Final Informative Report

 Lisangel Tineo

Prof. Nargiza Matyakubova

ENGL 21003, Section H

10/04/2023

Informative Report

The Plastic Plight: Rise of Microplastics in our Oceans

(Courtesy of nationalgeographic.org)

    The presence of microplastics in the ocean has been a growing concern for the past

several years. Due to the overproduction of plastic material, microplastics can be found in

oceans, rivers, and even in the air we breathe. The existence of these microplastics has been

causing many issues in our oceans and can have irreparable negative effects on marine life,

causing an imbalance in their food chains and ecosystems.

    Microplastics are small pieces of plastic that exist in our environment as a direct result of

human activities. They can be described as polymers with a diameter of smaller than five

millimeters (0.2 inches) and made of polyamide, polyethylene, and polyethylene terephthalate

fibers and fragments. Many everyday products, such as bottles, bags, and clothing usually

contain the previously mentioned synthetic materials that can break down into small fragments

over time by exposure to environmental factors, mainly due to the sun’s radiation and ocean

waves. Microplastics can be separated into two types: primary and secondary. Primary

microplastics can enter the environment unintentionally through spills during production or

transportation, through product use (such as wastewater systems and/or the washing of personal

care products into them), or abrasion during washing (such as washing clothing that contains

plastic materials). Secondary microplastics can be defined as the breakdown of larger products

like water bottles, food containers, fishing nets, tires, and other man-made plastic objects.

In general, conventional plastic materials have very high resistance to deterioration.

Depending on the material's characteristics and the surrounding environmental factors, plastics

are thought to persist for hundreds or even thousands of years. Environmental weathering still

breaks down plastics, albeit extremely slowly, which produces modifications in polymer

characteristics brought on by biotic and/or abiotic processes.

That being said, the formation of microplastics is a long and tedious process. Overproduction of plastic

materials can lead to inappropriate disposal of plastic waste, landing tons of waste per year in our 

oceans. To be more specific on average 400 million tons of plastic are produced every year and

according to IUCN (2023), of that amount, at least 14 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean

every year, and plastic makes up to 80% of all marine debris found from surface waters to even

deep-sea sediments. Degradation of that plastic can happen through several means, either

through temperature, air, water, mechanical forces, or even through photodegradation which is

caused by sun irradiation, high ultraviolet irradiation (UV), and/or medium energy. Polymers

undergo oxidation and chain scission as a result of degradation, which alters the chemical

composition, physical and chemical characteristics, and mechanical properties of the plastics.

Mass production of plastics began in the mid-20th century, and since then around 3.86

metric tons of microplastics, or pieces measuring less than 5 millimeters, have been estimated to

be in the North Atlantic (Allen, 2021), and according to the New York Times, a recent model

found that 99.8 percent of plastic that has entered the ocean since 1950 had sunk below the first

few hundred feet of the ocean. Scientists have found 10,000 times more microplastics on the

seafloor than in contaminated surface waters (New York Times, 2022). Unfortunately, many

types of marine life are attracted to microplastics and treat them as food, leading to internal

accumulation and potential intoxication. Microplastics can also absorb toxic substances, making

them even more lethal. According to an analysis, globally, about 26% of fish species are found

to ingest microplastics (Allen, 2021), which can affect the fish’s ability to survive and reproduce

and can have population-level impacts. Additionally, microplastics can cause physical injuries to

marine life, such as entanglement, perforation, and the disruption of aquatic food webs. Despite

all the damage microplastics have on our environment, they are extremely difficult to eliminate

and can remain in the water for decades if not more.

Microplastics have been found in commercial seafood, drinking water, and even in the

smallest of creatures like plankton to even bigger marine life like whales, among other marine

creatures. Sadly, conventional water treatment facilities are unable to completely eradicate all

signs of microplastics and toxins in the water. Since they could include hazardous substances

utilized in the production process, such as phthalates, bisphenol A, and others, plastics could

pose a risk to both marine life and people. The marine fish and marine food chain is impacted in

many different ways by marine microplastics. The microplastics may reduce food intake, delay

growth, cause oxidative damage, and cause aberrant behavior in fish and other aquatic species.

Additionally, dangerous substances like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), whose exposure has

been directly related to cancer and other severe human health issues, can be absorbed by plastics

from the environment.

The future of marine life in the face of microplastics in the ocean is a complex and

multifaceted issue that is difficult to predict with certainty. Microplastics can affect the breeding

of marine life, leading to a decline in population numbers. The impact can vary depending on the

type of microplastic, and the specific marine lives affected by them. For example, zooplankton

and tunicates which is known that the absorption of microplastics in their systems can cause

abnormalities in their development, and behavior, and even affect their survival skills. Larger

marine animals, such as fish, seals, and whales can also ingest larger pieces of pollution and

microplastics, leading to physical injuries and blocked digestive systems. As microplastics

continue to accumulate in the ocean and enter the food chain, the health of the oceans and the

marine life that inhabit them will continue to decline.

It is clear that microplastics in the oceans pose a significant threat to the health and

resilience of marine life and the environment, but unfortunately, there are currently insufficient

efficient treatment options despite the fact that marine microplastic contamination is becoming a

major worldwide pollution crisis. Future research should examine the size, shape, and associated

pollutants. This can include altering the characteristics of plastic products. For instance, they

may make pens more flexible and water bottles more hard, and implement more water treatment

systems. Increase recycling and discourage littering in the waters in hopes of making our

environment a better and safer place.