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Characteristics of Plastic Pollution in the Environment: A Review

• Focused Review
• Published: 12 March 2020
• Volume 107 , pages 577–584, ( 2021 )

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• Penghui Li 1 , 2 ,
• Xiaodan Wang 1 ,
• Xiaoyan Zou 1 ,
• Linlin Duan 1 &
• Hongwu Zhang 1  

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Plastics are ubiquitous in the environment and have become a hot topic in academic circles. Extensive studies have focused on analytical methods, source, abundance, transport, fate, degradation of plastics in the environment and threats to natural surroundings, wildlife or even human health. However, characteristics of plastic pollution, which are critical to understand this emerging problem, remain unknown up to now. Here, this paper reviews the major characteristics of plastic pollution in the environment to enhance present understanding of this issue. These characteristics, including diversity, persistence, global issues, combined pollution and threats to organisms and human health, are critically summarized in this work. Further, “plastic cycle” in the environment, namely, aquatic, atmospheric, and terrestrial system, is also discussed in this review. Finally, we highlight current challenges of plastic pollution posed to the public and also recommend the research trends in future work.

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With global production of plastics increasing rapidly, numerous plastics are being released in the environment during their life cycle. Global plastic production has increased from 1.5 million tons in the 1950s to 335 million tons in 2016 (Li et al. 2016 ; Lebreton et al. 2017 ; Statista 2018 ). It is reported that 79% of plastic products have not been efficiently treated, eventually released into landfills or the natural environments (Geyer et al. 2017 ). In 1970s, researchers first revealed the presence of plastics debris in the costal waters (Carpenter and Smith 1972 ). However, the issues didn’t receive extensive concerns until Thompson et al. ( 2004 ) proposed the term “microplastic” (with effective size less than 5 mm) in 2004. Subsequently, researchers have published a growing number of relevant articles, including the source, abundance, fate, occurrence, and sink of microplastics in natural environments (Karbalaei et al. 2018 ). This is probably the so-called “microplastic pollution”. Similarly, the concept of plastic pollution can be defined as the introduction of plastics (regardless of sizes, shapes or types) into the environment, resulting in potential threats to the environment, organisms, or even human health. As one type of plastics, microplastics have been widely studied. However, other types of plastics, such as nanoplastics (size < 1 µm) and macroplastics (size > 5 mm), are less focused when compared to microplastics. Therefore, there still remain knowledge gaps in understanding plastic pollution in the environment.

When introduced into natural environments, plastics can be transported from land to river, and eventually reach the ocean (Jambeck et al. 2015 ). During the migration, plastics can lead to detrimental impacts on natural surroundings, wildlife, and even human health (Galloway and Lewis 2016 ; Sussarellu et al. 2016 ). Meanwhile, plastics could act as vectors for persistent organic pollutants (POPs), heavy metals, microorganisms in the environment (Rodrigues et al. 2018 ; Massos and Turner 2017 ; Neto et al. 2019 ). In addition, chemicals, including monomer, oligomer and additives, were observed to be released into the environment from plastics, implying that plastics can also be considered sources of some toxic chemicals (Chen et al 2019 ). These indicate that the combination of plastics with other pollutants is probably a category of combined pollution. Characteristics of plastic pollution include diversities (such as sizes, types, colour, and sources), resistant to degradation, combined pollution and potential risks. However, recent studies only focused on some aspects of plastic pollution in the environment. A comprehensive summary on characteristics of plastic pollution in the environment is greatly scarce.

Based on our recent research and other literatures concerning plastic pollution in the environment, this review aims to provide an overview of the primary characteristics of plastic pollution in the environment and to suggest research trends in future work.

Plastic Pollution is Diverse

The diversity of plastic pollution is mainly determined by a wide variety of plastic products. Thousands of plastic products are demanded in the consumer market in our daily lives. For example, most widely used plastics in the market are PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), PVC (polyvinylchloride), PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and PS (polystyrene) (Bond et al. 2018 ). Despite different types of plastics, their applications in daily lives were mixtures, always consisting of monomer, oligomer, and additives (Hermabessiere et al. 2017 ). Furthermore, sources of plastic contamination were also intricate, mainly originating from varieties of anthropogenic activities. It has been documented that plastics can directly or indirectly enter aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric systems via different pathways (Fig.  1 ), such as mismanaged plastic wastes, wastewater treatment plant, domestic sewage, landfills, agricultural activities or even urban dust (Law 2017 ; Ziajahromi et al. 2017 ; Windsor et al. 2019 ; Bai and Li 2020 ). These indicate that sources of plastics are also diverse. In addition, plastics were also diverse in colour, sizes, and shapes in the environment (Fig.  1 ). However, both degradation and abundance of plastics in the environment remain uncertain due to a lack of standard analytical methods or effective tools. All these diversities likely result in the diversity of plastic pollution in the environment, which makes it difficult to build standard and unified analytical methods, thus further blocking the development of relevant studies. More research is greatly needed to conduct in order to better understand plastic pollution in the environment.

Diversity of plastic pollution and cycles of plastic in the environment. PE polyethylene, PP polypropylene, PS polystyrene, PVC polyvinylchloride, PA polyamide, PET polyethylene terephthalate, WWTP wastewater treatment plant. (Based on Refers Teuten et al. 2009 ; Geyer et al. 2017 ; Koelmans et al. 2019 ; Bond et al. 2018 ; Wang et al. 2019 )

Plastic Pollution is Persistent

When released into the environment, plastics can be ultimately degraded via different processes, such as photodegradation, thermal oxidation, hydrolysis, and biodegradation (Andrady 2015 ; Cai et al. 2018 ). For example, studies have shown that light-induced photodegradation is considered the most effective pathway for plastics to degrade in the environment (Cooper and Corcoran 2010 ). The capability of bacteria and fungi to degrade plastics was also demonstrated in previous literatures (Da Costa et al. 2016 ; Gregory and Andrady 2003 ). Meanwhile, plastic debris can break down to smaller plastics via mechanical abrasion in the environment, especially for macroplastics (Song et al. 2017 ). However, it likely takes much longer time for plastics to degrade in the environment owing to the high-polymer nature when compared to other organic materials. For example, complete degradation of plastics may take years to centuries (Ioakeimidis et al. 2016 ), especially in the natural environments. In addition, hydrolysis of plastics can also be ignored in the environment because of their hydrophobicity. Taken together, plastics can be resistant to degradation, thus being persistent in the environment, which is probably a typical feature of plastic pollution.

