write down the effects of plastics of plastics on water bodies , aquatic animals , how they are affecting them
Answers
Chlorinated plastic can release harmful chemicals into the surrounding soil, which can then seep into groundwater or other surrounding water sources and also the ecosystem of the world. This can cause serious harm to the species that drink the water.As is commonly known, plastic isn’t biodegradable, which accentuates the threat of lingering waste plastic for years and for generations to come. According to estimates, people around the world throw away almost four million tons of trash every day, of which 12.8% is plastic, polluting land, air and water. While plastic thrown into landfills contaminates the soil and groundwater with harmful chemicals and microorganisms, the effects of marine pollution caused by plastic are immeasurable.While a part of the plastic waste in the oceans comes from land, predominantly as a result of mismanaged waste disposal, the ships and offshore oil and gas platforms also contribute to it.in recent time, considering the increase in the disposal of plastic in the ocean, it has become imperative to take all possible measures to combat this problem by understanding the consequences of plastic in the ocean. But before one can do so, one needs to understand the repercussions of plastic in the sea, which is necessary to take the protective measures even more sensibly.arbage in the ocean – namely plastic – jeopardises the natural ambience of marine life. It disrupts the entire bio-geo cycle causing unwanted problems to the whole marine eco-system. Plastic threatens the existence of life under water right from smaller fishes to huge mammals and amphibians in several ways. Reports say that around one million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals are killed every due to plastic ingestion. Unfortunately, several marine species are on the verge of extinction because of such type of ocean pollution.
Consumption of plastic by marine creatures causes severe digestive problems which go mainly untreated. Reports suggest that the consumption of plastic by all type of fish amounts to several of tonnes every year. In addition to causing intestinal injury and death of these fish, this also spread the risk across the food chain, to bigger fish and marine mammals.
Sea turtles are the other unfortunate victims of plastic pollution in the waters, apart from fishes. Similar to fish and other marine beings, Sea turtles also consume plastic garbage as food, leading to blockage in the gut and ulceration, and eventually to death. Studies have found that half of the sea turtles around the world have ingested plastic.
Sea turtles are also the most common victims of ‘Ghost Nets’ in the ocean. Like plastic bags or bottles or any other junk, the stray plastic nets used for fishing and plastic crates also cause oceanic ruination. These plastic wastes make harms to the marine life by choking life-forms or by getting tangled in precious reefs, causing them to break apart. These nets are known as ‘Ghost Nets,’ while the process of marine creatures being tangled in them is referred to as ‘Ghost Fishing.’ In regards to the stray plastic crates, a reference was made about a plastic crate choking a penguin in the movie “Happy Feet.”