By Taylor Schaefer, Staff Writer and Editor for Save the Water™ | October 14, 2015

The Plastic Problem

In 2014, the Gyres Institute estimated that 5.25 trillion plastic particles — weighing about 269,000 tons — are currently floating on the surface of our oceans. Macro- and microplastics are suffocating marine ecosystems as they infiltrate the food chain and contaminate waterways.

Plastic production has skyrocketed from 1.9 tons in the 1950s to 330 million tons by 2013 , largely because of low cost, durability, and efficiency. Non-biodegradable plastics like polyethylene and polypropylene make up 60–80% of all marine litter .

Even though the International Maritime Organization bans plastic dumping, pollution still reaches oceans through urban runoff, stormwater systems, rivers, and beach litter. Ocean-based pollution also comes from vessels and discarded fishing gear .

How Plastics Affect Oceans

When plastics enter oceans, UV exposure and physical forces break them into smaller particles, but consumer products like microbeads in toothpaste and cleansers also release microplastics directly into waterways.

Marine life across the food chain — from plankton to mammals — ingest these plastics . Once inside organisms, chemicals leach into tissues, altering health and ecosystems . Microplastics can even change bacterial composition in seawater, disrupting the base of the food web.

Plastics also carry Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) like PAHs, PCBs, PBDEs, and DDTs. These highly toxic compounds disrupt hormones, damage DNA, and cause cancer  . Because they resist degradation, POPs accumulate in the food chain, magnifying risks for both wildlife and humans.

Human and Environmental Implications

EPA scientist Anne-Marie Cook warns that contamination of seafood by marine plastics poses a serious risk: “There are a lot of repercussions to a community in finding out that their food supply is potentially contaminated.”

Ecotoxicologist Heather Leslie of VU University Amsterdam adds that plastic particles can trigger immune suppression, alter gene expression, and cause cell death .

With groundwater and seafood increasingly exposed, understanding plastic pathways and health impacts is crucial.

Toward Solutions

To combat the plastic crisis:

• Develop nutrient management and recycling strategies to minimize plastic release.
• Encourage biodegradable plastics to reduce long-term accumulation and leaching.
• Invest in new technologies for processing waste and safer alternatives for packaging.
• Expand public awareness campaigns — research and educational work by Save The Water™ puts pressure on manufacturers to cut harmful plastic use.

Greener, sustainable materials and stricter policies are essential to safeguard marine health and human wellbeing.

References

1. Nate Seltenrich. Feb 2015 (erratum June 2016). New Link in the Food Chain? Marine Plastic Pollution and Seafood Safety. Environmental Health Perspectives, 123(2). Link
2. Lorena M. Rios, et al. Aug 2007. Persistent Organic Pollutants Carried by Synthetic Polymers in the Ocean Environment. Science Direct. Link
3. A. C. Vegter, et al. Oct 2014. Global Research Priorities to Mitigate Plastic Pollution Impacts on Marine Wildlife. Endangered Species Research, 25:225-247. PDF
4. Craig Pittman. June 14, 2014. ‘Microplastics’ Imperil Marine Life in Tampa Bay, Worldwide. Tampa Bay Times. Link
5. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Dec 9, 2016. Persistent Organic Pollutants: A Global Issue, A Global Response. Link

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