A new study shows that the ocean is being treated like a garbage can. Researchers, including Professor Jenny from the University of Georgia, estimated that 8.8 million tons of plastic is dumped in oceans around the world each year. Plastic makes up about 80 percent of this marine litter.

Researchers tracked ocean debris from its sources to determine the amount of plastic pollution worldwide. They say that more than half of plastic waste comes from five countries: China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka. The researchers based their study on statistics from 192 countries’ waste streams. The amount is much higher than what environmentalists had previously thought.

Plastic waste in oceans has negative consequences for marine life, the environment, and local economies. This litter contaminates the world’s water with toxins, which may be dangerous for sea plants, fish, and people who eat seafood. Often, birds, whales, turtles, and other sea animals eat the trash, which harms their intestines or causes them to choke. Also, it is expensive for governments to clean up this pollution, hindering tourism and recreational activities.

People can reduce marine litter - recycle more, give up single-use plastic bags, participate in community clean-up events and other ways.

Brye Butler Steeves
Copyeditor
(ttt@timescore.co.kr)