SCI1125 Geography Report: Plastic Waste in Marine Environment Analysis

This report examines the detrimental effects of plastic waste on the marine environment, drawing from the article 'Plastic waste in the marine environment: A review of sources, occurrence and effects'. The report explores the increasing plastic consumption, from industrial and domestic sources, and its consequences, including microplastic and macroplastic pollution, which threatens marine ecosystems and biodiversity. The report analyzes the causes of plastic pollution, highlighting the impact on marine life, human health, and the economy, while also discussing potential solutions, such as strict legislation, recycling programs, and community engagement to reduce plastic waste and mitigate its impact. The report concludes by emphasizing the urgent need for action to address the growing concern of plastic waste and its impact on the environment.

Running head: GEOGRAPHY
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Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

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Table of contents
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................3
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................4
Reference list and bibliography.......................................................................................................9

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Task 1
Introduction
The article has shed light on the impact of plastic waster in the marine environment. Due
to increasing uses of plastic waste from the industrialized and domestic areas, rapid
environmental degradation has become the major concern for global people (LI, Tse & FOK,
2016). The purpose of this study to summarize the article ‘Plastic waste in the marine
environment: A review of sources, occurrence and effects’ and highlight its literature review.
Discussion
The article has shed light on the drastic impact on plastic waste on the marine
environment. The article has identified that the domestic, fishing and industrial activities have
major contribution in case of increasing the plastic waste (LI, Tse & FOK, 2016). Due to the
increasing amount of micro plastics and macro plastic wastage, the conservation of natural
resources has become the major concern. In this article, different types of plastic sources have
been highlighted. The article has focused on investigating the issue of plastic pollution and its
impact on the marine ecosystem. Through this article, the author aimed to drag the attention of
government towards the emerging plastic waste issue (Sharma & Chatterjee, 2017). In this
article, it has been suggested that introducing the legislative initiatives have become necessary in
case of controlling the increasing amount of plastic debris. By continuing this, the author has
also mentioned that the plastic industries should focus on taking the responsibility for
introducing the plastic recycling updating programs.
Analyzing the article, it has been identified that from the year 1950 to 2014, the annual
production of plastic has increased 200 fold (LI, Tse & FOK, 2016). Due to its availability and

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inexpensiveness, the plastic product consumption has become highly popular among the people,
which has influenced the marine pollution. By continuing this, it can be said that the micro
plastics and macro plastics brings the risk to marine organisms. It is true that due to increasing
amount of plastic pollution, the food chain in the marine environment is getting affected which
causes the huge biodiversity loss. It has been identified that due to the excessive uses of micro
plastics, the rate of hydrophobic contamination has been increased. In this situation, introducing
effective solution for dealing with the situation has become necessary. Due to the biodiversity
loss, natural resource as well as marine ecosystem is getting affected, which increases the
chances of natural disaster (Lusher, 2015). Due to lack of proper food and poised water, it has
brought negative impact on the economy. As due to increasing marine pollution, fishing industry
can face big trouble in the long run. In case of dealing with the situation, the article has
suggested to make active contribution of government as well as local community for controlling
the plastic contamination in the ecosystem (do Sul & Costa, 2014). It is suggested in this study
that by introducing strict legislation regarding the emission of micro plastics, industrial plastic
emissions can be reduced.
Conclusion
In this study, it can be concluded that plastic consumption has become one of the
important concerns in both the developed and developing countries. Due to increasing amount of
plastic consumption in different industrial sectors, marine ecology now is in vulnerable situation.

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Task 2
Introduction
Increasing amount of plastic waste has become the major concern for the global people.
Due to increasing plastic pollution, not only the marine life but also air and soil are being
hampered (Watts et al., 2015). On the other hand, due to availability and inexpensiveness of the
plastic products, high consumption rate of plastic has also increased the environmental
degradation concern. The purpose of this study is to shed light on the concept as well as causes
of plastic pollution in the environment. By highlighting its impact on the environment, solutions
for reducing the plastic pollution have been described.
Concept of plastic waste
The term plastic waste is being considered as the general term that represents the wide
range of synthetic organic amorphous solid material, which are being driven from natural gas as
well as oil (Watts et al., 2015). Increasing amount of plastic waste has become the major concern
in planet. It is true that in most of the areas of manufacturing use of plastic has become common.
Plastic products are being molded in daily basis. It has been identified that near about 1.1 to 8.8
million metric tons of plastic waste are being found from the Coastal areas (Steensgaard et al.,
2017). Plastics waste creates the landfill contamination, which degrade the ground water as well
as soil. The microorganism and harmful chemicals are being emitted from the industrial and
domestic activities, which influence the marine pollution. With the increasing amount of plastic
waste in ocean, not only the marine ecology but also the various underground resources are being
affected, which can bring the drastic impact on the plant (Vethaak & Leslie, 2016). In this
situation, driving the attention of government as well as society towards decreasing the amount