Plastic Pollution is a Global Issue

Given the durability and stability of plastics in the environment, these particles may remain in the environment for a long time, which probably facilitates the wide spread of plastics over the world. Studies have shown that plastics are ubiquitous in aquatic, atmospheric, and terrestrial systems (Do Sul and Costa 2014 ). The pathways of plastics to enter different systems varied greatly due to the distinct features of various systems (Fig.  1 ). For example, wastewater treatment plant, domestic swages, urban pollution, industry activities, and storm are the major sources of plastic debris in the aquatic environment (Koelmans et al. 2019 ). The most frequent presence of plastics in the air are fibers, largely originating from consumption of plastic wastes, wind erosion, and urban dust (Dris et al. 2017 ). Polythene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) are the primary types of plastics observed in soil (Lv et al. 2019 ), mainly resulting from application of sewage sludge, plastic film, and wastewater irrigation (Zhu et al. 2019 ). However, plastics can not only directly enter the aquatic, atmospheric, and terrestrial systems through diverse pathways, but also migrate freely among these various systems (Fig.  1 ). Here, we propose the “plastic cycle”, which likely takes place in the environment, similar to well-known carbon or nitrogen cycle in the environment (Bjerrum and Canfield 2011 ; Galloway et al. 2008 ). Specially, plastic cycle is the process of plastics to migrate among water, atmosphere and soil through different pathways (Fig.  1 ). For example, light plastics are more easily transported in different systems with the action of various forces, leading to the spread of plastics to some remote areas in the environment. Studies have demonstrated the presence of plastics in uninhabited areas, such as pristine mountain catchment, polar regions, and deep sea (Allen et al. 2019 ; Peeken et al. 2018 ; Woodall et al. 2014 ). Consequently, plastic pollution is a global issue with no boundaries in the world owing to the long-distance transport in different systems.

Luckily, a growing concern has been paid to this global issue in the environment (Akdogan and Guven 2019 ). However, current studies regarding this issue are extremely unbalanced (Fig.  2 ). From the perspective of plastic sizes, published literatures mainly focused on microplastics and current knowledge on macroplastics or nanoplastics is limited (Fig.  2 a). This is likely due to more serious risks of microplastic than macroplastics or easier to monitor than nanoplastics in the environment. We recommend that both issues require further attention, as microplastic owing to their potential threats to organisms. Similarly, recent studies mainly focused on plastic pollution in aquatic environments such as oceans, rivers, lakes or estuaries, probably because it is easier to conduct than other systems (atmosphere or terrestrial) (Fig.  2 b). Only a few studies have focused on plastic pollution in atmospheric or terrestrial systems, which also calls for numerous investigations. Overall, there still remain huge knowledge gaps in understanding plastic pollution in the environment. More research data is urgently needed to better understand this global problem.

Plastic pollution related research obtained from Web of Science database (1967 ~ 2019, retrieved on 10/11/2019). a Comparison of studies focused on different size (key words: plastic; microplastic, and nanoplastic). b Plastic pollution in different environmental systems (key words: plastic pollution; aquatic, atmosphere, and terrestrial)

Plastic Pollution is Combined Pollution

Plastics are resistant to degradation, which likely provides opportunity for plastics to interact with other substances in the environment. Recently, the generally accepted view is that plastics can act as “vehicles” for other environmental pollutants (Wang et al. 2018 ; Engler 2012 ). For example, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), tetracycline, dichloro diphenyl tricgloroethane (DDT) and heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, etc.) were observed on the surface of plastic debris, and thus leading to the formation of plastic-pollutants mixtures in the environment (Tang et al. 2018 ; Velzeboer et al. 2014 ; Brennecke et al. 2016 ). Our recent study revealed that nanoparticles can be also captured on the surface of PS microplastics in aquatic environments (Li et al. 2020 ). The generation of plastic-contaminants mixtures not only increased the spread of these pollutants, but also likely provided a new environmental fate of pollutants in the environment. Given the presence of numerous contaminants in the environment, there still remains uncertain whether plastics can act as vectors for other pollutants, especially emerging contaminants or primary pollutants. Furthermore, microorganisms and pathogen can have habitat on plastics (Lu et al. 2019 ; Kirstein et al. 2016 ; Yang et al. 2019 ), which probably accelerates their diffusion in the environment and thus increasing their threats to organisms. The combined effects of plastics with other substances are largely dependent on the types and features of plastics (such as size, surface area, structures, etc.), properties of adsorbed chemicals, and environmental factors (Hahladakis et al. 2018 ). For example, Rainieri et al. ( 2018 ) demonstrated that the combined effect of PE microplastics and sorbed contaminants (PCBs and methylmercury) caused the most evident effects on zebrafish, especially on the liver. In these cases, toxic chemicals and microorganisms may compete with one another to interact with plastics in the environment. But these possible competitive effects between different substances and plastics are still unknown. In addition, once the formation of plastic-substances, it is still under debate whether the risks posed by them will be increased or not. Investigations on these issues are greatly needed to fully understand the combined pollution of plastics with other substances.

