The World's Plastic Pollution Crisis
Explained
Much of the planet is swimming in discarded plastic, which is harming animal and
possibly human health. Can it be cleaned up?
Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues,
as rapidly increasing production of disposable plastic products overwhelms the
world’s ability to deal with them. Plastic pollution is most visible in less-wealthy
Asian and African nations, where garbage collection systems are often inefficient
or nonexistent. But wealthy nations, especially those with low recycling rates, also
have trouble properly collecting discarded plastics. Plastic trash has become so
ubiquitous it has prompted efforts to write a global treaty negotiated by the United
Nations.
How Did this Happen ?
Plastics made from fossil fuels are just over a century old. Production and
development of thousands of new plastic products accelerated after World War II
to the extent that life without plastics would be unimaginable today. Plastics
revolutionized medicine with life-saving devices, made space travel possible,
lightened cars and jets—saving fuel and lessening pollution—and saved lives with
helmets, incubators, and equipment for clean drinking water.
The conveniences plastics offer, however, led to a throw-away culture that
reveals the material’s dark side: Today, single-use plastics account for 40 percent
of the plastic produced every year. Many of these products, such as plastic bags
and food wrappers, are used for mere minutes to hours, yet they may persist in the
environment for hundreds of years.
Plastics by the Numbers
Some key facts:
• Half of all plastics ever manufactured have been made in the last 15 years.
• Production increased exponentially, from 2.3 million tons in 1950 to 448
million tons by 2015. Production is expected to double by 2050.
• Every year, about 8 million tons of plastic waste escapes into the oceans
from coastal nations. That’s the equivalent of setting five garbage bags full of trash
on every foot of coastline around the world.
• Plastics often contain additives making them stronger, more flexible, and
durable. But many of these additives can extend the life of products if they become
litter, with some estimates ranging to at least 400 years to break down.
How Plastics Move around the World
Most of the plastic trash in the oceans, Earth’s last sink, flows from land.
Trash is also carried to sea by major rivers, which act as conveyor belts, picking up
more and more trash as they move downstream. Once at sea, much of the plastic
trash remains in coastal waters. But once caught up in ocean currents, it can be
transported around the world.
On Henderson Island, an uninhabited atoll in the Pitcairn Group isolated
halfway between Chile and New Zealand, scientists found plastic items from
Russia, the United States, Europe, South America, Japan, and China. They were
carried to the South Pacific by the South Pacific gyre, a circular ocean current.
Microplastics
Once at sea, sunlight, wind, and wave action break down plastic waste into
small particles, often less than half a centimer (one-fifth of an inch) across. These
so-called microplastics are spread throughout the water column and have been
found in every corner of the globe, from Mount Everest, the highest peak, to the
Mariana Trench, the deepest trough.
Microplastics are breaking down further into smaller and smaller pieces.
Plastic microfibers (or the even smaller nanofibers), meanwhile, have been found
in municipal drinking water systems and drifting through the air.
Harm to Wildlife
Millions of animals are killed by plastics every year, from birds to fish to
other marine organisms. Nearly 700 species, including endangered ones, are
known to have been affected by plastics. Nearly every species of seabird eats
plastics.
Most of the deaths to animals are caused by entanglement or starvation.
Seals, whales, turtles, and other animals are strangled by abandoned fishing gear or
discarded six-pack rings. Microplastics have been found in more than 100 aquatic
species, including fish, shrimp, and mussels destined for our dinner plates. In many
cases, these tiny bits pass through the digestive system and are expelled without
consequence. But plastics have also been found to have blocked digestive tracts or
pierced organs, causing death. Stomachs so packed with plastics reduce the urge to
eat, causing starvation.
Plastics have been consumed by land-based animals, including elephants,
hyenas, zebras, tigers, camels, cattle, and other large mammals, in some cases
causing death.
Tests have also confirmed liver and cell damage and disruptions to
reproductive systems, prompting some species, such as oysters, to produce fewer
eggs. New research shows that larval fish are eating nanofibers in the first days of
life, raising new questions about the effects of plastics on fish populations.
Stemming the Plastic Tide
Once in the ocean, it is difficult—if not impossible—to retrieve plastic
waste. Mechanical systems, such as Mr. Trash Wheel, a litter interceptor in
Maryland’s Baltimore Harbor, can be effective at picking up large pieces of
plastic, such as foam cups and food containers, from inland waters. But once
plastics break down into microplastics and drift throughout the water column in the
open ocean, they are virtually impossible to recover.
The solution is to prevent plastic waste from entering rivers and seas in the
first place, many scientists and conservationists—including the National
Geographic Society—say. This could be accomplished with improved waste
management systems and recycling, better product design that takes into account
the short life of disposable packaging, and reduction in manufacturing of
unnecessary single-use plastics.
Summary
Plastic pollution has emerged as one of the most pressing environmental
issues today, primarily driven by the increasing production of disposable plastic
products. This growing reliance on plastics has severe consequences, particularly
in less-developed countries in Asia and Africa. In these regions, garbage collection
systems are often inefficient or nonexistent, leading to significant plastic waste
being released into the environment. However, it's essential to recognize that
wealthy nations are not exempt from this crisis. Many developed countries struggle
with low recycling rates, contributing to the accumulation of plastic waste and
further exacerbating environmental pollution.
