Effects of plastic pollution on the evironment
Answers
Answer:
Globally, mass production of polymers and poor control of plastic products at end of life have led to annual increases in plastic entering the marine environment. Their durability and density allow plastic to be transported over large distances and to persist for long periods in the marine environment. The proliferation of plastics has resulting in contamination across a range of environments, from remote lakes to the deepest oceans; however, the effects in the marine environment remain the most studied. Here, plastic have been observed to negatively affect habitats by altering species distribution, entangling organisms, and causing damage and even increasing mortality as a result of ingestion. Nevertheless, the increasing number of studies in freshwater environments may help to predict previously unexplored impacts in the marine realm.
Answer:
Plastic pollution causes harm to humans, animals and plants through toxic pollutants. It can take hundreds or even thousands of years for plastic to break down so the environmental damage is long-lasting. It affects all organisms in the food chain from tiny species like plankton through to whales.