Single-Use Plastics: The Real Sea Monsters

Devrah Arndt

Plastics have been around since the early 20th century, but only recently has the problem of plastic pollution started to attract attention. We’ve all seen the unnerving images of marine animals in distress from plastic exposure (just check out this video of a turtle getting a straw removed from its nostril or this article about a dead whale with a stomach full of plastic bags). National Geographic recognized plastic pollution as one of mankind’s most pressing issues to date, and the U. S. and United Kingdom have recently passed laws banning the use of microplastics in certain commercial products. The ubiquitous nature of plastics in our society begs the question: Just what is all the hype about? And if there really is a problem, can we do anything to fix it?
 
As it turns out, plastic pollution does pose a real threat to humans and the environment, but the problem is much more complex than a whale with a stomach full of plastic bags.

What is all the hype about?

​​Gut obstruction and animal confinement. The most well-known problem associated with plastic pollution is gut obstruction in marine animals and birds and the incidental confinement of marine animals by plastic debris. Both can result in death or injury for the animal

Figure 1: Biofouled plastic bottles

Biofouling and animal transport. In the ocean, organisms like barnacles and algae will stick to the surface of floating plastic debris (Figure 1). These organisms will ride their plastic boat across vast distances that would not normally be possible, resulting in problems with invasive species and ecosystem degradation. This occurrence, called biofouling, also creates a sink-to-float-to-sink cycle of ocean plastic because these organisms will attach and detach from the plastic. This makes plastics available to marine organisms that dwell deeper in the water column (like whales).

Sorption of secondary contaminants. Although plastics are biologically inert, they can grab onto secondary contaminants like a toxic ocean flypaper. These contaminants usually include organic pollutants like pesticides and industrial chemicals. Such organic pollutants are often resistant to environmental degradation, tend to hang out in fatty tissues, and love to accumulate on the surface of plastics. In fact, the concentrations of contaminants stuck on a plastic surface can greatly exceed ambient concentrations in the surrounding waters.

Figure 2: Smaller objects have a higher surface-area-to-volume ratio, which is why more chemicals stick to the surface of compounds

Bioaccumulation and biomagnification. The sorption of secondary contaminants on the plastic surface is of particular concern for smaller-sized plastics (such as micro- and nano- plastics) because their relative surface area is much greater compared to larger plastics (Figure 2). In addition, these small plastics are consumed by organisms residing in lower trophic levels of the ecosystem (think oysters and plankton), resulting in greater potential for the accumulation and transfer of toxic contaminants to top predators, including humans! 

Yes, it seems that we have a personal stake in the fight against plastic pollution, as well! The plastic problem extends beyond a moral imperative to save the whales.  We need to address the plastic problem to ensure our own well-being. 

Now the real question is.....What can we do about this? 

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. The most effective way to address plastic pollution on a personal level is to replace single-use plastic items with reusable items. Grocery shop with a reusable bag. Avoid using plastic straws at restaurants. Carry a reusable water bottle instead of a crinkly plastic one. These small lifestyle changes will help us turn the tides on the plastic pollution problem, and you might even find that the reusable items work better than the single-use plastic items! When you must use plastic materials, make sure to choose plastic materials that can be recycled - and actually recycle them!

Make your voice heard. The use of plastic microbeads in personal care products was banned in the United States in 2015, but the use of microplastics in other products (cosmetics, sunscreen, glitter, toothpaste, nail polish, abrasives in dish detergent pods) has not been addressed. And although some companies are taking action to reduce single-use plastics in their business design, the problem of single-use plastics has not been formally addressed by state or federal regulations. Be vocal and let your legislature know how you feel about these problems!

Figure 3: Responsible lifestyle changes to reduce single-use plastics will result in happier marine animals!