Conversely, plastics can also be captured by other substances (such as organic fertilizer, sludge, or even rocks) in the environment, which is poorly known. Studies have shown that both organic fertilizer and sludge can act as vectors for plastics to transfer into terrestrial environment (Weithmann et al. 2018 ; Mahon et al 2016 ). Furthermore, plastics may be involved in the formation of rocks, which has attracted the attention of geologists. Corcoran et al. ( 2014 ) first observed a new type of “rocks” composed of sediments and melted plastics and defined them as “plastiglomerates”. These generated “plastiglomerates” may become a novel sink of plastics in the natural environment with potential to be involved in the formation of rock (Ross 2018 ). From a geologist’s perspective, plastics may act as a new indicator of the Anthropocene because of their long-term preservation and potential to participate in the diagenetic process (Zalasiewicz et al. 2016 ). Similar to plastiglomerates, new types of “plastics” were also observed in the environment, such as “plasticrust” (rocky surface was encrusted by plastic debris) and “pyroplastics” (a type of marine litter resulted from burning of manufactured plastics, such as angular plastiglomerates, more weathered-rounded clasts) (Gestoso et al. 2019 ; Turner et al. 2019 ). These new types of “plastics” indicated the sophisticated combined effects of plastic pollution and also broadened the current understanding of plastic pollution in the environment. In addition, plastic can act as a source to release toxic chemicals to the environment, such as bisphenol A, and thus causing negative impacts on natural surroundings (Chen et al. 2017 ). In this case, this is likely another aspect of combined pollution. Consequently, combined pollution of plastic pollution may include three aspects, vectors for other substances, captured by other substances and a group of mixtures. It needs to be mentioned that these combined effects of plastic pollution likely occur simultaneously. For example, plastic waste can carry pathogens, then contact with coral reefs and ultimately increase the likelihood of coral mortality (Lamb et al. 2018 ). Numbers of heavy metals were also observed on the surface of pyroplastics sampled from beaches in south west England (Turner et al. 2019 ). Once formation of combined mixtures, it is still uncertain whether they can separate naturally in the environment or not and whether their properties and toxic effects will change or not. Coupled with the complexity of plastic pollution and natural environment, few data are available on these issues.

Threats to Organism and Human Health

Plastic pollution may cause physical damage, chemical harm, and biological threats to organisms (Eerkes-Medrano et al. 2015 ). Entanglement and ingestion of plastic debris are two typical ways of physical damage to organisms. Entanglement could cause lethal damage to mammals by strangulation, sepsis or starvation due to the neck entanglement (Dau et al. 2009 ; Stelfox et al. 2016 ). For example, some seabirds were entangled by fish gear, resulting in fatal harm (Donnelly-Greenan et al. 2019 ). Ingestion of plastic debris can not only cause the death of large animals due to intestinal blockage or gastric impaction (Alexiadou et al. 2019 ), but also lead to chronic impacts with the potential accumulation along the food chain (Wright et al. 2013 ). Jacobsen et al. ( 2010 ) revealed that two male sperm whales succumb to ruptured stomach and gastric impaction, induced by the presence of numerous plastic debris. In contrast, entanglement mainly occurs in larger organisms, but nearly all the organisms in the trophic level can ingest plastic debris, such as zooplankton (Cole et al. 2013 ), turtles (Duncan et al. 2019 ), and whales (Lusher et al. 2015 ). However, chemical and biological impacts are probably chronic effects, which are not easily observed, and still remain uncertain. These adverse impacts could be caused by plastic debris and associated substances, which is either originated from additives or adsorbed substances from natural surroundings (as described in Sect.  Plastic Pollution is Combined Pollution ). Studies have shown that PS nanoplastics could not only accumulate in the tissue with negative effects on larval zebrafish (Brun et al. 2019 ), but also translocate through the blood circulation in rats (Chen et al. 2006 ). On the other hand, most of associated chemicals have been demonstrated with adverse effects on organisms, such as endocrine disruption, oxidative stress, causing cancer and accumulation along the food web (Setälä et al. 2016 ). For example, additives, such as bisphenol A, phthalates, in the plastics could cause negative impacts on organisms and accumulate along the food web (Li et al. 2018 ). Worse still, these associated contaminants were more easily released in organisms than in seawater, resulting in direct toxicity or accumulation in organisms and subsequently transfer along the food chain (Bakir et al. 2016 ). For example, Batel et al. ( 2016 ) showed that both microplastics and associated benzo [a] pyrene could be transferred from nauplii to zebrafish. These indicate that smaller plastics are more accessible to organisms and result in chemical and biological impacts. However, current knowledge on these issues is scarce. More research is greatly required to fully understand these harmful effects on organisms.

In addition, recent studies have evaluated tens of thousands of microplastics were consumed by adults each year in America (Cox et al. 2019 ). The primary pathways for plastics to enter humans may be ingestion for daily diets (such as drinking, salts, bivalve, fish etc.), inhalation of plastic-contained air, and the skin (mainly for nanoplastics) (Kim et al. 2018 ; Lunov et al. 2011 ; Barboza et al. 2018 ). To the best of our knowledge, the actual toxic impacts of plastic on human health still remain uncertain. But some impacts that may be harmful on human health have been suggested (Wright and Kelly 2017 ). For example, nanoplastics can enter human cell and cause harmful effects, such as oxidative stress, inflammation in human cells (Lehner et al. 2019 ). Fortunately, Rochman et al. ( 2013 ) have proposed that plastic waste should be classified as hazardous due to potential threats to wildlife and human health. We believe that it will not take a long time for plastic waste being a member of priority pollutants. In this case, studies considering plastic pollution in the environment may flourish in the future, greatly accelerating the mystery of plastic pollution being disclosed.