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of wastage has become necessary so that the environmental sustainability can be maintained
(Huysman et al., 2017).
Plastic consumption and its impact
The plastic pollution is being accumulated with the plastic objects. Plastics which create
pollutions are being categorized into meso, micro, and macro debris, based on their size
(Comăniță et al., 2016). Due to its inexpensiveness and durability, the uses of plastic across the
world have been increased. It cannot be denied that due to the chemical structure of plastics, it
influence the natural degradation process. In the words of Steensgaard et al., (2017), not only the
land, but also plastic pollution has strong impact in oceans and water bodies. Plastic wastage
brings the mechanical effect in case of exposing the chemicals in the environment. It has been
identified that in every year near about 6.3 billion tons of plastics are being produced (Jambeck
et al., 2015). It is true that based the analysis, it has been identified that plastic waste can be only
reduced depending on increasing concern of individuals regarding the plastic consumption. In
the year, the rate of plastic consumption has reached 381 million tons (Vethaak & Leslie, 2016).
This is equivalent two third of the global population. In case of high income countries, more
plastic waste is being generated. In that case the risk for ocean environment increases. In case of
introducing effective way against the plastic pollution, proper waste management system needs
to be adopted across the world (Comăniță et al., 2016). It cannot be denied that due to its
versatility, resistant power and light weight, in various functions plastic is being used. In that
case, with increasing uses of plastics the risk regarding the management of marine ecology
becomes challenging. In a recent review it has been identified that near about 10000s to 100000s
tones of plastics have been found in the ocean surface, which has brought drastic impact on the

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marine ecosystem (Lönnstedt & Eklöv, 2016). Increasing amount of plastic consumption plays
an important role for contributing towards the environmental pollution.
Causes of plastic pollution
Plastic pollution drives the major impact in the natural and human health. Analyzing the
causes of plastic pollution, it has been identified that due to its availability milk cartons, water
bottle as well as the daily used products are being made by plastic, which are being thrown after
use. In that case, the trash dumps not only make the soil contamination but also it influences the
ground water pollution too (Steensgaard et al., 2017). Commercial fusion has become the
economic necessity for many countries ion all over the world. In that case, large numbers of
people are also involved in the occupation. However, the fishing industry has strong contribution
in the economic growth, but it is also true that the fishing activities have strong impact in case of
influencing the marine pollution. Analyzing the activities it has been identified that usually the
leakage of toxins and broken net creates the water polluted (Steer et al., 2017). As its result,
wildlife gets affected and creates the marine pollution. By depositing the plastic garbage, amount
of toxic is being increased in the environment. In case of burning plastic, the atmosphere gets
harmed and affects the natural resources.
Impacts of plastic pollution on the environment
Increasing amount of plastic waste not only drives the negative impact on human health,
but also it has driven the long term negative impact on the environment. With the increasing
amount of small and large amount of plastics, the world’s tiniest organisms have affected
(Steensgaard et al., 2017). Due to increasing amount of plankton poisoning the larger animals,
which depend on the planktons are also being affected. By depositing the plastic garbage,

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amount of toxic is being increased in the environment. In case of burning plastic, the atmosphere
gets harmed and affects the natural resources. In this case, with increasing poisons in the
environment, the food chain gets affected, which indirectly impacts on the biodiversity. In the
words of Lönnstedt and Eklöv (2016), due to increasing amount of plastic pollution, water
conservation has become the major concern for thee government. Mostly in case of developing
countries, increasing amount of garbage are being dumped in the water bodies, which brings the
terrible consequence for the marine species. Land pollution is another important impact of plastic
waste (Jambeck et al., 2015). It is true that due to increasing amount of plastic uses the amount
of hazardous elements in the environment gets increased. By continuing this, it can be said that
land pollution degrades the water quality, plastics wastes are being carried by wind, from one
place to another, which create suffocating environment (LI, Tse & FOK, 2016). Due to lack of
understanding regarding the poisonous chemicals, plastic waste are being burned. In that case, air
is being polluted and which directly impact the health of human and wild life. While making the
artificial plastics, large amount of toxic chemicals are being produced (Lönnstedt & Eklöv,
2016). Therefore, the exposure and use of plastics drives the negative impact in both the human
and animal life. Million dollars are being invested in case of cleaning the affected area after
plastic exposure. Due to increasing land value, people put plastic garbage for filling the vacant
areas. This has become the major concern in many areas in the world (Jambeck et al., 2015).
Solutions for dealing with plastic pollution
In order to keep the environment free from plastic pollution, government and community
engagement are needed. Analyzing the daily plastic consumption rate, it has been identified that
near bout ninety percent of plastic waste comes from the daily used products (LI, Tse & FOK,
2016). In that case, reducing the amount of plastic waste, community engagement can play an

