Essay Example on Plastic Straws and the Environment

Plastic is becoming one of the leading threats to the world’s demise. As the increase in the demand for single-use plastics like straws and bags increase by 8.7% percent since the 1960s, so do the landfills which run off into the ocean where about  46,000 pieces of plastic already cover each square mile of ocean. Many people argue that a ban on plastic straws is needed or an alternative, more eco-friendly version of it should be put in its place. But I would disagree at first glance, because straws are found to make up only 8 million tons of plastic found in the ocean, only comprising  0.025% of all plastic in the world. Compared to cigarette butts which take up 5.6 trillion or 40% of all of the world’s ocean waste. But the two share one thing in common, being non-biodegradable and when doing so leaving smaller, longer-lasting particles called microplastic. So the question becomes how can we fight against the spread of microplastics, could it be by learning how it spreads and their impact on the health of animals and humans? Or other long-term solutions to stop people from using those plastics if it's not needed.

Firstly, roughly 275 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean every year, equating to about .75 tons of trash added every day. The life cycle that single-use plastics have can take over a century to fully decompose since plastic is non-biodegradable. And whilst decomposing they leave a byproduct of microscopic particles called microplastics which are hard to be able to find under a microscope from today’s technology, because of their size, making it hard to fully understand what they can truly do. This is becoming a big issue that people like Jim Leape, the co-director of the Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions say, “Microplastics pervade the oceans. They are in about a quarter of the seafood in our markets, and even in table salts.” We can already assume that a large amount of aquatic wildlife is already being affected by microplastics, these fish can transfer the microplastics they have in them to a human by them being eaten. He also goes on to say, “One recent survey found plastics in 94% of tap water samples in the U.S. and nearly every brand of bottled water.” More research can suggest that microplastics can be found in fruits and vegetables, pervading their root systems most likely from absorbing water that had microplastics in it. (Los Angeles Time). Microplastics are perpetrating every organism so swiftly and undetected since technology isn't advanced enough to study these particles to learn more about them which may also lead to misinformation about how much microplastic is harming the earth or how they may affect us.

So little is known about the health impacts of microplastics, but researchers like Wright and Kelly predict that ingested microplastics may cause inflammation in tissue, cellular proliferation, and necrosis that may compromise immune cells. This can show the harmful effects that microplastics have on organisms, with such a large amount of people already carrying these plastics may lead to more birth defects and a shorter lifespan on average if the spread of microplastics continues at its exponential rate.

Straws are the farthest away from being the biggest source of plastic pollution, yet it's getting the most attention when it comes to bans and captivating people to the plastic pollution problem. from large companies changing the plastic straws out for paper material and organizations coming out to impose required replacements for straws. The reason why they became the face of plastic pollution is from people like Aimee David, the director of Ocean Conservation Policy who stated that making organizations like these is only the kindling to the fire. It starts people thinking more about earth conservation and taking initiative. People have a feeling to help out because they can resonate with it by feeling it touching it, and helping them take positive action. Europe has noticed a decrease in the use of single-use plastic bags when they imposed a tax on the bags, and after removing the tax few people switched back to them and thought of them as a more negative item to be used. There have already been people who want to take initiative to stop the spreading of plastic pollution and while doing so convince more people to follow in their path. 

While not enough is known and much information, and overlapping already found studies about the impact of microplastics in the aquatic environment and how they may affect the health of animals and humans. But there is a steady supply of new evidence being published every year about how to find these plastics and the proper and safe way to remove them. People are catching on fast to the amount of non-biodegradable waste humans are making and counter against it to preserve the environment. This can be by teaching their cause to the public, making alternatives to products that go into the environment, or just taking them out altogether. This is a step in the right direction but not enough to be able to change the world's fate, plastic production is exponentially increasing from about 20,000 tons added in 2010 to 2015. And the amount of plastic being put to a new use only losing more percentage at a mere 11%. A change is needed in order to save the environment from anarchy by pollution. 

Works Cited

Bhattarai, Abha. "Paper, Twizzlers: Restaurants consider alternatives to the plastic Straw." Chicago Tribute, 2 Feb. 2018, pp. 1-3.

"How Dangerous Is Microplastic?" SIRS Issues Researcher, 12 Jan. 2019, explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2264349257?accountid=74219.

Microplastics in Seafood and the Implications for Human Health. Smith M, 16 Aug. 2018, link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40572-018-0206-z.

Plastic Health Collation. Plastic soup foundation, 14 Feb. 2013, www.plastichealthcoalition.org/microplastics/#:~:text=Based%20on%20these%20type%20of,to%20very%20serious%20health%20problems. Accessed 26 Apr. 2022.

ScienceDirect. 1 Feb. 2020, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969719344468.

Viswanathan, Radhika. "Why Starbucks, Disney, and the EU are shunning plastic straws." Vox, 21 Dec. 2018, pp. 1-3.