Plastic pollution is one of the most important environmental hazards to marine ecosystems. Tons of plastic waste enter the ocean every year, causing great harm to marine living. Animals, from small plankton to large whales, mistake plastic for food. This can block digestive systems, leading to malnutrition and even death if ingested. This interferes with the food chain, posing a serious threat to biodiversity in marine environments.

Entanglement is another way through which plastics physically harm the animals, other than ingesting them. Sea turtles, seals, and seabirds are particularly victims of entanglement in plastic debris such as fishing nets and plastic bags. These entanglements result in injury, restricted movement, and even suffocation. Sometimes, the animals are no longer able to hunt or feed and thus starve to death.

Plastics also disrupt important ecosystems, including coral reefs. Plastic waste can smother coral, blocking sunlight and preventing the algae that corals depend on from photosynthesizing. This can weaken an entire reef system and reduce biodiversity, threatening species dependent on those reefs for shelter and food.

Besides the harm to wildlife, plastic pollution threatens human health. As plastics break down, they become microplastics that enter the food chain through marine life consumption. Such contamination could indirectly impact human health, again showing urgent actions are required. Proper waste management, increased recycling, and the use of alternatives are some of the measures that need to be taken in order to counteract this ever-growing problem.

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