Analytical Methods

Although characteristics of plastic pollution in the environment are complicated, some related analytical methods have been developed with the joint efforts of researchers around the world. These primary analytical steps included sampling, pretreatment, quantification and identification (Silva et al. 2018 ). For example, the common sampling methods are using a manta trawl or pump to collect water samples (Eriksen et al. 2013 ; Dai et al. 2018 ). The main pretreatment method is digestion (using hydrogen peroxide, acid, alkali or enzymes) to remove organic material and plankton (Kershaw et al. 2019 ). Stereomicroscopy is often applied to quantify plastic abundance (Kroon et al. 2018 ) and the common tools for identifying plastic types are Raman and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (Araujo et al. 2018 ; Mintenig et al. 2017 ). However, these analytical methods are limited and lack some unified standards to ensure the accuracy of monitoring and facilitate comparison between different investigations. Therefore, there is a strong demand for some standard analytical methods to promote our understanding of plastic pollution in the environment.

Conclusions and Suggestions

Overall, typical characteristics of plastic pollution in the environment can be summarized as diversity, persistence, global issues, combined pollution, potential threats to organisms and human health. Plastics can directly or indirectly enter aquatic, atmospheric, and terrestrial systems with migration freely among them. Worse still, these plastics are prone to accumulate and pass up along the food chain in the environment. There still exist knowledge gaps in understanding these issues. In our opinion, the following issues are critical and worthy of investigation in future work to fully reveal the mystery of plastic pollution in the environment.

A balanced research of plastic pollution in the environment is needed. Given recent studies mainly focused on microplastic pollution in the marine systems, we suggest that macroplastic and nanoplastic require further attention, as microplastic, especially nanoplastic, likely result in subtle toxic effects on wildlife. Due to the ubiquitous distribution and potential cycles of plastic in the environment, plastic pollution in freshwater, terrestrial, and atmospheric system is as important as in marine systems, and further research is needed.

There is a need for unified standards to be established. Expected standards likely include classification of plastic, analytical methods (sampling, pretreatment, quantification and identification methods), units, or even a standardized toxicity test methodology. Considering research on plastic pollution is still in its infancy, there exist varieties of classification, analytical methods, and units of plastic in the environment, which is the necessary pathway for the research of new pollutants. Unified standards are conducive to promoting our understanding of plastic pollution in the environment as soon as possible.

Mechanisms of toxic effects are greatly anticipated to be revealed. There remains too much uncertainty on this issue and needs to be addressed. For example, are plastics really toxic to organisms or human? To what extent can damage can be caused? Are toxic effects induced by plastic itself, associated substances, or both? What factors may affect the mechanisms of toxic effects on organisms? All these questions are unclear and thus more relevant data are urgently required to fully fill the knowledge gaps in potential threats to organisms and human health.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Key Program of International Cooperation of Fujian Province (2019I0032), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21507129, 61705228), and the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province, China (2018J05028).

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Penghui Li, Xiaodan Wang, Min Su, Xiaoyan Zou, Linlin Duan & Hongwu Zhang

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Li, P., Wang, X., Su, M. et al. Characteristics of Plastic Pollution in the Environment: A Review. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 107 , 577–584 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-020-02820-1

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Received : 22 November 2019

Accepted : 04 March 2020

Published : 12 March 2020

Issue Date : October 2021

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-020-02820-1

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Confronting plastic pollution to protect environmental and public health

* E-mail: [email protected] (LG); [email protected] (JE)

Affiliation Public Library of Science, San Francisco, California, United States of America

Affiliation Center for the Advancement of Public Action, Bennington College; Beyond Plastics, Bennington, Vermont, United States of America

• Liza Gross, 
• Judith Enck

Published: March 30, 2021

• https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001131
• Reader Comments

A new collection of evidence-based commentaries explores critical challenges facing scientists and policymakers working to address the potential environmental and health harms of microplastics. The commentaries reveal a pressing need to develop robust methods to detect, evaluate, and mitigate the impacts of this emerging contaminant, most recently found in human placentas.

Citation: Gross L, Enck J (2021) Confronting plastic pollution to protect environmental and public health. PLoS Biol 19(3): e3001131. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001131

Copyright: © 2021 Gross, Enck. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Funding: The authors received no specific funding for this work.

Competing interests: Liza Gross is a current paid employee of the Public Library of Science.

The explosive production of affordable plastic goods during the 1950s ushered in an era of disposable living, fueled by an addiction to convenience and consumerism, that has created one of the world’s most vexing pollution problems. Plastic, for all its uses, has left a trail of debris from the deepest ocean trenches to the remotest polar reaches. Plastic pollutes throughout its life cycle, from its beginnings as a by-product of greenhouse gas-emitting oil and natural gas refining to its degradation-resistant end as increasingly fragmented shards of micro-and nanoplastics in atmospheric currents, alpine snow, estuaries, lakes, oceans, and soils. Researchers are finding microplastics in the gut or tissue of nearly every living thing they examine, including the placentas of unborn children.

The first sign of this burgeoning crisis came nearly half a century ago, when marine biologists first spotted tiny plastic pellets stuck to tiny marine organisms and seaweed in the North Atlantic’s Sargasso Sea. Describing their discovery in 1972, the scientists predicted, presciently, that “increasing production of plastics, combined with present waste disposal practices, will probably lead to greater concentrations on the sea surface” [ 1 ].

Researchers have struggled to keep tabs on plastic production and waste ever since. The first global assessment of mass-produced plastics, reported in 2017, estimated that manufacturers had produced 8,300 million metric tons of virgin plastics, creating 6,300 million metric tons of plastic waste—with only 9% recycled, 12% incinerated, and the rest either piling up in landfills or entering the environment [ 2 ].

Some 15 million metric tons of plastic enters the oceans every year [ 3 ], choking marine mammals, invading the guts of fish and seabirds, and posing unknown risks to the animals, and people, who eat them. Plastics release toxic chemicals added during manufacturing as they splinter into smaller and smaller fragments, with half-lives ranging from 58 to 1,200 years [ 4 ]. Persistent organic pollutants have a high affinity for plastic particles, which glom on to these contaminants as do pathogens in the ocean, presenting additional risks to marine life and the food web. Scientists once viewed freshwater lakes and rivers as primarily conduits for plastic, delivering trash from land to the sea, but now realize they’re also repositories.

