Harmful effects of plastics in our marine environment

1. PLASTIC
Pollution in our
Marine
Environment

2. INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS PLASTIC?
 Plastic is the general common term for
a wide range synthetic or semi synthetic
organic solid materials suitable for the
manufacture of industrial products.
Plastics are typically polymers of high
molecular weight and may contain other
substance to reduce costs.
 Plastic is one of the few new chemical
materials which pose environmental
problem. Polyethylene, Polyvinyl
chloride, Polystyrene is largely used in
the manufacture of plastics.

3. HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE FOR A PLASTIC TO DEGRADE?
 Plastic bag: 20 years
 Plastic bottles: 450 years
 Plastic cup: 50 years
 Food wrapper: 300 years
 Fishing line: 600 years
* We use almost 2 million plastic
bags every minute

4. The pathway by which plastic enters the
world’s oceans
year

5. Marine Debris Statistics
 A study from Proceedings of the National Academy of
Science (PNAS) found that 88 percent of the Earth’s Ocean
surface is polluted with plastic debris.
 Over 100 million marine animals (including mammals, fish,
sharks, turtles, and birds) are killed each year due to
plastic waste alone. 100 thousands found entangled in or
having ingested marine debris.
 According to United Nations, at least 800 species worldwide
are affected by marine debris, and as much as 80 percent
of that litter is plastic.

6.  About 14 million tons of plastic enter the ocean every
year, 40% of which is single-use plastic. A new study
found that the primary source of single-use plastic
bottles that wash ashore on the South Atlantic Ocean are
from merchant marine vessels.
 In the North Sea as one of the world’s busiest areas for
shipping, up to 40% of marine litters comes from
maritime sector. It has been estimated around 20,000
tonnes of waste is dumped each year and 90% of the
plastic originates from shipping and fisheries.
Plastic Waste from Ships

7. Harmful Issues in Marine Environment
 Entanglement
 Ingestion
 Chemicals
 Invasive Species
 Coral reefs can be harmed
 Polluted Beaches

8. Entanglement

10. INGESTION

11.  April 2010-Puget Sound-California Grey Whale Stomach
contents: pants and golf ball, more than 20 plastic bags,
small towels, duct tape and surgical gloves

13. POLLUTED CORAL REEFS

15. POLLUTED BEACHES

17. Solutions for Plastic Pollution:
1. Reduce
 The best, thing we can do is use
less plastic!
 Reduce the use of Single-Use Plastic
 Take your own bag to supermarket
 Say no to straws

18. 2. Reuse
 Try to use items more than once.
 Plastic boxes (e.g. ice cream containers,
Lunch box).
 Be creative and use your imagination.
Drinking water
Eco bricks
Plant holders
Bottle

19. 3. Recycle
 Rubbish new useful products.
 Paper, plastics, glass, metal and textiles
can all be recycled.

20. 4. Participate in Ocean and Beach Cleanup Campaigns