Plastic particles in oceans across the globe have reached unbelievable levels, with over 170 trillion particles in the world’s oceans. A study has been conducted by a group of international researchers, which emphasizes the urgent need of taking accurate measures. The authors of the study say that the plastic industry is the major culprit for marine pollution.
The new study, was conducted by 5 Gyres Institute and published in Plos One journal, has revealed rising levels of marine plastic pollution between 1979 and 2019. The amount of ocean plastic could triple by 2040 if the world fails to take strict action. The co-founder of the 5 Gyres Institute, Dr. Marcus Eriksen, has requested global corporate responsibility for the product’s complete life cycle for addressing the problem at its source.
Image: IUCN
The researchers have identified the major drivers of plastic pollution, such as poor waste management practices, increasing single-use plastics production, and lack of proper infrastructure for plastic water management. For the study, researchers examined around 11,777 samples of ocean plastics. They aim at creating a global time series to estimate the average counts and amount of microplastics present in the ocean’s surface layer.
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The report even shows the effectiveness of international policy measures in decreasing plastic pollution. Addressing the issues while investing in better waste management infrastructure in different countries with more levels of plastic pollution has become one of the most effective solutions.
Image: CBS 58
There are certain countries across the globe that have started taking action for addressing the plastic pollution issue. For instance, the European Union has formed legislation for banning single-use plastics, while certain countries, like India, have already implemented ban on single-use plastics.
According to the study’s authors, only urgent action could help in decreasing catastrophic levels of plastic pollution. Without strategic policy changes, the increasing amount of plastic within the ocean could lead to devastating consequences not only for marine ecosystems but also for the entire planet.
Via: The Guardian