88% of marine species affected by severe plastic pollution | DW News

DW News published this video item, entitled “88% of marine species affected by severe plastic pollution | DW News” – below is their description.

UN negotiators start talks this month aimed at tackling the growing problem of plastic pollution. Plastics take millenia to break down and decompose. They pose a particular threat to the oceans and the marine life they sustain. Yet production of plastics is at an all time high and set to increase.

Wildlife group WWF said on Tuesday that plastic has infiltrated all parts of the ocean, calling for urgent efforts to create an international treaty on plastics. According to a report published by WWF, 88% of marine species are affected by severe contamination of plastic in the ocean. The report said that many animals have ingested these plastics, including animals commonly consumed by humans. The report, which was written in collaboration with Germany’s Alfred Wegener Institute, compiles data from 2,590 scientific studies on the topic. It measures the impact of plastic and microplastic in the ocean. Gigantic “plastic islands,” made up of floating pieces of plastic, have been found in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The report found that the fossil-fuel derived substance “has reached every part of the ocean, from the sea surface to the deep ocean floor, from the poles to coastlines of the most remote islands and is detectable in the smallest plankton up to the largest whale.” WWF has indicated that at least 2,144 species suffer from plastic pollution in their habitat, and some of these species also end up ingesting these materials. This is the case of 90% of marine birds and 52% of turtles, according to the report. WWF warned that plastic content has been found in shellfish like blue mussels and oysters, and a fifth of canned sardines contain these particles.The report predicts that plastic production will double by 2040, which will cause a fourfold increase in plastic waste in the ocean. This will affect an area that is two and a half times the size of Greenland, according to WWF. WWF said that some of the most threatened marine areas are the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea and the Mediterranean. These areas have already reached the limit of how much microplastic they can absorb.

DW News YouTube Channel

Got a comment? Leave your thoughts in the comments section, below. Please note comments are moderated before publication.


About This Source - DW News

DW News is a global English-language news and information channel from German public international broadcaster Deutsche Welle, established in summer 2015.

Recent from DW News:

Congo president sworn in for second term | dw news 1

Congo president sworn in for second term | DW News

Iran Revolutionary Guards reportedly killed in airstrike in Damascus | DW News

US mulls seizing $300 billion in frozen Russian assets for Ukraine | DW News

In This Story: China

China is the third largest country in the world by area and the largest country in the world by population. Properly known as the People’s Republic of China, the political territory of the country includes Tibet and Hong Kong. The capital is Beijing.

7 Recent Items: China

Why The World Is Rushing Back To The Moon

How will the situation in the Red Sea evolve?

WEF founder: China plays responsible, responsive role in face of new global setting

WEF founder emphasizes crucial role of Davos meeting in addressing global challenges

Teams from China’s north, south meet in Harbin’s ice dragon boat race

WEF Founder highlights China’s remarkable economic momentum and will for progress

Where Are All the Chinese Tourists?

In This Story: Germany

Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central and Western Europe. It lies between the Baltic and North seas to the north, and the Alps to the south.

Germany is a federal parliamentary republic led by a chancellor. With over 83 million inhabitants of its 16 constituent states, it is the second-most populous country in Europe after Russia, as well as the most populous member state of the European Union. Its capital and largest city is Berlin, and its financial centre is Frankfurt; the largest urban area is the Ruhr.

5 Recent Items: Germany

Thousands in Hamburg rally against far-right ‘master plan’ | DW News

Beauty Blogger Murdered Look-alike She Found on Instagram to Fake Her Own Death: Prosecutor

Why is Germany supporting Israel at the ICJ? | The Take

Masters of the Air – Exclusive Behind the Scenes Clip (2024) Austin Butler, Tom Hanks

“We are talking too much about Donald #trump in #europe ” #politics #davos #shorts

In This Story: Mediterranean

The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant.

2 Recent Items: Mediterranean

On board a U.S. Navy destroyer stationed in the Mediterranean Sea

Tod’s Pre-Spring 2024 advertising Campaign – A MEDITERRANEAN STORY

In This Story: Pacific

The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth’s oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south and is bounded by the continents of Asia and Australia in the west and the Americas in the east

2 Recent Items: Pacific

We Talk: New Zealanders say Japan should consider other countries’ interests

Unrelenting winter storm impacting tens of millions across the U.S.

Leave a Comment

We don't require your email address, or your name, for anyone to leave a comment. If you do add an email address, you may be notified if there are replies to your comment - we won't use it for any other purpose. Please make respectful comments, which add value, and avoid personal attacks on others. Links are not allowed in comments - 99% of spam comments, attempt to post links. Please describe where people may find additional information - for example "visit the UN website" or "search Google for..." rather than posting a link. Comments failing to adhere to these guidelines will not be published.