Posted On: 2022-03-25 23:55:37
In our last blog, we discussed how we are the "others" who are invading the homes of the marines and making it difficult for the marine animals and also polluting our waters. Water conservation should be a high priority in today’s world as we are losing freshwater rapidly.
Only 20 of the 40,760 ocean-bound rivers are evaluated to account for two-thirds of worldwide plastic inflow. Rivers discharge between 1.15 and 2.41 million metric tonnes of plastic into the oceans each year. We estimate that between 1.15 and 2.41 million tonnes of plastic garbage enter the ocean each year through rivers, with approximately 74% of emissions occurring between May and October.
The top 20 polluted rivers, predominantly in Asia, account for 67% of global pollution.
Let us talk about some precautionary measures that we can to protect marine life and our environment:
Plastic bottles are found in vast quantities in our oceans, are consumed by marine creatures, and accumulate in nature and on our beaches.
Different types of plastic disintegrate at different rates, but it takes at least 450 years for a plastic bottle to totally dissolve.
Some bottles can take up to 1000 years to biodegrade.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a massive floating mass of plastic that is three times the size of France at the moment.
Floating particles of plastic are frequently mistaken for food by wildlife, resulting in serious consequences.
A reusable water bottle uses less oil to manufacture, replaces all of the plastics you would have used, and thereby minimises both your carbon footprint and your contribution to global warming.
Do not use disposable utensils: Straws, cutlery, tumblers and plastic bag
How many times have you been served a plastic-wrapped packet of plastic utensils at a restaurant?
Plastic cutlery is all around, and most of it can only be used once.
Every year, billions of forks, knives, and spoons are discarded.
However, cutlery, like other plastic products such as bags and bottles, can take decades to naturally degrade, allowing plastic trash plenty of time to make its way into the environment.
While efforts are being made to remove garbage from the oceans, enhance recycling systems, and create innovative barriers to prevent plastic from entering waterways, we can all do our part in our daily lives to stop plastic pollution at its source!
Recycling is a good way to cut down on trash creation.
Before discarding objects, we must analyse them and determine whether they may be recycled.
If they can, all they have to do now is take them to the nearest recycling centre. Many objects can be recycled, including paper, glass, metals, and even electrical equipment.
Globally, rising levels of marine pollution are a source of concern.
As responsible citizens, we must take proactive measures to reduce pollution and contribute to the clean-up of our oceans.
The longevity of marine life would be extended if we act now and follow the preventive measures indicated above, making the Earth a better place for future generations.
Find ways of recycling different materials
Buy products that can be recycled
Buy products that have been made from recycled material
Avoid buying hazardous material.
Recycle bins.
If you travel to the beach almost anywhere on the planet, you'll find evidence of humanity washed up on the shore. Balloons, cigarette butts, and fragments of plastic can be found on most beaches all over the world.
By helping to maintain the beaches clean, everyone can help to improve the ocean's ecosystem. The procedure is simple, straightforward, and a fantastic family lesson! Organize a social distancing cleaning at a nearby beach or park. The more trash you pick up and dispose of appropriately, the less rubbish ends up in our oceans.
Bring something to keep your rubbish in along with your beach towels and umbrellas. This way, you can see where your trash is going and keep track of it. If you're eating at the beach, make use of the designated eating areas. Some beaches have picnic tables and snack places. Use these spots to dispose of trash and keep it from spreading across the sand. To prevent people from polluting on the beaches, strict laws and punishments must be implemented. Volunteering to pick up rubbish is a fantastic way to set a good example for others to follow.
Drastic reductions will aid in the cooling of the oceans. The current rise in temperatures is endangering marine life and depriving it of oxygen. Our oceans are becoming increasingly acidic as a result of carbon dioxide produced by the burning of fossil fuels. Learn more about Carbon footprint.
In recent years, tiny plastic particles are known as "microbeads" have become a rising source of ocean plastic pollution. Some face scrubs, toothpaste, and body washes include microbeads...
These microbeads have now been discovered in the world's oceans, even as far as the Arctic, stuck in melting sea ice, floating in the water columns, and being digested by all marine life. Look for the words "polyethene" and "polypropylene" on the ingredient labels of your cosmetic goods to see if they include plastic microbeads.
The first step we should take is to simply spread the cause. People need to comprehend the consequences of their behaviour and how we will all be affected by pollution in the future. We can join organisations like Rising Above Plastics, but there are many easier ways to make a difference. Social networking is an excellent approach to reach out to a larger audience. Every small change helps, even if your platform only reaches a few hundred people.
The most effective strategy to increase awareness is to lead by example.
Only drink from a reusable water bottle, shop with canvas bags, and recycle everything possible.
If we want to save our oceans, everyone must be aware of and comprehend the problem.
One of the most well-known programmes to combat this fast-expanding ocean pollution is the Ocean Cleanup. According to the nonprofit's marine biogeochemist Matthias Egger, the cleanup system functions like a "big Pac-Man," sweeping up waste with a screen coupled to a floating barrier. The organisation believes that by using this gadget, it will be able to eliminate half of the waste from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch - a massive gyre of plastic debris – in just five years. Hohn and his colleagues created a mathematical model to simulate sweeping trash from the water to see if the gadget might achieve this goal. The researchers looked at three different scenarios: business as usual with no manual removal, a single cleanup device, and a flotilla of 200 cleanup devices.
Every year, an enormous amount of plastic enters the world's oceans. During the next century, the amount is predicted to quadruple. The Ocean Cleanup (photo)
By 2150, the results showed that one device could barely remove a fraction of 1% of the plastic. Even with 200 cleanup devices strewn across the ocean and working nonstop for 120 years, the impact was minimal. The model was the first to calculate how effective the gadget is at removing accumulated plastic from the water.
This is just one example of how we can clean our water. We need to change ourselves for the future and be more responsible towards the ocean and the life that lives within.
Author : Lubdha Dhanopia
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