Environmental Topic regarding the plastic pollution of ocean waters

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Effects and Dangers of Plastic Bags on Ocean Water
IntroductionHumans have dumped tons of garbage into the ocean for several years. Most pollution in the ocean begins on land then is washed by rain or carried by the wind into the ocean. Plastic wastes, having a low density, are readily transported over long distances from the original place into the ocean. There is a continuous accumulation of wastes in oceans due to the wind and water runoff actions. The most devastating issue of the human pollution in the ocean is that plastic bags do not biodegrade; hence, marine animals greatly suffer due to our actions. The dangers have reached a point of threatening human health since the toxins from plastic pollution in oceans have entered the food chain. This paper gives a discussion of effects and dangers of plastic bags on ocean water.
Marine animals often confuse plastic littering for food in their environment. Once the plastics are in these animals’ bodies, the plastic accumulates, and the chemicals released can cause the production of excess estrogen. The excess estrogen in marine animals has led to the discoveries of male fish having female sex organs. Plastics blocks digestive tracks of marine animals and the trapped food releases gasses that render them buoyant; hence, they are unable to dive for food (Delaney and Tim 83). Plastics release the toxic additives they contain into the environment. These chemicals released disrupt the balanced set of hormones that have effects on the cells and organs of the bodies of marine animals.

Plastics in oceans are dangerous to human beings in several ways. High toxicity from plastics is derived from cadmium, lead, and mercury. These toxins are found in many fish in the ocean, which pose a great danger to humans who feed on these fish (Wharton 79). Some plastics contain Diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) which is a toxic carcinogen. DEHP is used to make several plastic products that include food packaging materials, plastic bags, and plastic bottles (Newman 14). Immune system problems, cancer, childhood development issues, and congenital disabilities are some of the many complications of human health that toxins in plastics link to (Nemeth 20). Health bisphenol A (BPA) is a toxin in plastics that is specifically known to interfere with the human hormonal functions. BPA breaks down over time and enters the human body in several ways from eating fish that is exposed the broken down toxins to drinking water that is contaminated with the toxins.
Fish in highly polluted oceans inject thousands of tons of plastics in a year. The high ingestion causes intestinal injuries and death to the fish. Reduced population of fish in the oceans causes starvation to larger fish and marine animals that depend on the small fish as their source of food. Human beings who practice fishing as their economic activity and source of income are also affected since reduced fish population means fewer amounts of income to them. The plastics ingested by the fish who survive are transferred up the food chain to the marine animals and bigger fish who feed on these small fish. The big fish and marine animals are therefore affected by the plastics, which cause complications in their digestive systems and death (Miller and Scott 250). Plastic microfibers in the guts of fish sold at the market pose a major danger to human beings. Several seabirds also ingest plastic bags as they mistake it for food. As a result, the birds starve to death due to the reduced volumes of their stomachs causing them to consume fewer amounts of food. The chicks of the seabirds are often fed plastic particles mistaken for food by their parents. The chicks having a semi-developed digestive system are greatly affected by ingestion of plastics and mostly die as a result.
Marine mammals often are tangled in plastics. Hawaiian monk seals’ habitats, including areas that serve as their pup nurseries, are surrounded by large amounts of plastic debris (Knight 16). Studies show that death of these creatures that result from entanglement in the plastic debris has severely undermined the efforts of recovery of this seal, which is almost becoming extinct. Plastics bags have caused injury to these creatures when they ingest them, causing their death.
Plastics pollution in oceans affects both human and animals directly and indirectly. Large numbers of seabirds, seals, sea turtles and other marine mammals die every year after being entangled in plastic and ingesting it. Plastic bags are made of dangerous toxins. These toxins are dangerous to the water animals and humans since they have a wide range of chronic effects, including cancer-causing mutations and endocrine disruptions. When animals eat the plastic pieces in the ocean, the toxins are absorbed into their body and passed up the food chain causing major health effects to human beings. Plastic pollution in oceans has effects on the country’s economy; costing us many dollars spent in beach cleanups, damaged fishing, tourism loss and reduced production in the aquaculture industries.

Works Cited
Delaney, Tim, and Tim Madigan. Beyond Sustainability: A Thriving Environment. , 2014. Print.
Knight, Geof. Plastic Pollution. London: Raintree, 2013. Print.
Miller, G T, and Scott Spoolman. Essentials of Ecology. Australia: National Geographic Learning, 2015. Print.
Nemeth, Jason D. Rivers, Lakes, and Oceans. New York: PowerKids Press, 2012. Print.
Newman, Patricia. Plastic, Ahoy!: Investigating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. , 2014. Print.
Wharton, Jennifer. Academic Encounters: The Natural World: Reading, Writing. , 2013. Print.