The widespread use of plastics has fostered a throwaway culture, where
convenience often outweighs environmental considerations. Currently, single-use
plastics account for about 40% of global plastic production. Many of these
products, such as food packaging and plastic bags, are utilized for only minutes to
hours, yet they can persist in the environment for hundreds of years. This alarming
reality underscores the need for urgent action to address plastic waste management.
The issue becomes even more critical when we consider the impact on our
oceans. Approximately 8 million tons of plastic waste enter the seas each year, a
staggering amount that not only threatens marine life but also poses risks to human
health through the food chain. Millions of animals, including birds, fish, and other
marine organisms, suffer the consequences of plastic pollution. They often become
entangled in debris like fishing gear or plastic rings, leading to tragic outcomes
such as starvation when their stomachs fill with plastic instead of food.
Moreover, microplastics—tiny plastic particles—are now found everywhere,
from drinking water to the air we breathe. These particles have the potential to
enter the bodies of both animals and humans, causing a range of negative health
effects. Recent research indicates that plastic pollution not only harms internal
organs but also disrupts reproductive systems in various species, including
shellfish like clams and oysters, which can lead to a decline in their populations.
To combat the problem of plastic pollution effectively, it is crucial to
prevent plastic waste from entering rivers and seas in the first place. Experts and
conservationists, including organizations like the National Geographic Society,
emphasize the importance of improving waste management systems and increasing
recycling rates. Additionally, designing products with sustainability in mind and
reducing the unnecessary production of single-use plastics are essential steps
toward protecting the environment and ensuring a healthier future for all.
Vocabulary
1. Discard (v): to throw something away or Vứt bỏ
get rid of it because you no longer want or
need it.
2. Disposable plastic (n): a disposable Đồ nhựa dùng một lần
product is intended to be thrown away
after use.
3. Properly (adv): correctly, or in a Đúng đắn, thích hợp
satisfactory way.
4. Ubiquitous (adj): seeming to be Xuất hiện ở mọi nơi
everywhere.
5. Prompt (v): to make something happen. Gây ra, dẫn đến
6. Treaty (n): a written agreement between Hiệp định
two or more countries, formally approved
and signed by their leaders.
7. Negotiate (v): to have formal discussions Đàm phán
with someone in order to reach an
agreement with them.
8. Accelerated (adj): faster than usual. Nhanh hơn
9. Mere (adj): sed to emphasize that Nhấn mạnh sự nhỏ bé, tầm
something is not large or important. thường
10.Persist (v): if an unpleasant feeling or Kiên trì
situation persists, it continues to exist.
11.Manufactured (v): to produce goods in Chế tạo, sản xuất
large numbers, usually in a factory using
machines.
12.Exponentially (adv): in a way that Theo cấp số nhân
becomes quicker and quicker as something
that increases becomes larger.
13.Additive (n): a substance that is added to Chất phụ gia
food in order to improve its taste or
appearance or to keep it fresh and stop it
from decaying.
14.Durable (adj): able to last and be used for Bền vững, bền chặt
a long time without becoming damaged.
15.Downstream (adj): in the direction a river Hạ lưu
or stream is flowing.
16.Municipal (adj): of or belonging to a town Địa phương
or city.
17.Coastal (adj): positioned on, or relating to Ven biển
the coast.
18.Uninhabited (adj): an uninhabited place Một nơi không có người
has no people living in it.
19.Drifting (adj): moving slowly, usually Trôi dạt, lạc lõng
with no one or nothing controlling the
direction.
20.Entanglement (n): a situation or Sự vướng mắc
relationship that you are involved in and
that is difficult to escape from.
21.Digestive (adj): relating to the digestion of Tiêu hóa
food.
22.Expel (v): to force someone to leave a Trục xuất
school, organization, or country.
23.Consequence (n): a result of a particular Hậu quả, kết quả
action or situation, often one that is bad or
not convenient.
24.Virtually (adv): almost. Gần như
25.Accomplish (v): to finish something Hoàn thành, đạt được
sucessfully or to achieve something.
Grammar
1. Present Simple: Used to describe general truths or actions that happen
regularly.
"Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental
issues."
2. Past Simple: Used to describe actions that happened at a specific time in the
past.
"Production and development of thousands of new plastic products
accelerated after World War II."
3. Present Perfect: Describes actions that happened in the past and continue to
affect the present.
"Microplastics have been found in more than 100 aquatic species."
4. Future Simple: Used for predictions or talking about what will happen in
the future.
"Production is expected to double by 2050."
5. Active Voice: The subject performs the action.
"Plastics revolutionized medicine."
6. Passive Voice: The subject receives the action.
"Microplastics have been found in more than 100 aquatic species."
7. Relative Pronouns: "Which", "That" introduce relative clauses.
"Seals, whales, turtles, and other animals that are strangled by
abandoned fishing gear."
