Categories: Environment

The problem of waste plastic in sea water

Plastic Problem in Sea Water 

Do any of you remember the British Petroleum disaster of Gulf of Mexico oil spill in 2010? It was then much discussed the issue on a regular basis and still going. Now, that the British Petroleum has agreed to pay $175 million to settle additional claims which is in addition to what they have already done in phases.

However, the BP tragedy was only a very small issue if you compare it with the amount of plastic present in sea water and 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Plastic is a harmful substance for sea creatures as well the birds around that area. Birds eat that plastic which remains in their stomach forever. The birds suffer from weight-loss as well serious intestine related problems by eating the shiny plastic particles.

The present plastic scenario is a dangerous one for sea creatures as the amount of plastic thrown in the water is increasing at a rapid rate and to give you a rough idea if you collect all the plastic on the surface of sea it would be as large as the entire area of Russia.

If you try to convert the volume in its weight it would be in the range of more than 31 million tons as a rough idea increasing @8 million tons per year. It would be interesting to note that this all plastic comes into the sea water via the rivers from cities in form of polythene packs, bottle caps and waste synthetic fiber.

The Ocean Cleanup Foundation

Certain social organizations are working in the direction of cleaning up operations like “The Ocean Cleanup Foundation” in Holland which has setup a plastic cleaning system on the beaches in their country which picks up every bit of plastic within a range of 100 meters from the land along the edge of sea.

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In fact they have setup barriers which stop all plastic particles on a trial basis for time being and have plans to use it widely from next year.  The Ocean Cleanup Foundation has plans to collect the waste plastic and recycle it for useful purpose.

A Plastic Ocean: The documentary

I am not sure how many of you are aware of film producer Jo Ruxton and her documentary “A Plastic Ocean” which gives a message that everyone can do his bit to keep the world safe. She has said in one of her interviews that when she dived into the water the reality was different.

She thought the water was neat and clean but when she went deeper she found that a large quantity of plastic was present in the water. According to her there was almost 750000 pieces of plastic in every square kilometer of water.

The fact is that 8 million tons of plastic garbage per year would easily double the present amount of plastic in oceans within next 20 years which will be a grave situation not only for sea life but humans as well. According to the learned sources the quantity of plastic will easily surpass the quantity of sea creature by 2050.




  • suny

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    • It is a good thing that some organization wanted to save the bodies of water. I hope the awareness will reach across the borders. Water pollution is starting to be the biggest problem. It was nice that you had shared this post and can be shared with the people who have the same advocacy. I hope the local people will understand the bad impact in destroying the sea water.

    • Yes, it is our duty to protect sea creatures from the dangers of plastic waste as UK petroleum companies are wasting their waste in the sea water due to which sea creatures are in danger.

      To save sea creatures it is our all's duty to reduce the effects of climate change on the ocean by leaving the car at home when you can and being conscious of your energy use at home and work. A few things you can do to get started today: Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs, take the stairs, and bundle up or use a fan to avoid oversetting your thermostat.

      We must keep in mind that all life on Earth is connected to the ocean and its inhabitants. The more you learn about the issues facing this vital system, the more you’ll want to help ensure its health—then share that knowledge to educate and inspire others.

      Many institutes and organizations are fighting to protect ocean habitats and marine wildlife. Find a national organization and consider giving financial support or volunteering for hands-on work or advocacy. If you live near the coast, join up with a local branch or group and get involved in projects close to home. We all must help them in protecting the sea and its creatures.

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