Plastic production increased from 2 million metric tons a year in 1950 to 380 million metric tons by 2015 and is expected to double by 2050 [ 2 ]. Petrochemical companies’ embrace of fracking has exacerbated the crisis by producing large amounts of ethane, a building block for plastic.

Recognizing the scope and urgency of addressing the plastic pollution crisis, PLOS Biology is publishing a special collection of commentaries called “Confronting plastic pollution to protect environmental and public health.”

In commissioning the collection, we aimed to illuminate critical questions about microplastics’ effects on environmental and human health and explore current challenges in addressing those questions. The collection features three evidence-based commentaries that address gaps in understanding while flagging research priorities for improving methods to detect, evaluate, and mitigate threats associated with this emerging contaminant.

Environmental ecotoxicologist Scott Coffin and colleagues address recent government efforts to assess and reduce deleterious effects of microplastics, which challenge traditional risk-based regulatory frameworks due to their particle properties, diverse composition, and persistence. In their Essay, “Addressing the environmental and health impacts of microplastics requires open collaboration between diverse sectors” [ 5 ], the authors use California as a case study to suggest strategies to deal with these uncertainties in designing research, policy, and regulation, drawing on parallels with a similar class of emerging contaminants (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances).

In “Tackling the toxics in plastics packaging” [ 6 ], environmental toxicologist Jane Muncke focuses on a major driver of the global plastic pollution crisis: single-use food packaging. Our throwaway culture has led to the widespread use of plastic packaging for storing, transporting, preparing, and serving food, along with efforts to reduce plastic waste by giving it new life as recycled material. But these efforts ignore evidence that chemicals in plastic migrate from plastic, making harmful chemicals an unintentional part of the human diet. Addressing contamination from food packaging is an urgent public health need that requires integrating all existing knowledge, she argues.

Much early research on microplastics focused on ocean pollution. But the ubiquitous particles appear to be interfering with the very fabric of the soil environment itself, by influencing soil bulk density and the stability of the building blocks of soil structure, argue Matthias Rillig and colleagues in their Essay. Microplastics can affect the carbon cycle in numerous ways, for example, by being carbon themselves and by influencing soil microbial processes, plant growth, or litter decomposition, the authors argue in “Microplastic effects on carbon cycling processes in soils” [ 7 ]. They call for “a major concerted effort” to understand the pervasive effects of microplastics on the function of soils and terrestrial ecosystems, a monumental feat given the immense diversity of the particles’ chemistry, aging, size, and shape.

The scope and effects of plastic pollution are too vast to be captured in a few commentaries. Microplastics are everywhere and researchers are just starting to get a handle on how to study the influence of this emerging contaminant on diverse environments and organisms. But as the contributors to this collection make clear, the pervasiveness of microplastics makes them nearly impossible to avoid. And the uncertainty surrounding their potential to harm people, wildlife, and the environment, they show, underscores the urgency of developing robust tools and methods to understand how a material designed to make life easier may be making it increasingly unsustainable.

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Plastic Pollution Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on plastic pollution.

Plastic is everywhere nowadays. People are using it endlessly just for their comfort. However, no one realizes how it is harming our planet. We need to become aware of the consequences so that we can stop plastic pollution . Kids should be taught from their childhood to avoid using plastic. Similarly, adults must check each other on the same. In addition, the government must take stringent measures to stop plastic pollution before it gets too late.

Uprise of Plastic Pollution

Plastic has become one of the most used substances. It is seen everywhere these days, from supermarkets to common households. Why is that? Why is the use of plastic on the rise instead of diminishing? The main reason is that plastic is very cheap. It costs lesser than other alternatives like paper and cloth. This is why it is so common.

Secondly, it is very easy to use. Plastic can be used for almost anything either liquid or solid. Moreover, it comes in different forms which we can easily mold.

Furthermore, we see that plastic is a non-biodegradable material. It does not leave the face of the Earth . We cannot dissolve plastic in land or water, it remains forever. Thus, more and more use of plastic means more plastic which won’t get dissolved. Thus, the uprise of plastic pollution is happening at a very rapid rate.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Impact of Plastic Pollution

Plastic Pollution is affecting the whole earth, including mankind, wildlife, and aquatic life. It is spreading like a disease which has no cure. We all must realize the harmful impact it has on our lives so as to avert it as soon as possible.

Plastic pollutes our water. Each year, tonnes of plastic are dumped into the ocean. As plastic does not dissolve, it remains in the water thereby hampering its purity. This means we won’t be left with clean water in the coming years.

Furthermore, plastic pollutes our land as well. When humans dump Plastic waste into landfills, the soil gets damaged. It ruins the fertility of the soil. In addition to this, various disease-carrying insects collect in that area, causing deadly illnesses.

Should Plastic Be Banned? Read the Essay here

Most importantly, plastic pollution harms the Marine life . The plastic litter in the water is mistaken for food by the aquatic animals. They eat it and die eventually. For instance, a dolphin died due to a plastic ring stuck in its mouth. It couldn’t open its mouth due to that and died of starvation. Thus, we see how innocent animals are dying because of plastic pollution.

In short, we see how plastic pollution is ruining everyone’s life on earth. We must take major steps to prevent it. We must use alternatives like cloth bags and paper bags instead of plastic bags. If we are purchasing plastic, we must reuse it. We must avoid drinking bottled water which contributes largely to plastic pollution. The government must put a plastic ban on the use of plastic. All this can prevent plastic pollution to a large extent.

FAQs on Plastic Pollution Essay

Q.1 Why is plastic pollution on the rise?

A.1 Plastic Pollution is on the rise because nowadays people are using plastic endlessly. It is very economical and easily available. Moreover, plastic does not dissolve in the land or water, it stays for more than hundred years contributing to uprise of plastic pollution.

