The Human Health Effects of Marine Plastic Pollution

Cause-Effect Essay
Ema Dwi Arsita 216060500111001

Plastic contamination in marine areas is increasing, Because of the extreme durability of

many plastics and the tremendous rise in their manufacture, plastic trash has spread throughout
the world's oceans, posing a threat to wildlife, human health, and the economy. According to
research, they can carry dangerous chemicals and bacteria that can cause disease in humans and
animals if consumed. Regardless of its size, marine plastic pollution is a fundamentally
anthropogenic problem, as it is entirely created by human decisions and behaviors, necessitating
social action to address this socio-economic problem. It is vital to understand the present public
view of marine plastic pollution and the source of this information in order to pursue a long-term
relationship with this material and the marine environment. The media is an important vehicle for
representing and shaping public opinion and societal action.
Scientists and politicians have been paying greater attention to marine plastics on both a
global and regional scale. The public's perception of marine issues has shifted during the previous
decade. The majority of people agreed that marine litter is a present and future menace to everyone
on the globe. Similarly, an examination of data from public opinion polls around the world indicated
that the majority of respondents believed that marine environments were in danger. Humans are to
blame for marine plastic pollution, which has spread throughout the ocean. Despite the generally
known ecological repercussions, the scientific data suggesting negative human health effects is still
being contested, and there is no significant evidence to support public opinion on marine plastic
pollution and human health.
Climate change and ocean acidification, as well as marine plastics and overfishing, are all
serious dangers to the world's seas and oceans. Plastic pollution in our oceans is one of the
world's most rapidly rising environmental issues, with new study suggesting that the problem may
be far worse than previously thought. The United Nations (UN) decade of Ocean Science for
Sustainable Development (2021–2030) offers a chance to solve research deficiencies in the marine
environment. A wide spectrum of harmful plastic consequences on marine species and
ecosystems has now been established. A combination of scientific research, public dialogue, and
media attention has put the issue of marine plastic pollution into the spotlight.
According to estimates, between 4.8 and 12.7 million metric tonnes of plastic garbage
reached the ocean in 2010. Plastic pollution has major ramifications for marine animals, not just
because of its extended lifespan, but also because of its aesthetic effects on coasts. At both the
national and global policy levels, combating plastic pollution has become increasingly crucial. The
European Union's (EU) Plastics Strategy, for example, strives to create a more "circular economy"
by establishing goals to minimize plastic waste and improve recycling. Plastic pollution could pose
difficulties in the future if current levels of pollution are maintained, although the research on the
effects of plastic pollution on human health is still equivocal. Furthermore, the World Health
Organization's (WHO) report on Microplastics in Drinking Water (2019) says that, while they do not
pose a significant risk to human health at current levels, further research is needed to assess
exposure to microplastics in drinking water and the wider environment. Marine plastic pollution is a
human-caused issue that has quickly escalated into a global hazard to marine ecosystems.
However, the ramifications for human health and happiness are less obvious. Given the current
debate on the potential human health implications of marine plastic pollution, the goal of this work
was to better understand public concern about these impacts and to examine public desire for
greater research into this issue.
To understand the possible implications of marine plastic pollution on planetary and
human health, more multidisciplinary research bringing together environmental and health
disciplines is needed. It has been suggested that health be taken into account in all future marine
and maritime policies, as well as environmental threats. The public in Europe is very concerned
about the health effects of marine plastic pollution. It's possible that the public misinterprets the
extensively reported ecological impacts of marine plastic pollution as a threat to human health, or
that media and non-governmental organization reporting has led to an overestimation of the
evidentiary base. Future research, such as crossnational public perception surveys like the
European Social Survey, should look at these possibilities and the perceived link between
environmental hazards and human health. As health concerns have been demonstrated to
encourage climate change action, this could provide valuable insights into new avenues to action.

References:

Davidson, Sophie M.C., White, Mathew P., Pahl, Sabine, Taylor, Tim. (2021). Public concern about,
and desire for research into, the human health effects of marine plastic pollution: Results
from a 15-country survey across Europe and Australia. European Centre for Environment
and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, United Kingdom
Keller, Anna, Wyles, Kayleigh J. (2021). Straws, seals, and supermarkets: Topics in the newspaper
coverage of marine plastic pollution. School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford
GU2 7XH, UK