Managing Marine Plastic Pollution

Going into the effects it has on marine life. Waste disposal, such as chemicals and sewage, has been recognized as a potential threat to the environmental quality of waters. Everyday, marine life are getting caught in some kind of plastic material. Most think that only fish are affected from getting caught in these but sadly, not many know that they also kill birds, turtles, dolphins, seals and many other mammals swimming in the sea. Marine animals end up eating plastic as they think its a source of food due to the large amount of debris. According to John H. Tibbetts, the author of the article, “Managing Marine Plastic Pollution”

says “by one estimate, the volume of plastic debris going into the world's ocean could more than double by 2025.” The marine life are harmfully affected by this pollution, as to harming humans as well. Something even more terrifying than marine life struggling is us humans

Although tsunamis and earthquakes may kill many people, there is still a large chance of any of that to happen. Other than natural disasters, another way ocean pollution can affect humans is the diseases that get spread around in the ocean. It runs like a cycle because the humans make the decision to harm the ocean, therefore harming the marine life, and also harming themselves. “Phytoplankton introduced by ballast water may be associated with regional algae bloom that endangers human health via shellfish poisoning and respiratory illness” (Halle- graeff and Bolch 1992; Epstein 1995). “Toxins in industrial waste are the major cause of immunosuppression, reproductive failure and acute poisoning. Infectious diseases, like cholera, typhoid fever and other diseases gastroenteritis, diarrhea, vomiting, skin and kidney problem are spreading through polluted water” (Mehtab Haseena). Human health is affected by the damage of plants and animal nutrition. Health risk involved with polluted water has different types of diseases such as “respiratory disease, cancer, diarrheal disease, neurological disorder and cardiovascular disease.”. Anything can occur because it all depends on what chemicals or bacterias that are being spread around the environment.

At the end of the day, ocean pollution is harming both human beings and marine animals. I believe that one person can make a difference and create a movement to prevent chemicals, and sewage from entering our oceans as well as saving marine life. Chemicals and sewage is the major cause of Ocean Pollution, it causes global warming and it creates a dangerous hazard for the marine life environment, then ends up affecting humans as well. Ocean pollution is a huge problem that we need to solve. Sure, why should we care about the life of sea creatures, ocean pollution doesn't even affect us that much. It may seem like it doesn't affect us but most don’t know about the diseases that is being spread by ocean pollution. In the near future, I plan to build an organization where groups of clean-up crews tidy up the beach every weekend. I also plan on creating a project where trash will be collected before it enters our local water but for as of right now, I suggest everyone to pick up after their own trash or any waste you see in the streets. By working together, we can make a difference in our earth, one clean act at a time.

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