How plastic pollution is messing with plankton and photosynthesis

The millions of tonnes of plastic entering our oceans each year are typically considered an environmental issue. This pollution devastates local ecosystem health and globally, with around 100,000 marine mammals dying every year from plastic ingestion or entanglement.

But researchers around the world are beginning to consider the significant impacts plastic pollution could be having on our climate. 

The ocean is one of our best defences against global warming. Oceans are full of phytoplankton, which can perform photosynthesis, taking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, and replacing it with oxygen.

When these species of phytoplankton die, the carbon they have absorbed is buried at the bottom of the ocean, away from the atmosphere.

This system, however, is being disturbed by an influx of microplastics into our oceans. 

Studies undertaken at Macquarie University indicate that exposure to commonly used plastic items “strongly impairs” the photosynthetic capacity of plankton.

The role these tiny lifeforms play in protecting our atmosphere isn’t trivial. Research from the CSIRO shows that the ocean absorbs almost 30% of human carbon dioxide emissions. 

Watch the full explainer below.