Impacts of Plastic Pollution (Cambridge International IGCSE Environmental Management)

Impacts of plastic pollution

• Plastic pollution includes the accumulation of plastic waste in oceans, seas and coastal environments

• Marine organisms can be harmed through:

  • Physical contact
  • Ingestion
  • Exposure to toxic chemicals

Visual pollution

• Floating plastics, bottles, bags and debris create visual pollution

• This makes coastal areas unattractive and can make tourists less likely to visit heavily polluted areas

• Plastic waste and litter gathers on beaches

  • This reduces recreational use and may require expensive clean-up efforts

Entanglement

• Marine animals such as turtles, seals and seabirds become entangled in plastic items

  • Common sources include fishing lines, nets and the plastic rings that hold four-packs and six-packs of drink

• Entanglement restricts movement

  • Eventually, animals may be unable to swim, feed or surface for air
  • Severe cases cause injury, infection or death
  • Young animals are especially vulnerable

Risk of being mistaken for food by marine animals

• Many organisms mistake plastic for prey

• Floating plastics resemble jellyfish, plankton or fish eggs

• Animals ingest these plastic fragments

  • Sharp pieces can damage the digestive system
  • Plastic fills the stomach without providing energy
  • This leads to starvation, weakness or reduced growth

Bioaccumulation and biomagnification

Bioaccumulation

• Bioaccumulation—plastic particles and the associated toxins build up in a single organism over time

  • This happens when animals ingest microplastics regularly
  • Chemicals absorbed onto microplastics enter organisms
  • These chemicals can affect growth, reproduction and overall health

Biomagnification

• Biomagnification—concentration of toxins from plastics increases as they move up the food chain

  • Predators eat many contaminated prey
  • Top predators, such as larger fish and marine mammals, accumulate the highest toxin levels
  • This leads to reproductive issues, weakened immune systems and long-term population decline

Biomagnification and bioaccumulation in an aquatic ecosystem