National University of Colombia - Medellin Campus

Virtual English 3- Group 6

Causes and effects related to microplastic pollution in the ocean.

Luisa F. Salas Higuita.

The planet is made up of approximately 70% water, which implies great diversity. It is ironic
that its vastness is indifferent to many of our inhabitants. Every year, millions of tons of
plastic waste end up in the oceans, and ocean currents carry it to the most remote places to
accumulate. It has been proven that there are currently five plastic islands in the world;
distributed in the North Pacific, the South Pacific, the North Atlantic and the Indian Ocean,
and it continues to grow, warns an international scientific study (Iberdrola, 2019).
About 20% of marine plastic waste originates from activities that take place at sea, an
example is lost fishing nets that are called ghost nets and are death traps for many decades;
80% of marine plastic waste is produced on land and reaches the sea due to untreated drains,
wind, rivers or is dumped directly on beaches. Plastic objects are not biodegradable, they
only break down into smaller pieces called microplastics, an example being personal care
products. Microplastics and their pollutants are ingested by the smallest organisms and thus
enter the food chain that eventually reaches our plates (Ocean Care, 2021).
Microplastics affect both the seas and freshwater and their increase is accelerating, thus
increasing the concern about environmental pollution. In the study by Jiang (2018) he
indicates that the problem with plastic material is due to its slow degradation; in addition to
the fact that fish and other aquatic organisms ingest it and act as carriers to concentrate and
transport synthetic and persistent organic pollutants. In addition to microplastics, chemical
additives added to plastics during manufacturing that can leach out when ingested will enter
food chains and potentially cause serious health problems for humans.
Microplastic particles less than 5 mm in size are of increasing concern, especially in aquatic
environments; they come from cosmetic and textile industries. These particles are mainly
made of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate
(PET) and polyesters. Part of the approach to microplastic control is to focus on source
reduction, followed by development of technologies for cleanup and mitigation (Wu, 2016).
There is some foreboding data such as the floating mass of plastic in the Pacific Ocean is
estimated to be at least twice the size of the U.S. Each year, more than 8 million tons of
plastic are dumped in the oceans. According to another estimate, by 2050 there could be more
plastic than fish in the ocean. Climate change impacts such as warmer ocean temperatures
cause the melting of the Arctic ice caps, and rising sea levels have a negative effect on the
movement of ocean circulation.
Because they kill more than a million animals a year, there could be shortages and extinctions
of marine species, which for many cultures is the fundamental basis of their food and
economy. Plastic islands are not only what we can see; it is also believed that more than 98%
of plastic is in the depths affecting natural cycles and as they emit greenhouse gases, they
also influence global warming, which if not stopped could be the end of humanity.
National University of Colombia - Medellin Campus
Virtual English 3- Group 6

Bibliography

1. Descubre las islas de plástico que contaminan nuestros océanos. (2019, 3 diciembre).
Iberdrola. Recuperado 16 de diciembre de 2021, de
https://www.iberdrola.com/sostenibilidad/las-5-islas-de-basura-en-el-mundo

2. I Care #plasticdiet: Gegen Einwegplastik für plastikfreie Meere. (2021, 10 junio).

OceanCare. Recuperado 16 de diciembre de 2021, de
https://www.oceancare.org/de/unsere-
arbeit/meeresschutz/plastikverschmutzung/icare/

3. Jiang, J. Q. (2018). Occurrence of microplastics and its pollution in the environment:

A review. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 13, 16–23.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2017.11.003

4. Wu, W. M., Yang, J., & Criddle, C. S. (2016). Microplastics pollution and reduction
strategies. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 11(1).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-017-0897-7