The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Earth, the globe, Terra, our world. No matter what you call planet Earth, it is our home. In the small span of time the Homo Sapien has existed, we have made profound impacts on the condition of our planet. From the depths of the jungle to the heights of the mountaintops, the human footprint is encountered across the expanse of the globe. One of the most prolific impacts humanity has had on our world lies in our oceans. Human waste, specifically plastics, have built up in our oceans, posing an imminent threat not only to nature but to humans as well. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch illustrates the effects that we as humans have had on the marine environment. Located in the northern Pacific Ocean and the largest of five garbage patches, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the product of tons of debris which have made their way into the ocean from lakes, rivers, and streams. The garbage caught in this patch is unable to escape, caught in a vortex created by ocean currents. The patch, more than three times the size of Texas, spans from the coast of Japan all the way to Hawaii and even to California. Furthermore, the total amount of garbage in the patch is impossible to calculate because of the thick layers of built-up waste. A lot of the garbage in the water is made up of type N plastics consisting of abandoned fishing nets and plastic rope. Type H hard plastics and type F foam plastics also comprise large portions of the patch. Since more than 180 times more plastic than food is found at the surface of the garbage patch, unsuspecting sea life, such as sea turtles, can have up to 74 percent of their diets composed of this ocean plastic. Although it may appear that the effects of the garbage patch end with marine life, it has become evident that these patches lead to detrimental effects for human life as well. While plastic does not organically degrade, it does still break down into what experts have termed microplastics. These tiny fragments of plastic enter our food supply through seafood and sea salt. Once in our digestive systems, they disrupt the human endocrine system and throw our hormones out of balance. The effects of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch are extensive. However, humans can help orchestrate a change. First, we must acknowledge that our actions do have an impact on the environment, whether we think they do or not. As an individual, a family member, and a community, you possess the power to effect a change. Organizations such as 4ocean and The Ocean Cleanup fund and conduct research towards this cause. By donating and volunteering, you can help make a difference. However, supporting such organizations is not the only way to help. You can make an impact as an individual through recycling plastic bottles and containers, reducing the amount of plastic you use, and reusing your current plastic products. Spread awareness on the effect of waste and microplastics in our oceans by being an advocate for our oceans, our sea life, and our species. Change starts with you. We created this problem, so together we can solve it to create a future for our world, planet, and home.