12 million metric tons of plastic are dumped into the oceans every year, and 5.25 trillion macro- and microplastics are floating in the open seas. And because of all this plastic trash, 100 million marine animals die every year. One in three marine mammal species gets tangled in trash, and a hundred thousand marine animals die every year because they get tangled in plastic.
Because the vast majority of plastics are not biodegradable, plastics remain in the environment for hundreds or even thousands of years. For example, an estimated 500 billion plastic bags are used in the world each year. It takes 400 years in the ocean and 800 years on land for these plastic bags to completely dematerialize in the environment.
The research conducted shows that microplastics not only threaten animals, but also affect us humans. Microplastic pollution was recently detected for the first time in the depths of the lungs of living humans. The most common particle that causes many diseases such as cancer is polypropylene, which is used in plastic packaging and bottles.
The oceans, seas and marine life are paying the price for our obsession with plastic. The numbers illustrate the seriousness of the situation. Every day, 8 million pieces of plastic enter our oceans. 12 million metric tons of plastic are dumped into the oceans every year, and 5.25 trillion macro- and microplastics are floating in the open seas. And because of all this plastic trash, 100 million marine animals die every year. One in three marine mammal species gets tangled in trash, and a hundred thousand marine animals die every year because they get tangled in plastic.
Because the vast majority of plastics are not biodegradable, plastics remain in the environment for hundreds or even thousands of years. For example, an estimated 500 billion plastic bags are used in the world each year. It takes 400 years in the ocean and 800 years on land for these plastic bags to completely dematerialize in the environment.
The research conducted shows that microplastics not only threaten animals, but also affect us humans. Microplastic pollution was recently detected for the first time in the depths of the lungs of living humans. The most common particle that causes many diseases such as cancer is polypropylene, which is used in plastic packaging and bottles.