Plastic Pollution and Increased Microplastic Intake

Global marine plastic pollution reaches 199 million tons by 2025, with 33 billion pounds of new plastic entering the sea each year, and plastic is expected to weigh more than fish by 2050. 80% of marine pollution comes from agricultural runoff, sewage discharges, and 20% from industrial fishing. The average daily intake of 43.6 kilograms of plastic particles by blue whales off the coast of California and the discovery of large canvas bags in the stomachs of stranded whales in Hong Kong show that solid waste is a direct threat to the digestive systems of marine organisms.