The Hidden Pollution Beneath the Waves

Photo courtesy of: Surfrider Foundation

By: Maya Nawachi

Tiny particles that are a myriad of colors scatter through the ocean. While some are visible to the naked eye, most of them can only be seen with a microscope. Microplastics. 

Microplastics are plastics that are smaller than 5mm or less than the size of a pencil eraser. They come from synthetic fibers in clothing, microbeads in exfoliates, and the degradation of larger plastic particles through UV, wind, and waves. 

Around 170 million of these plastic particles flow through the ocean, with marine animals often unknowingly consuming these particles or mistaking them for food. These microplastics pose serious health risks to these marine organisms. They can lead to intestinal blockages in the abdomen, physical damage to the tissues of marine life, and cause reduced reproductive rates. 

In a recent study, it was found that when co-exposed to a virus, it exponentially increased the mortality rates of fish, as they had a weaker immune response as a result of the exposure to microplastics. Additionally, the exposure of these microplastics was also found to influence the feeding patterns of marine organisms. The presence of microplastics reduced the overall consumption of their natural prey. 

These pollutants often accumulate in the five massive gyres, where they are trapped in circulating ocean currents that create massive patches of plastic pollution. However, they are not confined only to these patches, but are carried throughout various water columns. They can also be found on the ocean floor, coastlines, and subsurface waters. 

Plastic, which was first founded in the 1960s, has spread to virtually everywhere on the planet, with single-use plastic usage continuing to increase. With many of these plastic particles breaking down into finer and finer pieces, the amount of microplastics distributed throughout the ocean exponentially increases as well. 

As these marine organisms mistake these fine particles as food or unconsciously ingest them, these microplastics stay in the tissues and digestive systems of these organisms, causing both physical blockage within their biological anatomy or causing inflammation in parts of their bodies. When these organisms then consume many of these smaller organisms, the concentration of these microplastics increase. Consequently, as the trophic levels in the food web increase, the concentration of microplastics increases. 

Humans are incredibly reliant on marine organisms as a source of food, so many of the microplastics present in the marine organisms are transferred into humans and result in more health issues. As a result, it is crucial that, as a society, there are more regulations regarding plastic consumption and disposable products. 

Because much of this pollution begins as single-use plastics, stronger regulations, sustainable packaging alternatives, and reduced consumer dependence on disposable products are essential. By limiting unnecessary plastic production and improving waste management systems, society can help reduce the flow of microplastics into the ocean and protect marine ecosystems for future generations.