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