Abstract: The last three decades has seen an alarming global raise in the use of plastics and other synthetic products emanating from new uses for these products, increase in manufacturing rates making them available to more people thus, translating to a rise in plastic pollution and the amount of plastic debris entering the marine environment. The adverse consequences of plastic pollutants on marine species and environment was investigated and reviewed by collating data from published relevant literature. Data was collated from review of related literature. Findings from the desk reviewed literature depicts that, about 8 million metric tons of plastic debris end up in the ocean with projected estimated of increase 8-fold by 2025. Plastic debris effects on marine species include causing changes in their reproductive and behavioural characteristics, entanglement, and maiming by large pieces of debris on nearly all sea turtle species, 45% of all mammals and 21% of all sea bird species. The challenge of plastic debris is manifold, e.g. increased volume of plastic and other synthetic debris that ends up in the marine environment, are pollutants harmful to marine wildlife species, they affect the health of man on land because plastic debris can also be ingested through fish and other species harvested from polluted waters and influences human health through injuries from debris or indirectly by chemicals or toxins in the water. Sustainable and cost-effective measure must be adopted by corporations and individuals to negate these side effects such as adoption of usable and biodegradable packing, increased public awareness to prevent littering, and preventing the generation of single-use products.
Keywords: Plastic debris, Pollution Marine environment, Marine species.
Title: EFFECTS OF PLASTICS DEBRIS ON SPECIES OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT: AN ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEM
Author: Joy Eko Atu, Ginini Edward Eko Atu
International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations
ISSN 2348-1218 (print), ISSN 2348-1226 (online)
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