Q.2 How is plastic pollution impacting the earth?

A.2 Plastic pollution is impacting the earth in various ways. Firstly, it is polluting our water. This causes a shortage of clean water and thus we cannot have enough supply for all. Moreover, it is also ruining our soils and lands. The soil fertility is depleting and disease-carrying insects are collecting in landfills of plastic.

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• Plastic Pollution Essay

Essay on Plastic Pollution

Plastic waste makes its way from our homes and offices to landfills and bodies of water, causing contamination. For the sake of health and the environment, it is important to properly dispose of such plastic waste and to reduce its widespread use. Here we have provided both a Long and Short essay on plastic pollution for students of Class 1 to 12.

Students can refer to these plastic pollution essays in English to gain some insights on the topic as well as a reference for writing their essays.

Long Essay on Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution is becoming more of a global problem. Governments, foundations, and some social media organizations are all attempting to raise awareness about this issue. Plastic goods are commonly used in industry because they are more effective and less costly than other materials.

Plastic, on the other hand, triggers a slew of environmental issues. Plastic pollution has several negative effects on our climate, but the three most important are ocean pollution, land pollution, and food pollution.

Plastic pollution is wreaking havoc on the oceans, and it's getting worse every year. Some governments are imposing strict regulations to discourage the use of plastic goods so that people are aware of the effect of plastic waste on the environment. As a result, action must be taken to address this issue before it is too late.

Plastics come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and they are commonly used in our everyday lives. Today, it's difficult to find a substance that isn't made of plastic. Thermosets, also known as thermoplastics, are used in several products.

The following are a few examples of plastic objects that people typically use in their daily lives:

PET fabric and polyester condensers.

Plastic tapes–fabrics, garments, curtains, carpets, conveyors, mouldings, tarpaulins, etc. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)–used in water bottles, tubes, detergent bottles, food trays in microwaves.

PET fabric and polyester condensers, LCDs, and plastic tapes–fabrics, clothes, curtains, carpets, conveyors, mouldings have frequently broken FAQor or wall corsets made of polyvinyl chloride, automobile instrument boards, electrical wiring sheaths, games, syringes, cloth covers, window frames, and other high-density polyethene building materials Plastic bags, trash bags, prescription bottles, empty food containers, bottles, and milk bottle liners are all examples of items that can be recycled.

While it might seem that addressing chemical waste issues is as simple as recycling or washing empty bottles, the reality is that polluting plastic can vary in size from large to small.

Even if you don't want it on those products, plastic is all around us. Milk boxes are stuffed with cardboard, water bottles are strewn around, and some items can also contain small plastic pieces. Chemical pollutants are more likely to enter the environment and cause harm each time one of these items is discarded or swept away.

Plastic is one of the many widely available but overused items in today's world due to its low cost. When burned in the open, this does not decompose quickly and pollutes the underlying soil or groundwater.

Commercial fisheries are an unavoidable requirement in many parts of the world, but many people consume fish daily. Nonetheless, this industry has culminated in a variety of solutions to the problem of plastic pollution in the oceans. Plastic is often used in the nets used by certain large-scale troll operations. Second, they spend a lot of time submerged in water, where they can freely release contaminants, but they are frequently dissolved or killed, leaving them to live wherever they land. It not only destroys and threatens native animals, but it also allows chemicals to swim away and contaminate nearby fish.

The majority of the items are made of plastic, but most of the materials are not biodegradable, making disposal difficult. There were no natural methods in place to recycle non-biodegradable plastics. It cannot be recycled or left to starve in the manner in which traditional waste is discarded or spilt.

Also, reuse does not reduce steel use because it recycles existing plastics in a new shape. In a variety of ways, the method of paper recycling can result in the release of plastic allergens.

Short Plastic Pollution Essay in English

Plastic waste has long-term social, economic, and ecotoxicological effects. Entanglement, swallowing, and starvation are some of the physical effects on sea life. Chemical influence: the accumulation of residual chemical contaminants like PCBs and DDT.

It's easy to see how this amount of oil, which isn't meant to penetrate, can harm the environment over time, causing long-term problems for plants, animals, and humans. The following are a few of the major long-term consequences of pollution:

Upsets the Flow of Food - Polluting materials, which come in smaller and larger dimensions, impact even the tiniest species on the earth, such as plankton. When these species become contaminated as a result of plastic ingestion, it poses a threat to larger animals that depend on them for food. Any move further along the food supply chain can cause a slew of problems. Furthermore, it means that plastic is present in the fish that so many people consume daily.

Groundwater Pollution - Chemicals are released into the soil and leak into groundwater, resulting in groundwater pollution (also known as groundwater contamination). Such a type of water pollution may also occur naturally as a result of the presence of a minor and undesirable component, contaminant, or impurity in underground water, in which case it is more likely to be referred to as waste rather than pollution. Plastics are responsible for almost all the waste and pollution that pollutes the world's oceans. It will have devastating effects for a variety of marine animals, with repercussions for those that consume fish or other sea life for food, such as humans.

Land Pollution - Once dumped in landfills, the plastic reacts with water or forms toxic chemicals. If these pollutants flow deep into the water, they degrade its efficiency. The stench wafts through the litter and transports waste from one place to the next. They can also become entrapped in posts, traffic lights, trees, walls, houses, and other structures, as well as predators that may arrive in the area and suffocate to death.

Air Pollution - Air pollution appears to be a mix of solid particles and gases in the atmosphere. Pollutants from automobiles, plants, smoke, pollen, and mould spores can all be stored as particulate matter. Ozone is a chemical that contributes significantly to urban air pollution. Smog is the term for when ozone causes air pollution. Some of the toxins in the air are poisonous.

Plastic trash disposal that isn't done properly would have a huge environmental effect. To ensure that the environment remains free of plastic waste, waste disposal using green technologies and proper waste management must be strictly controlled. The preservation of the environment from rising plastic contamination is the responsibility of every human being.

