The Sea of Plastic and Styrofoam.

Plastics are the most versatile materials in our modern world and can be molded into almost anything. From water bottles to straws, trash bags and even clothing, this cheap synthetic material is utilized endlessly. However, this amazing material that we use for everything, pollutes our environment and makes up for most of the trash that accumulates in our oceans and waterways. One would feel that out amidst the sea, one would discover only flawless blue water. That assumption however, is very wrong. What actually lies there is a a floating wasteland of trash referred to as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.






Image by Politico Explorer: https://politicoexplorer.com/tag/great-pacific-garbage-patch/




It is considered the largest landfill of waste and consists of 80 percent discarded plastic, Styrofoam cups, discarded fishing lines, rope and nets, shattered plastic parts and hull fragments. The junk patches present various perils to marine life, fishing and tourism. Ninety percent of all trash floating in the world's oceans is plastic material. Of the excess 200 billion pounds of plastic the world produces each year, about 10 percent ends up in the ocean and seventy percent of that eventually sinks, damaging life on the ocean floor. The rest floats and much of it ends up forming massive garbage patches and in some cases, plastic eventually reaches onto shore.



This Irresponsible disposal of plastics can have major negative impacts on both human and marine life. A plastic bag may appear to be a jellyfish or other prey to a feeder such as the sea turtle. Unfortunately, plastic is indigestible and this can lead to choking, or the blocking of intestines which results in infections in those animals that consume it. Marine life may also become entangled in the plastic waste which can cause impaired movement , difficulty feeding, lacerations, ulcers, and even death.





Image by CAW Recycles: https://www.cawrecycles.org/recycling-news/turtlebags