The WWF says as the planet gets hotter, the plastic breaks down into methane and ethylene, which increases the rate of climate change. Then sunlight and heat cause the plastic to release powerful greenhouse gasses. Chemical components and legacy pollutants absorb into the plastic the marine animals are eating, Wallace said. Watch this: Saildrones are mapping the ocean, counting fish and monitoring climate changeġ9:05 Is ocean trash contributing to climate change? However, more studies are needed to determine the impacts of microplastics, according to NOAA. These small plastics can pose a threat to aquatic animals as they can ingest the debris.īut can eating fish that have consumed these microplastics hurt humans? Ocean Cleanup says when animals eat the plastics containing chemicals, there's a possibility the chemicals could eventually make their way up the food chain to people. Microplastics are less than 5 millimeters long and come from larger debris that breaks down into smaller pieces, so they're much harder to filter out. Plastic can choke and smother marine animals and their habitats and can take hundreds of years to break down, according to the WWF. The plastic could also lacerate their organs. This results in the animals not eating the food they need to survive. Animals in the ocean can also ingest the plastic debris, which can harm them and make them feel as though they're full, Wallace said. This is just one terrible effect that human-generated debris has on marine life. You've likely seen photos of sea turtles with fishing nets tangled around their bodies and shells. Stephen Shankland/CNET How does the garbage affect marine life? Animals can mistake plastics in the ocean for food. A western gull wades along the Pacific coast in California.
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