Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland

Plastic has a huge negative effect on the ecosystem and food chain. Animals are physically harmed by plastic debris, and it also contains chemicals that build up in the food chain. Let’s investigate how plastic affects both people and animals.

How Might Plastic Affect the Food Chain and Cause Pollutant Bioaccumulation?

Plastic trash can bioaccumulate poisons in animal fat and tissue by attaching to environmental contaminants. Animals now contain more harmful substances as a result. Plastic that has been produced with additional chemicals may also leak into an animal’s body.

Sources of Toxins in the Food Chain

Toxins associated with plastic can be eliminated by animals excreting it. Yet, toxic buildup in animals can still be brought on by plastic chemicals like flame retardants.

Many Animals Are Affected by Plastic

The precise number of creatures affected by plastic pollution is difficult to estimate, although it is most certainly in the billions. According to a study by Dutch scientists, the number of marine species that have consumed or become entangled in plastic has doubled since 1997, totaling over 2000 species at this time. Unfortunately, this only represents a small portion of all known animal species.

Exposure of Arrow Worms and Other Sea Animals to Plastic

Microfibers made of plastic are eaten by arrow worms, zooplankton hunters that live in the water. When animals farther up the food chain consume arrow worms, plastic enters the food chain as a result of this process. Plastic was also discovered in the bodies of amphipods that are situated at the ocean’s deepest point.

Fish and Nanoplastics: Behavioral Changes Caused by Nanoplastics

According to Swedish experts, fish can exhibit abnormal behavior as a result of ingesting nanoplastics in the food chain. Fish feed on the water fleas that eat the nanoplastics found in algae.

It’s possible for plastic to build up in living organs in the wild, especially in animals with extended lifespans. Slower-moving fish are easy prey, and plastic can upset the balance of nature.

By gathering poisons and chemicals that pose health concerns to both humans and animals, plastic waste damages the ecosystem and the food chain. Recycling, cutting back on plastic use, and switching to other materials can all help safeguard the ecosystem and the food chain.