Though it is apparent that humans are the reasons why plastics exist on Earth, many do not realise that we are also largely impacted by the presence of plastics in oceans. It was found in a study conducted in Indonesia that about 25% of the fishes sold in markets contain plastic in their guts. Seafood makes up a significant portion in the average human diet in developed countries, hence it is not surprising to have consumed plastic-contaminated fishes or other kinds of seafood. At many times, plastic in seafood may not be spotted with the naked eye as they break down into microplastics, hence it is not surprising if humans consume plastics unknowingly.

 

Besides containing toxins themselves, plastic acts like a sponge that absorbs toxins from external sources prior to ending up in the oceans. Various components of plastics have differing effects on human health. Certain plastics contain diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), which is a toxic carcinogen. Besides DEHP, other toxins in plastics directly results in cancers, birth defects, immune system problems, and childhood developmental issues. It is possible for plastics to contain thousands of possible additives, and the manufacturers of plastic products are not required to disclose the components that they include in their manufacturing process.

Another type of plastic component is bisphenol A (BPA), which is used in multiple products like plastic bottles and food containers that humans are frequently in contact with. By simply drinking water contaminated with BPA or consuming fishes exposed to BPA can allow it to enter the human body. In Angela Sun’s film Plastic Paradise: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, she participated in an experiment that indicated the fast rate of BPA entering the human body and reaching the brain even through physical contact. BPA is a chemical that is known to affect human hormonal function as it mimics the properties of estrogen (female hormone), which is a possible cause of early puberty in girls, increase in neurobehavioral problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism, an increase in childhood and adult obesity and type 2 diabetes, and an increase in hormonally mediated cancers, such as prostate and breast cancers.

 

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Next, solutions for plastics in oceans.

Previously, impacts on marine animals.