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important role. If people carry their own bags rather than using the plastic bags given from the
stores, the waste can be reduced. On the other hand, if the organizations will start using the
recyclable materials in packaging, it can help to reduce the amount of plastic consumption
(Jambeck et al., 2015). It is true that in every year near about 20 billion plastic bottles are being
collected as trash. In that case, if people carry reusable bottle with them or the government can
improve the water quality ion local tap, in that case the situation can be handled. In case of
reducing the plastic pollution in marine environment, it is very important for focusing on
recycling the products.
Due to increasing concern regarding the plastic waste, in some of the countries, near
about 9% plastic waste, is being recycled (LI, Tse & FOK, 2016). Although, the amount is very
low, but with the little initiative of individuals change can be introduced. In case of marine
pollution, the recycling process helps to keep the plastics out from the ocean. Many municipality
areas around the world have banned the single use of plastic. In case of implementing the idea,
community engagement is needed. With the proper support from the community, it will be easier
for the organizations to address the plastic pollution issue in proper manner (LI, Tse & FOK,
2016). The non-profit organizations can contribute in case of introducing different campaigns,
which can play an important role for increasing people awareness regarding plastic pollutions.
Conclusion
In this literature review, it has been identified that fishing, industrial and domestic
activities are the major causes behind plastic pollution. Due to increasing amount of plastic
pollution, it has been identified that in order to drive water contamination as well as disruption in
marine ecology, the plastic waste plays an influential role. Due to increasing poisoning in the

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ocean, marine animals and birds are dying, which is influencing the negative impact on
biodiversity conservation process.
Reference list and bibliography
Comăniță, E. D., Hlihor, R. M., Ghinea, C., & Gavrilescu, M. (2016). OCCURRENCE OF
PLASTIC WASTE IN THE ENVIRONMENT: ECOLOGICAL AND HEALTH
RISKS. Environmental Engineering & Management Journal (EEMJ), 15(3).
do Sul, J. A. I., & Costa, M. F. (2014). The present and future of microplastic pollution in the
marine environment. Environmental pollution, 185, 352-364.
Huysman, S., De Schaepmeester, J., Ragaert, K., Dewulf, J., & De Meester, S. (2017).
Performance indicators for a circular economy: A case study on post-industrial plastic
waste. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 120, 46-54.
Jambeck, J. R., Geyer, R., Wilcox, C., Siegler, T. R., Perryman, M., Andrady, A., ... & Law, K.
L. (2015). Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean. Science, 347(6223), 768-771.
LI, W. C., Tse, H. F., & FOK, L. (2016). Plastic waste in the marine environment: A review of
sources, occurrence and effects. Science of the Total Environment, 566, 333-349.
Lönnstedt, O. M., & Eklöv, P. (2016). Environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastic
particles influence larval fish ecology. Science, 352(6290), 1213-1216.
Lusher, A. (2015). Microplastics in the marine environment: distribution, interactions and
effects. In Marine anthropogenic litter (pp. 245-307). Springer, Cham.

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Sharma, S., & Chatterjee, S. (2017). Microplastic pollution, a threat to marine ecosystem and
human health: a short review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 24(27),
21530-21547.
Steensgaard, I. M., Syberg, K., Rist, S., Hartmann, N. B., Boldrin, A., & Hansen, S. F. (2017).
From macro-to microplastics-Analysis of EU regulation along the life cycle of plastic
bags. Environmental pollution, 224, 289-299.
Steensgaard, I. M., Syberg, K., Rist, S., Hartmann, N. B., Boldrin, A., & Hansen, S. F. (2017).
From macro-to microplastics-Analysis of EU regulation along the life cycle of plastic
bags. Environmental pollution, 224, 289-299.
Steer, M., Cole, M., Thompson, R. C., & Lindeque, P. K. (2017). Microplastic ingestion in fish
larvae in the western English Channel. Environmental Pollution, 226, 250-259.
Vethaak, A. D., & Leslie, H. A. (2016). Plastic debris is a human health issue.
Watts, A. J., Urbina, M. A., Corr, S., Lewis, C., & Galloway, T. S. (2015). Ingestion of plastic
microfibers by the crab Carcinus maenas and its effect on food consumption and energy
balance. Environmental science & technology, 49(24), 14597-14604.
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