The Impact of Plastic Bags on Marine Life and Wildlife Death

The earth’s fauna can be saved by doing something as simple as utilizing reusable shopping bags. Plastic bags are mistaken for food like jellyfish by a staggering number of turtles, birds, whales, and other wildlife every year, which results in their deaths. An animal that consumes a plastic bag cannot digest it; as a result, it remains in the animal’s intestines, inhibiting the digestion of other foods and causing an agonizingly slow demise.

 

A plastic bag can actually take 1000 years to decompose, so when an animal consumes one and dies, the plastic bag could be consumed by another species as its carcass decomposes.

 

Turtle Meal

 

A plastic bag lodged in the turtles’ intestinal tract was confirmed as the cause of death in about 40% of turtle autopsies. When floating on the water, plastic bags resemble jellyfish, which are a favorite meal of some turtles. If everyone used reusable grocery bags every time they went to the supermarket, perhaps these deaths could be avoided.

 

In 2007, it was discovered that one turtle’s intestinal tract had more than 50 objects, including nylon rope, plastic bags, cling film, balloons, and candy wrappers. Animals’ lives will be safer the less plastic there is in the ecosystem.

 

• Unworthy Seas

 

An autopsy of a Bryde’s whale that became stranded and passed away on a Cairns beach in August 2000 revealed that its stomach contained 20 square feet of tightly packed plastic, predominantly shopping bags. Such a large number of whales perish in the ocean, where the plastic eventually seeps back into the water and is consumed by other marine life, creating a vicious cycle.

Over 100,000 marine animals are thought to perish annually as a result of plastic pollution. These animals are suffering, not passing away immediately. Imagine being completely incapable of digesting any food, being unable to eat as a result, and then physically starving to death all because of plastic bags and other plastic products. Customers choose whether to use a reusable shopping bag or not each time they go to the store. It is incomprehensible that anyone would still opt to use conventional bags in light of the damage they cause.

 

• Coming Changes

 

Flamingos, platypus, and other creatures are frequently found strangled after becoming entangled in plastic bags and being unable to untangle themselves. In 2008, we saw the discovery of a deceased crocodile in Australia that had 25 plastic bags inside of it. In addition, dead pelicans, seagulls, and other birds are regularly discovered.

 

Reusable bags are the preferred option as a result of these statistics and other environmental concerns. For example, Bangladesh, Taiwan, China, and Italy have all either outright banned plastic bags or enacted legislation that makes them expensive.

 

Sadly, the plastics industry in the United States has rallied strongly against any potential laws or bans, arguing that jobs will be lost. Americans are thought to discard at least 100 billion bags annually. However, some cities have their own strategies. A six-cent fee per plastic bag distributed is being discussed in places like New York City. When customers use their own eco-friendly bags to carry their purchases home from the store, several retailers already provide them with minor bonuses.

 

Small adjustments are being made, but you are not required to wait for local taxes or state regulations to take effect. Stop using plastic bags right now to protect future generations of animals.

 

The impact of plastic bags on marine life

 

Plastics have been found to be present in the ocean, our rivers, and the atmosphere everywhere. The tiniest fragments are carried by the wind and add up every year. Because plastic is not a natural material and does not decompose over time, there is more of it around over time.

 

This plastic pollution comes in a variety of sizes, from microscopic flakes to full bags to enormous trawler fishing nets. All wildlife is endangered by it. Because consuming this microscopic debris is bad for their health, it is especially bad for marine life.

 

But things don’t stop there. The smallest sizes of these plastics in our bodies have the greatest negative effects on human health. It has been demonstrated to disturb critical cell membranes and may cause cancer. In all organisms, it tends to linger and obstruct, which is never a healthy thing.