The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has had several undesired consequences on the environment: It diminished recycling practices and increased the use of plastic globally. The world’s plastic footprint has risen alarmingly during the last two years. Post-pandemic plastic piling in oceans may cause serious hazards in the future and therefore needs attention.
5.25 trillion macro and micro pieces of plastic in our oceans
Single-use plastic is the most prominent reason for the rise in plastic piling in our oceans. Approximately 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced per year, out of which 40% is single-use plastic. A dump-truck load of plastic waste goes into the oceans from the coastal nations per year, which leads to 5.25 trillion macro and micro pieces of plastic in our oceans. There are 46,000 pieces in every square mile of ocean, weighing up to 269,000 tonnes.
Plastic kills a million living beings every year from birds to fish to other marine organisms. Approximately 700 species, including endangered ones, are affected by plastics. Seabirds, turtles, marine mammals, and fish can mistake floating marine debris for food; it can choke them or block their digestive systems leading to death upon indigestion.
Adding to the over 8 million metric tonnes of plastic that end up in the oceans every year. Now that plastic is working as personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves, hand sanitizer bottles, PPE kits, test kits, and takeout containers.
Collection and recycling systems have failed to keep pace with rising amounts of garbage
In China, the sea salt samples contain microplastics. Often in concentrations as high as 681 plastic particles per kilogram of sea salt. Microplastics are small plastics, smaller than 5 mm. They come from large either plastics breaking down or they come as small plastics such as microbeads.
Plastic pieces smaller than 5 mm (microplastic) pose a rather adverse effect. Since it carries adsorbing toxic and hazardous chemicals, including DDT and PCBs, which are carcinogenic, impair the immune system and make animals more susceptible to diseases and other infections.
In countries where waste collection and recycling systems have failed to keep pace with rising amounts of garbage. They often dump the plastic waste near waterways or burn it in the open air which pollutes the air, water, and soil.
Meaningful management still needs to improve the overall ocean health index, which requires sustainability with the help of newer technologies to eliminate any such mitigating threats to biodiversity.