Causes of Plastic Pollution

Plastic can be found in everything from milk cartons to water bottles. Plastics are inexpensive, simple to manufacture, and extremely durable. Toxic contaminants have a greater probability of infiltrating the environment and causing harm every time one of these plastic objects is disposed of or rinsed down the drain.

It is one of the most commonly available and overused items in the world today because it is less expensive. Demand for low-cost plastics is increasing because of rising urbanization and population increase.

Because they're so inexpensive, they're also easily discarded. When burned in the open air, it does not degrade quickly and pollutes the ground and air nearby.

Waste is frequently carried by the winds. Plastic, because it is lightweight, is carried away by gentle winds and washed into sewers, rivers, streams and, eventually, the oceans. Natural disasters, such as floods, should also be taken into account as sources of plastic pollution.

Commercial fishing is a necessary economic industry in many regions of the world, but it has contributed to the problem of plastic pollution in the oceans in several ways. Plastic nets are commonly utilized in certain large-scale fishing activities. They are frequently broken apart or misplaced and can rot wherever they fall. Marine animals become entangled in nets and/or ingest the poisonous particles.

FAQs on Plastic Pollution Essay

1. What do we Mean by Plastic Pollution?

Plastic Pollution occurs when synthetic plastic goods accumulate in the atmosphere to the point that they pose a threat to wildlife and their ecosystems, as well as human populations.

2. What are the Ways in Which we can Avoid/Control Plastic Pollution?

The reality is that the only way to fix this problem is for people and businesses all over the world to agree to and enforce pollution-reduction policies. The best plastic pollution solutions to control and avoid it are listed below.

Shop Friendly - Plastic bags have become a daily convenience, but they can be easily replaced with plastic bags, some of which are elegantly structured and lightweight. Simply add up how many things you typically carry out of a store and divide by the number of times you shop there. It's a substantial sum of money! Take a bag and, if you have any, just use plastic bags as much as you can.

Get Rid of Bottled Water - Drinking plenty of water is recommended every day, and giant water bottles are becoming a popular way to stay hydrated during the day. Furthermore, some of these are only licenced for individual use, meaning that any full container will end up in the trash. Several companies are now selling recycled water bottles as a substitute, reducing plastic waste and the availability of leaky bottles.

Reduce the Usage of To-go Containers - You'd be amazed to hear how much plastic is used in the manufacture and storage of food containers. Though the cafe's drink cup is documented and usually wrapped in acrylic for padding (for either a cup of coffee or a piece of cardboard to see what's going on). Plastic food plates, lids, and cookware can all be quickly replaced with recycled materials, resulting in a substantial reduction in waste from only one meal.

3. Why is plastic pollution on the rise?

The accumulation of plastic in the environment causes plastic pollution. Primary plastics, such as cigarette butts and bottle caps, are classified as primary, whereas secondary plastics, which emerge from the decomposition of primary plastics, are classified as secondary. Its world production is increasing at an exponential rate. Plastic pollution is on the rise because of people's persistent need to use plastic. Its outstanding features, including simplicity of shape, low cost, and mechanical resistance, all contribute to its success. It is both inexpensive and readily available. Furthermore, plastic does not decompose in the soil or water; it persists for over a century, contributing to an increase in plastic pollution. Plastic is practically everywhere because it is the suitable material for packaging. Natural disasters, such as floods, should be considered plastic pollution sources.

4. How does plastic pollution affect the environment?

Plastic pollution has a range of effects on the environment. Plastic stays in the ecosystem for a long time, causing a hazard to wildlife and spreading pollutants. Plastic also majorly contributes to global warming. Almost all plastics are made from chemicals used in the manufacturing of fossil fuels, which contribute to climate change. To begin with, it pollutes our water. So, there is a scarcity of clean water and everyone's needs for clean water can’t be fulfilled. It is also eroding our soils and fields. Disease-carrying insects are accumulating in plastic landfills, and soil fertility is worsening. Plastics are also released into the atmosphere when they are burned in incinerators, releasing greenhouse gases and hazardous air pollution. Plastic has an impact on all organisms in the food chain, from microscopic plankton to whales.

5. Where can I get a collection of long and short essays for my school?

Vedantu has a good collection of long and short essays to help students from Class 1 – 12. Vedantu's online educational platform will provide you with a comprehensive learning experience. You will be able to chat with some of the instructors with adequate expertise to coach you for school exams, competitive exams, and so on through our live interactive teaching sessions. In addition to coaching classes, we provide revision notes for grades 6 to 12. You can also easily download them and access them as per your convenience. Students who are looking for good quality study material, can download that from Vedantu website in PDF format with no extra cost. You can also get more resources for free by downloading the Vedantu app.

Argumentative Essay on Plastic Pollution

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Here you have an Essay on Argumentative essay on Plastic pollution also Download it’s Pdf free of cost.

Introduction

Plastic is everywhere today. People use it endlessly to gain their comfort. However, no one realizes how much damage our planet is doing. We need to be aware of the consequences to prevent plastic contamination. Children should be taught from an early age to avoid using plastic. Similarly, adults should examine the same. In addition, the government must take strong measures to stop plastic pollution before it is too late.

Increased Plastic Pollution

One of the most extensively utilized materials is plastic. It is seen everywhere these days, from supermarkets to ordinary homes. Why is that? Why is the use of plastic rising rather than declining? The main reason is that plastic is quite affordable. It costs less than other methods such as paper and cloth. Second, it is straightforward to use. Plastic can be used for almost any liquid or solid. Moreover, it comes in many forms that we can easily shape.

In addition, we see that plastic is a non-perishable material. It never leaves the face of the Earth. We cannot dispose of plastic in the ground or water; it lasts forever. Therefore, the increased use of plastic means more plastic will not melt. Thus, outbreaks of plastic pollution occur at high speeds.

