Marine litter, marine debris, sea trash, what ever you would like to call it, poses a serious threat to marine life and their habitats. According to the United Nations Environmental Programme it can classified as any persistent, manufactured or processed solid material discarded, disposed of or abandoned in the marine and the coastal environment. it can consist of anything that is anthropologically made or used that was discarded into the coastal or marine habitat.
The main pollutant when dealing with marine litter is plastic. Even though there are many other pollutants, eg. clothe, glass, metal, etc. plastics account for 60% of the pollution. It is estimated that over 13, 000 pieces of plastic litter float on every square kilometer of ocean and this figure continues to grow. 70% of this litter ends up on the sea bed making it easier for animals to consume them. When animals consume the trash they suffocate and die, their body then decomposes faster than the pollutant leaving it exposed once more to be consumed by other animals and the cycle continues until the pollutant decomposes, which in many cases is several years.
The main pollutant when dealing with marine litter is plastic. Even though there are many other pollutants, eg. clothe, glass, metal, etc. plastics account for 60% of the pollution. It is estimated that over 13, 000 pieces of plastic litter float on every square kilometer of ocean and this figure continues to grow. 70% of this litter ends up on the sea bed making it easier for animals to consume them. When animals consume the trash they suffocate and die, their body then decomposes faster than the pollutant leaving it exposed once more to be consumed by other animals and the cycle continues until the pollutant decomposes, which in many cases is several years.
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