Plastic Pollution

Reference: Wilcox, C., Van Sebille, E., & Hardesty, B. D. (2015). The threat of plastic pollution to seabirds is global, pervasive, and increasing. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(38), 11899-11904.

The article is current since it was published in 2015; hence the information thereof is applicable today. The source is a proceeding of National Academy of Sciences, and the two authors are affiliated to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Oceans and Atmosphere Business Unit. Thus the evidence is reliable. The article examines the threat of plastic pollution to the seabird. Also, the article is credible since there are citations to external sources.

Plastic pollution has various impacts on sea life, and it is a threat to seabirds. Nearly half of the seabird species is becoming extinct since the ingested plastic materials terminate their life. The information provided in the article forms the foundation for championing the protection of marine life through the eradication of plastics in our seas.

Useful points include:

· Many sea birds are increasingly ingesting plastics

· By 2050, about 95% of the sea birds will have ingested plastics

· There is a need for effective waste management to eliminate this threat

Reference: Seltenrich, N. (2015). New link in the food chain? Marine plastic pollution and seafood safety.

The article is current since it was published in the past five years. The author of the article is Nate Seltenrich, and the source was published in the government Environmental Health Services Website. The article links seafood safety and marine plastic pollution. The information in the source is reliable since the author incorporates the research done by others. However, the article’s credibility is lowered since there are no external sources.

The source is important since it shows the effect of plastic pollution on the seafood chain. Useful points include:

· Marine plastic pollution contaminates seafood chain and hence leading to human health risks

· When plastics reach the sea or ocean, they are broken down further through oxidation, sunlight exposure, and the physical action of currents and waves, as well as the grazing by birds and fish

· Various chemicals are found in the seafood we consume.

· However, there is no agreement as to whether marine plastic pollution poses a health risk to humans since there is no existence of evidence that links marine plastic debris and real-world human health risk.

Reference: Taylor, M. L., Gwinnett, C., Robinson, L. F., & Woodall, L. C. (2016). Plastic microfiber ingestion by deep-sea organisms. Scientific reports, 6, 33997.

The article was published in 2016, and hence it is current. The article was published in a scientific report website and given article number 33997 by the three authors. Hence, the data or evidence in the source is reliable. The article intends to examine the ingestion of plastic microfiber by the deep-sea animals. Also, the article has external citations hence the source is credible.

Plastic pollution also affects deep-sea animals since these animals can ingest plastic microfiber. Even though the deep-sea organisms are thought to be less susceptible to plastic pollution, research shows that the deep-water organisms are ingesting micro-plastics.

The important notes include:

· Deep-water organisms are increasingly ingesting micro-fibers

· The plastic micro-fibers ingested by these deep-water organisms include acrylic, polypropylene, modified acrylic, polyester, and viscose.

Reference: Sigler, M. (2014). The effects of plastic pollution on aquatic wildlife: current situations and future solutions. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 225(11), 2184.

The source is current since it was published within the past five years. The source examines plastic pollution’s effect on aquatic wildlife; the existing situations together with the future solutions. The source uses scientifically researched data making the data/evidence thereof reliable. Additionally, the article is credible since there are citations to external sources.

The useful arguments include:

· There is a growing concern that once the plastic materials get into the ocean, the sea animals ingest them and this may make them lose their lives.

· Modern technology should be used to recycle and convert the plastics into soil, hence reducing their damage into the ecosystem.

· The common ocean plastic pollutants

· Marine plastic pollution and seafood chain

· Plastic pollution management

Marine plastic pollution and marine life

Marine plastic pollution affects the seabirds and seafood chain.

There are various reasons why plastic pollution is common. It is estimated that there are over 12.7 million tonnes of plastic pollutants in the ocean.

There is increased pollution of the seas due to the increased production of plastics. There is a need for the government to regulate the usage of plastic bags.

Although plastic pollution has been a menace to marine life, the government and industrial approach in limiting their usage have been wrong.

It the responsibility of both the government and corporations to ensure that the usage of plastic materials has been reduced and that appropriate and sustainable materials are used.

Because the oceans and seas have been adversely polluted, there have been concerns that the seafood is not safe. The sea organisms ingest micro-fibers which get their way into the human table.

There is no agreement in the literature as to whether marine plastic pollution poses human health risks

There is a need to address the issue of plastic pollution. Various strategies should be adopted to eliminate marine plastic pollution

· Reduce the usage of plastic materials

· Reuse the plastic materials

· Recycle the plastic materials

· Educate the masses on the effects of plastic pollution

· Limiting the use of plastic materials

Various strategies need to be adopted to prevent the escalating problem of plastic pollution