Impact of Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution affects the whole world, including humans, wildlife, and aquatic animals. It spreads like an incurable disease. We should all be aware of the harmful effects on our lives to avoid them as soon as possible.

Plastic pollutes our water. Each year, tons of plastic are thrown into the sea. Since plastic is insoluble, it stays in the water and thus impairs its cleanliness. This means we will not be left with clean water in the years to come.

In addition, plastic pollutes our country. When people dispose of plastic waste in landfills, the soil is damaged. It destroys soil fertility. In addition, various parasites accumulate in the area, causing deadly diseases.

Most importantly, plastic contamination damages marine life. Plastic water waste is accidentally made as food for aquatic animals. They ate it and eventually died. For example, the dolphin died due to a plastic ring attached to its mouth. Because of this, he could not open his mouth, and he starved to death. Thus, we see how innocent animals die due to plastic contamination.

In short, we see how plastic pollution pollutes the lives of everyone on Earth. To prevent it, we must take serious measures. We should use cloth bags and paper bags instead of plastic bags. If we buy plastic, we have to use it again. We should avoid drinking bottled water, which significantly impacts plastic contamination. The government must prohibit plastic use. All of this can prevent plastic contamination to a large extent.

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Plastic Pollution

Recently, Earth Observed its first Plastic Overshoot Day on 28 July, 2023.

More About News

• According to Swiss-based research consultancy Earth Action (EA) , on July 28, 2023, the Earth saw its first Plastic Overshoot Day.

• The global average consumption of plastic per person per year is 20.9 kg.
• In the first 208 days of 2023 , plastic waste is well-managed, meaning it is collected and then either recycled, incinerated or deposited in a sanitary landfill.
• Short-life plastics, encompassing plastic packaging and single-use plastic s, accounts for approximately 37% of the total plastic commercialized annually. 
• By 2040 plastic production is set to double, with plastic pollution is expected to triple.
• 175 countries account for 41% of the total mismanaged waste , or 64,63 days, while 12 countries are responsible for 52% of the world’s mismanaged plastic waste , or 145 days of overshoot for 2023.
• 12 Countries:  India, China, Brazil, Indonesia, Thailand, Russia, Mexico, the United States, Saudia Arabia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran and Kazakhstan.
• India ranks fourth in the MWI, with 98.55 per cent of generated waste being mismanaged and fares poorly in the management of plastics waste.
• Expected mismanaged waste in India in 2023 will be 7,300,752 tonnes of plastic . 
• India will also be responsible for releasing an average of 3,30,764 tonnes of microplastics into waterways.

Global Plastic Pollution Crisis

• If this is to continue unchecked, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050. 
• Marine Plastic Pollution: More than 14 million metric tonnes of plastic enters and damages aquatic ecosystems annually.
• Climate Change: Greenhouse gas emissions associated with plastics are expected to account for 15 per cent of the total emissions allowable by 2050 if humanity is to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
• Out of this, close to half is disposed off as residues , which results in only 9% of plastic waste getting recycled. 
• Another 19% gets incinerated , 50% ends up in landfill and 22% evades waste management systems. 

Menace of Plastic Pollution in India

• India is the second-largest consumer of plastic globally, with packaging materials contributing significantly to the plastic waste generated. 
• Plastic waste often ends up in landfills, rivers, and oceans , causing irreversible damage to the environment and marine life. 
• Threat To Ecosystem: It threatens the biodiversity and health of marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Plastic can harm or kill wildlife, damage habitats, and d isrupt food webs.
• Threat to Humans: It poses risks to human health and well-being. Plastic can contaminate the food chain and expose humans to harmful chemicals, reduce the quality and enjoyment of natural environments, and increase the spread of diseases.
• Threat to Climate: It contributes to the climate crisis and resource depletion. Plastic emits greenhouse gases during its production, transportation, and degradation, and consumes large amounts of energy, water, and land.
• Creates social and economic costs and inequalities : Plastic can affect the livelihoods and incomes of people who depend on natural resources, such as fishers or farmers. 
• Climate Injustice: Plastic can create environmental injustice and discrimination, as some communities or countries bear a disproportionate burden of plastic waste generation or disposal.
• Waste management is primarily f ocused on the collection and transportation of waste , while its d isposal remains largely neglected . 
• This has r esulted in the pollution of water bodies and the emission of harmful gases like methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas.

Steps Taken to Reduce Menace of Plastic Pollution in India  

• Single Use Plastic Ban: On July 1, 2022, a ban was imposed on the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of identified single-use plastic items, which have low utility and high littering potential
• Tamil Nadu launched a massive campaign on using cloth bags with vending machines set up under the Meendum Manjappai campaign; 
• Uttar Pradesh is implementing the refillable model to promote reuse of packaging material.
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): EPR is a framework that holds producers responsible for the entire lifecycle of their products, including their disposal.
• EPR is implemented in India through various policies and regulations, such as the Plastic Waste Management Rules (2016), and through collaborations between the government, NGOs, and other stakeholders.
• Circular economy: It is a resource efficient economy where waste and pollution are eliminated, products and materials are kept in use at their highest value for the longest time possible, and natural systems are regenerated.

Way Forward

• Global plastic production must be capped and reduced to prevent plastic pollution from tripling by 2040. 
• Circular economy solutions can reduce pollution by 80% by 2040. 
• Financial mechanisms and capacity-building are essential for participation and national legislation implementation.
• Global North countries that export their waste to Global South countries must be held accountable for supporting infrastructure development in importing countries by at least the volume they export annually.
• Implement effective segregation system s, establish recycling centers, and promote the adoption of advanced technologies for plastic waste processing.
• This can involve collaboration between the government, private sector, and civil society to develop innovative solutions.
• India has the capacity to process 14.2 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, accounting for 71% of primary plastic production.

News Source: Down to Earth

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