The word plastic originated from the Greek word plastikós meaning “fit for molding”. Plastics are semi-organic or synthetic polymers. Plastics come in many forms today, and their uses include household use, the manufacture of toys, the automotive industry, and medicine, to name a few. There are over 90 billion kilograms of plastic produced worldwide each year. Unfortunately, significant amounts of plastic end up in the seas: as much as 80% or 8 million tons per year, with China, Indonesia, and the Philippines being the biggest plastic polluters. Scientists estimate that by 2025 the amount of plastic in the seas and oceans will reach 250 million tons, and by 2050 it will significantly exceed the total amount of fish.
One reason why plastic waste is so harmful is the long time it takes for plastic materials to decompose. For instance, plastic utensils take 1000 years to decompose, and plastic bags at least 20 years. Based on the data released by the UN Environment Program (UNEP), about 70 % of the plastic in the seas sinks to the bottom, and the plastic that ends up in the seas harms the ecosystem, marine organisms, birds, and humans. In terms of aquatic ecosystems, fish, shellfish, and birds are most at risk. Small marine animals, invertebrates, fish, and birds can ingest tiny particles of plastic (so-called microplastics) as they commonly mistake plastics for food.
In addition to slowing down or preventing the normal flow of food through the digestive system, plastic can pose a toxic risk due to the presence of various additives added during the production of plastic, e.g. decay retardants, antimicrobial agents, etc., all of which cause harm to wildlife. Furthermore, due to its chemical and mechanical properties, plastic has the ability to adsorb water pollutants such as various pesticides and other pollutants such as PCB, DDT, and PAH. These pollutants can cause carcinogenic changes, endocrine disorders affecting growth, sexual development and fertility, and greater mortality in marine life. If plastic particles enter the marine food chain, they will eventually end up in our food chain through the consumption of fish, cephalopods, and shellfish.
Despite being widely used in our everyday life, the amount of plastic thrown every day strains our environment and harms and threatens our survival on this planet. Croatia banned the use of plastic bags in the past year, which is only the first step in reducing plastic waste. Recycling and proper plastic waste management should not be considered a luxury, but the necessity of the modern era.
Prof. Ivančica Ternjej
