-reasons-blame-plastic-pollution-climate-change

?

[1]Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) , ‘The Toxic Impacts of Plastic across Its Lifecycle’ (Center for International Environmental Law 2022) <https://www.ciel.org/the-toxic-impacts-of-plastic-across-its-lifecycle/>.

[2] Kenneth Marsh and Betty Bugusu, ‘Food Packaging - Roles, Materials, and Environmental Issues’ (2007) 72 Journal of Food Science <https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1750-3841.2007.00301.x>.

[3] National Geographic, ‘Microplastics | National Geographic Society’ (education. nationalgeographic.org 20 May 2022) <https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/microplastics/>.

[4] Bhamini Pandey and others, ‘Microplastics in the Ecosystem: An Overview on Detection, Removal, Toxicity Assessment, and Control Release’ (2022) 15 Water 51.

[5] Team Xometry, ‘Plastic: Definition, Types, Properties, Applications, Advantages, and Disadvantages’ (www.xometry.com 21 April 2023) <https://www.xometry.com/resources/materials/what-is-plastic/>.

[6] Center for International Environmental Law, ‘Plastic & Climate: The Hidden Costs of a Plastic Planet’ (Ciel.org2020) <https://www.ciel.org/project-update/plastic-climate-the-hidden-costs-of-a-plastic-planet/>.

[7] Marta Fava, ‘Ocean Plastic Pollution an Overview: Data and Statistics’ (Ocean Literacy Portal 9 May 2022) <https://oceanliteracy.unesco.org/plastic-pollution-ocean/>.

[8] Ibid

[9] Stephen T Jackson, ‘Climate Change | Causes, Effects, & Facts’, Encyclopedia Britannica (2018) <https://www.britannica.com/science/climate-change>.

[10] Ibid

[11] Shivika Sharma, Vikas Sharma and Subhankar Chatterjee, ‘Contribution of Plastic and Microplastic to Global Climate Change and Their Conjoining Impacts on the Environment - a Review’ (2023) 875 Science of The Total Environment 162627.

[12] Ibid

[13] Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) , ‘The Toxic Impacts of Plastic across Its Lifecycle’ (Center for International Environmental Law2022) <https://www.ciel.org/the-toxic-impacts-of-plastic-across-its-lifecycle/>.

[14] Nina Tsydenova and Pawan Patil, ‘6 Reasons to Blame Plastic Pollution for Climate Change’ (blogs.worldbank.org 9 November 2021) <https://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/6-reasons-blame-plastic-pollution-climate-change>.

[15] Florin-Constantin Mihai and others, ‘Plastic Pollution, Waste Management Issues, and Circular Economy Opportunities in Rural Communities’ (2021) 14 Sustainability 20.