Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic objects and particles including plastic bottles and much

more in the Earth's environment that adversely affects wildlife, wildlife habitat, and humans. Plastics that
act as pollutants are categorized into micro-, meso-, or macro debris, based on size. Plastics are
inexpensive and durable, and as a result levels of plastic production by humans are high. However, the
chemical structure of most plastics renders them resistant to many natural processes of degradation and
as a result they are slow to degrade.Together, these two factors have led to a high prominence of plastic
pollution in the environment.

Plastic pollution can afflict land, waterways and oceans. It is estimated that 1.1 to 8.8 million metric tons
(MT) of plastic waste enters the ocean from coastal communities each year.Living organisms, particularly
marine animals, can be harmed either by mechanical effects, such as entanglement in plastic objects,
problems related to ingestion of plastic waste, or through exposure to chemicals within plastics that
interfere with their physiology. Effects on humans include disruption of various hormonal mechanisms.

As of 2018, about 380 million tons of plastic is produced worldwide each year. From the 1950s up to
2018, an estimated 6.3 billion tons of plastic has been produced worldwide, of which an estimated 9%
has been recycled and another 12% has been incinerated.This large amount of plastic waste enters the
environment, with studies suggesting that the bodies of 90% of seabirds contain plastic debris.In some
areas there have been significant efforts to reduce the prominence of free range plastic pollution,
through reducing plastic consumption, litter cleanup, and promoting plastic recycling.

Plastic pollution in the Ocean

Since man has started navigating through waters for the search of new lands, he has been throwing
garbage in the ocean. The problem of ocean pollution is not a recent discover, it has been there since
mancenturies, but now man has realised the effects of pollution in oceanic waters. Marine pollution
basically occurs when harmful toxins such as chemicals, garbage, agricultural waste, and especially
plastic are dumped in the ocean.As the surface of the water is never constant this mess keeps on
spreading. The United Nations is taking the matter of ocean pollution veryseriously and is devising new
ways to prevent the rise of a new enemy which is plastic.

Every year about 300 billion pounds of plastic is produced in the world and not even five percent of it
is recycled.So where does the remaining 95% goes? Well most of it finds safe haven in landfills and the
remaining is thrown in the oceans.It is a known fact that plastic takes almost 100 years to decompose,
but when it is thrown in the water, the action of the sun, water and temperature breaks it into small
pieces which helps the spreading of plastic even more. This is very strange but true, in the middle of the
pacific ocean a circular pattern of water currents have accumulated enormous amounts of floating
garbage.It was discovered by Captain Charles Moore.Yet, the plastic pollution is still growing around the
world.

Plastic pollution causes

But of all the plastics found in the ocean, only a percent of that comes from the water, then what about
the rest of the waste, where does that come from? Plastic bottles and cups left on the beach are blown
away in the sea due to the strong wind currents. Almost 5% of the plastic found in the ocean is dumped
by humans.They come from ships, cargo containers, off shore companies and oil rigs.Even cruiseliners
dump most of their plastic waste in the ocean instead of recycling. Industries situated near water bodies
dump most of their industrial waste in water in spite of repeated warnings from the government. It is
necessary to understand that everplastic product we buy is going to end up in ocean if it's not
recycled after usage.

Effects of plastic pollution

Plastic debris can endanger marine life in two major ways when creatures eat plastic and when the get
entangled in them. The biggest sufferers of this garbage are turtles, and all the various species of marine
turtles are already threatened because of a number of reasons. Millions of turtles have been found dead
with pieces of plastic bags in their stomach.It is assumed that these turtles mistake these floating plastic
bags for wellfish and consume them. These bags get stuck in their neck or stomach which leads to
suffocation and ultimatel causes death. Various plastic pieces floating in the water are responsible for
the death of millions of fish and birds as the mistake these small pieces of plastic for food. Various fish
and birds lose their lives after getting entangled in lost fish nets which are floating all over the ocean. The
sheer volume of plastic in the ocean is shocking and the worst part is people are still throwing away their
plastic waste instead of recycling it. The problem of plastic pollution in the ocean is very serious to all
the countries in the world. People should make sure that the limit the use of plastic bags and
items.Every piece of plastic being made today is going to remain in the environment for a long time
unless someone recycles it. We all should understand the responsibility of cleaning our own planet,
before it becomes a dump.