“Nowhere on the planet was free from plastics pollution” (Newsela, “Plastic in Stomachs”). This unsettling sentence was proved by studies at the academics of Newcastle University. Dr. Alan Jamieson, who led the study, located the investigation in the deepest parts of the Ocean. It was found that marine animals across the Pacific Ocean were deteriorated with plastic pollution. The study’s results are “very worrying,” said Jamieson. He thinks no ocean ecosystems are free of plastic any longer and that people need to take action as quick as possible. life below water, also known as goal number 14, is a global concern that has continued for years (Newsela, “Plastic in Stomachs”). The overwhelming issue was far more than pollution underwater, but the effects it puts on our life. During these years of potential development, we often disregard what’s most important to us. This goal is all about how we as humans save other living habitats, and how saving others means saving us. Governments, scientists, and doctors are all gradually paying attention to this topic. To prevent marine life from continually being threatened, people need to focus on the results we’ve made, preserve wildlife, reduce, and substitute so a simple action could benefit the world.

The causes we’ve made are the causes we face

When plastic gets dumped into the ocean, is marine life the only one’s suffering?

The countless amount of plastic is a threat to both land and water. We use it as a reliable resource, but we never think about the causes and effects. Since plastic is cheap and practical, all the waste we create often ends up in water and food. Earlier this year, scientists found plastic in more than 80 percent of the world’s drinking water. (Edinger). Eventually, the other amount was found in food sources such as salt and fish (Edinger). However, tires contain about 60 percent plastic; they make plastic dust every time it drives which can make people extremely sick once it is released into the air. This large amount of remains break down very slowly causing a huge amount of carbon release. Under these conditions, there can be hundreds of possibilities where these releases could go. They may seem small and harmless, but they have a large chance of invading our health once they have entered our bodies (Edinger). Plastic products contain chemical additives, these chemicals can determinantal to serious health problems such as hormone-related cancers, infertility, and neurodevelopment disorders like ADHD and autism

Figure 1 Plastic pollution in oceans Image source .  (Edinger). Compared to life underwater, most of the world’s plastic ends in the ocean. As time passes by, “There will be more plastic pollution in the oceans than fish by 2050” (Edinger). Plastic can bring us the convenience we want, but in exchange, there are health problems and environmental damage.

Why does our life depend on nature?

They give us life, but we give them threats

Wildlife was here a long time before humans were. Our industry was developed by nature from the very start of human survival. It may seem that our surroundings don’t have much connection with life underwater, but the simplest yet most important substances are around us (Pallares) Oceans are an important part of nature on Earth; they give us access to decent food for people around the world and provides us resources such as oil, natural gas and much of world’s oxygen from ocean plants (Pallares). They store heat from the sun to keep the climate stable and contains 99 percent half of the world’s oxygen we breathe; therefore, every breath we take is a valuable habitat from ocean life (Pallares). Continuously, any threats we give can impact life on land. The head of UN Development Programmer’s ecosystems and biodiversity program made a study that’s shown globally around the world: the estimated market value of marine and coastal resources and industries is USD 3 trillion per year, says Midori Paxton.” The countless number of sources we take from the ocean gets higher each and every year; however, we seem to extinguish something we depend on (Pallares).

How do we reduce, and substitute negatives the ocean doesn’t need? 

Figure 2 Say NO and ban plastic image source

As a result of creating nature’s biggest nemesis, it is still possible to liberate nature from what it has gone through for the past few years. Since the problems are starting to affect land, many countries and scientists are starting to focus on this type of issue. Theresa May, the leader of England, has a new environmental plan for the government (George). Under this strategy, people in England would have to pay for plastic bags from shops (George). Despite that plastic is everywhere, England also banned microbeads that can be found in products such as toothpaste, shower gels, and face scrubs (George). Same as in California, stores can’t give out disposable plastic bags. They have a law where only recycled paper bags or reusable plastic bags are allowed for customers (George). Scientists are finding other ways for plastic to be useful. Since plastic is not recyclable, they are also ways to produce plastic so that plastic isn’t only seen as “waste” (George). Scientist John Williams is a leader at a company called Aquapak. They create biodegradable containers that break down into the environment. Instead of plastic, Williams company made something called Hydropol(Newshour). It’s easier to recycle, breaks down in the water, and is harmless (Newshour). Plastic may be cheap and reliable, but the harm it brings is why we must find a replacement to destroy its existence.

Life below water matters as much as life on land, it’s a global system that connects to all our lives. To gain sustainable development, people need to start focusing on wildlife changes that can lead to serious changes. If we don’t start to recognize the main issue, what will the future world look like to us? Looking at the conditions today, it is considered that the cause we face, the dependents on nature, the substitutes, and reduction all depend on the decisions we make.

Works Cited

Edinger, Grace. “Plastic Pollution Threatens to Smother the Entire Planet.” Plastic Pollution Threatens to Smother the Entire Planet [Allen High School], 7 May 2020, Environment sec., pp. 0-718. SIRS Issues Researcher, explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2410523301?accountid=4047. Accessed 2 June 2022.

George, Sharon. “Ten ‘Stealth Microplastics’ to Avoid If You Want to save the Oceans.” Ten “Stealth Microplastics” to Avoid If You Want to save the Oceans [U.L], 9 Apr. 2018, Science&Math sec., pp. 0-857. Newsela, newsela.com/read/lib-convo-micro-plastics-ocean/id/41842/. Accessed 2 June 2022.

NewsHour, PBS. “What If We Could Put Our Plastic Trash to Good Use?” What If We Could Put Our Plastic Trash to Good Use? [United Kingdom], 5 Oct. 2018, Science sec., pp. 0-499. Newsela, newsela.com/read/plastic-pollution-solutions/id/46368/. Accessed 2 June 2022.

Pallares, Gloria. “5 Ways That Life Underwater Affects Life on Land.” Landscape News, edited by Mathias Appel Flcikr, news.globallandscapesforum.org/32886/5-ways-that-life-underwater-affects-life-on-land/. Accessed 2 June 2022.

Taylor, Matthew. “Plastics Pollution Reaches Deep-sea Critters.” The Guardian, 27 Nov. 2017, Science sec., pp. 0-490. Newsela, newsela.com/read/elem-plastics-reach-deep-sea/id/37843. Accessed 13 May 2022.