The Problem of Plastic Waste Pollution in the World Ocean

The most important environmental problem facing the world's oceans is pollution. Ocean pollution refers to the direct or indirect release of substances or energy into the marine environment causing such adverse effects as harm to living resources, harm to human health, disruption of marine activities, including fishing, and degradation of seawater quality. Plastic is the largest, most harmful and most persistent part of marine litter, accounting for at least 85 percent of total marine litter. They cause lethal and sublethal effects in whales, seals, turtles, birds and fish, as well as in invertebrates such as bivalves, plankton, worms and corals. Their consequences include confusion, starvation, drowning, rupture of internal tissues, suffocation and deprivation of oxygen and light, physiological stress and toxicological damage. Plastics can also change the global carbon cycle through their impact on plankton and primary production in marine, freshwater and terrestrial systems. Today, the total annual economic losses due to damage to the maritime industry, including cleaning costs, are estimated at 6 to 19 billion US dollars. As this estimate does not include the cost of degrading ecosystem goods and services through marine litter, it is likely to significantly underestimate the overall economic loss. The combination of cheap fuel and improper waste collection and recycling has led to estimates that by 2040 the expected mass of plastic leaks into the oceans could reach $100 billion. These figures point to significant losses for the market and underscore the need for urgent action. Ways to solve the problem of pollution of the world's oceans include reducing the production of plastic, increasing recycling volumes and starting the production of a benign, non-harmful to the human body and the environment type of plastic, use of paper or wooden tubes in coffee shops. In addition, a complete transition from polystyrene bags to carrier bags is required.