Our world is made up of 71% of water. That´s more than two-thirds. But our seas are in danger. People produce a lot of rubbish and often it is disposed in the sea. According to a report published in 2018 by the European Environment Agency, two-thirds of european waters are not in good ecological condition. Even in the sea it is not better. Huge mountains of rubbish can be found in the oceans and the largest is located in the Pacific.
Every year, ten million tons of plastic ends up in the oceans. Each square kilometre of sea contains about 18.000 plastic parts. The marine animals confuse plastic with food, eat it and die from it. Dead animals are often found on beaches with stomachs full of plastic. Tony Andrady, chemist at the American Research Triangel Institute, said one day,"Every little piece of plastic manufactured in the past 50 years that made it into the ocean, is still out there somewhere."
Fertilizers enter the oceans through rivers. As a result, algae multiply massively, which can lead to poisoning.
The oil drilling stations are also a major burden on the environment. The oil from sunken ships, which enters the water, kills lots of animals and plants.
Nuclear power plants are built next to rivers and oceans to cool them. Radioactive waste is released into the rivers and from there into the sea. As a result, our oceans become more and more contaminated.
Consequences for our lives: The plastic attracts toxins that are in the water, which we absorb when we eat sea food. These toxins can even lead to cancer. Likewise, the plastic is washed up on beaches and let's face it, nobody wants to spend their holidays on a garbage-laden beach.
Everyone can do something to protect the oceans, starting with not disposing garbage in the local waters.
Every year, ten million tons of plastic ends up in the oceans. Each square kilometre of sea contains about 18.000 plastic parts. The marine animals confuse plastic with food, eat it and die from it. Dead animals are often found on beaches with stomachs full of plastic. Tony Andrady, chemist at the American Research Triangel Institute, said one day,"Every little piece of plastic manufactured in the past 50 years that made it into the ocean, is still out there somewhere."
Fertilizers enter the oceans through rivers. As a result, algae multiply massively, which can lead to poisoning.
The oil drilling stations are also a major burden on the environment. The oil from sunken ships, which enters the water, kills lots of animals and plants.
Nuclear power plants are built next to rivers and oceans to cool them. Radioactive waste is released into the rivers and from there into the sea. As a result, our oceans become more and more contaminated.
Consequences for our lives: The plastic attracts toxins that are in the water, which we absorb when we eat sea food. These toxins can even lead to cancer. Likewise, the plastic is washed up on beaches and let's face it, nobody wants to spend their holidays on a garbage-laden beach.
Everyone can do something to protect the oceans, starting with not disposing garbage in the local waters.
Watch the consequences of a heavily soiled sea! A wale with 40kg plastic in his stomach!!!
Our own opinion:
Plastic pollution is more common to our planet than most people think. Marine ecosystems around the world can be completely disrupted by plastic pollution. Our own ignorance about our waste may soon be costing us our health. Yet there is still very little public awareness about the effects of marine plastic pollution on the entire planet as well as our daily lives. Will we need to wait for plastic pieces to begin to cause major health issues for action to be taken? By then, it will surely be too late. There needs to be regulations on the production, distribution and disposal of plastics. Immediately. However, we must educate ourselves on the dangers of plastics.
Plastic pollution is more common to our planet than most people think. Marine ecosystems around the world can be completely disrupted by plastic pollution. Our own ignorance about our waste may soon be costing us our health. Yet there is still very little public awareness about the effects of marine plastic pollution on the entire planet as well as our daily lives. Will we need to wait for plastic pieces to begin to cause major health issues for action to be taken? By then, it will surely be too late. There needs to be regulations on the production, distribution and disposal of plastics. Immediately. However, we must educate ourselves on the dangers of plastics.