{"id":18355,"date":"2023-06-20T12:26:14","date_gmt":"2023-06-20T16:26:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/?page_id=18355"},"modified":"2024-08-12T13:28:50","modified_gmt":"2024-08-12T17:28:50","slug":"river-of-plastics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/river-of-plastics\/","title":{"rendered":"A River of Plastics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
Plastics make up an overwhelming majority of all marine debris. This debris originates from mismanaged waste, fishing gear, and the manufacture of products that include clothing and cosmetics. About 13 million metric tons of plastics end up in our oceans every year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rivers supply most of the plastics in coastal environments, which can have adverse impacts. Birds and marine mammals can consume or become entangled in debris. Larger plastics can obstruct an animal\u2019s digestive tract, eventually even leading to death. Chemicals on surface plastic also can be toxic and accumulate up the food chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Plastics do not degrade quickly in the aquatic environment, rather they break into microplastics \u2014 pieces smaller than 5mm (1\/5 inch) \u2014 which persist and pose a threat to marine plants and animals. Sea life often mistakes colorful plastic particles for food. Scientists have found plastic particles in sea turtles, whales, sea birds, and other organisms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Microplastics also accumulate in the fish, crabs, and oysters that humans consume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recent research has revealed plastics are widespread in our natural environment, and microplastics are present on every continent and in some of the most pristine areas of the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When it rains, litter on streets, sidewalks, and ditches washes through storm drains into our waterways. Plastic carried by North Carolina\u2019s coastal-draining rivers flows into our sounds and estuaries and can enter the ocean through inlets between barrier islands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n