An overview on the Research Paper To be Presented During the IMCC6 By CRUTECH, Nigeria

 

 

Author  : Essien Oku

About 8milion tons of plastics enters the seas yearly, and at this rate, we face a future with more plastics in the ocean than fish by 2050 (when plastics will likely increase to at least 937million tons). Marine plastic pollution as caused by human wastes mis-management , plastics addictions and poor industrial wastes disposal has led to the ingestion, suffocation and entanglement of hundreds of marine species. Evidently, at least 267 species have been affected and the existence of about 700 species have been threatened as well.

This research addresses the effects of plastics on the Yantze River (China) as well as the appropriate approach necessary for the reduction in marine pollution.

My research on the Yantze river (the most plastic polluted river in the world) indicates that around 1.5million tons of plastics are ejected from this river into the East China Sea. Research reveals that the Yantze river supports a population of over 400million people whose commercial and individual activities exposes the river to plastic pollution. More so, it further reveals that over 40% of seafood consumed by the people here are dead remains or victims of plastics pollution and consequently, this becomes one of the contributing factor of chronic diseases among the people in this region.

The protection of the river from plastic pollution can serve as a key approach to the tackling of chronic health issues in this region. In as much as the feeding dependency of the people on the river cannot be denied, there is therefore a great need for solution to its plastic pollution and this can only be done through plastics recycle.

Research assures that the recycle of 70% of globally disposed plastics will lead to about 30% reduction in marine plastic wastes thereby saving over 25% of marine biodiversity globally from extinction.