What problems does plastic waste cause?

What problems does plastic waste cause?

The animals starve to death with full stomachs because plastic clogs the digestive system, whales and dolphins, but also turtles, get caught in old fishing nets, drown or suffer serious injuries when trying to free themselves. A special phenomenon are the so-called garbage strudels.

What does pollution have to do with climate change?

US researchers prove: The decomposition of plastic in salt water releases greenhouse gases. Around 400 million tons of plastics are produced worldwide every year, of which, according to estimates, about a third ends up as waste in the environment sooner or later.

Why is plastic in the sea so bad?

Because plastic in the sea is destroying the oceans: on the one hand, larger pieces of plastic are an acute danger for fish and marine mammals, which can get caught in them and die. Even corals are suffocated by the plastic in the sea or absorb tiny plastic particles without being able to excrete them again.

How does climate change happen?

Global warming is due to the human-induced greenhouse effect. By nature, clouds, carbon dioxide and methane, like a greenhouse, keep heat in the atmosphere and allow us to live on earth.

What kind of garbage is in the sea?

The garbage in our oceans consists of plastic bags, PET bottles, lighters, cigarette butts, disposable razors and the like. Unfortunately, the colorful plastic parts are all too often mistaken for food.

How big is the plastic island in the sea?

A size of 700,000 to more than km2 is assumed for the plastic island in the North Pacific, which has been best researched so far. For comparison: Europe has an area of ​​km2.

How many animals die each year from plastic waste in the sea?

More than a million animals die every year from plastic waste in the sea.

How much waste is produced worldwide each year?

Man has a huge garbage problem. 7.6 billion people together produce around two billion tons of household waste every year. Industrial waste and other waste are added to this.

What percentage of the sea is polluted?

80 percent of marine pollution occurs on land. Fertilizers, pesticides and chemicals are wreaking havoc on our oceans. A major problem for coastal areas is surface runoff of fertilizers from fields. They reach the sea via the rivers.

How much oil will end up in the sea?

Overall, it is now assumed that a good 1 million tons of oil flows into the sea every year.

What does sea pollution mean?

Water pollution or water pollution is the pollution of surface water (rivers, lakes, seas) and groundwater with sometimes toxic substances. Water pollution, i.e. intentional and illegal water pollution, is a criminal offence.

How does water pollution occur?

The main problem with the nitrate content of the groundwater is the excessive use of fertilizers in agriculture: mineral fertilizers and organic fertilizers such as liquid manure are spread on the fields because the nitrogen compounds they contain, such as nitrate and ammonium, promote plant growth.

How is the water polluted?

The main pollutants in water are organic and inorganic chemicals (including pesticides), sewage, infectious agents, plant nutrients, petroleum and radioactive substances. For the pollution of waters are private households, as well as agriculture, industry and commerce.

How long does it take for plastic to break down?

Once the plastic is in the water, it stays there for a long time. Because plastic is not degraded, it has to be ground up by the wind and waves, which takes a long time. This takes up to 20 years for a plastic bag and even up to 50 years for a cup.