Direction: Read a passage and answer the items based on it. You are required to select your answers based on the contents of the passage and the opinion of the author only. Plastic is an essential commodity with multiple uses based on its key qualities of malleability, flexibility, and durability. Plastics are omnipresent in agriculture, fisheries, renewable energy, transport, technology, retail, textiles, personal care products, and all the other sectors and industries that directly or indirectly affect our daily life. Plastic has indeed made our lives more convenient, but it has come at a higher price than we imagined. The plastic pollution overflowing our landfills, clogging waterways, and infiltrating the ocean is primarily made of discarded items and packaging. Plastic lasts for hundreds of years, slowly disintegrating into smaller and smaller pieces, but never fully degrading. Indeed, one of the key perks of plastic is its longevity. And yet, the plastic packaging of nearly every product we purchase and many plastic products themselves are intended to be discarded after a single use. Throwaway plastic is an oxymoron, but it has become our sad, increasingly dangerous reality. Plastic pollution should make everyone angry. This is a crisis we can see with the naked eye, day in and day out. Plastic has been found on even the most remote, uninhabited islands, and in the deepest parts of the ocean. Because we can see it, we are more keenly aware of it, unlike some other forms of pollution. In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for further studies on the impacts of microplastics on human health. An initial study, hampered by a lack of adequate data, concluded microplastics pose no danger at current levels (WHO, 2019). Although the WHO report was inconclusive about the effects of plastic on human health, other studies have linked the chemicals in plastic to negative health outcomes including endocrine disruption (Dabre 2020). Plastic particles have been detected in drinking water and in the food we eat, with a 2019 study commissioned by WWF estimating humans consume about five grams (or one credit card in weight) of plastic every week. We have seen the devastating effects plastic has on marine life. For instance, unable to process ingested plastic waste pieces, seabirds and other sea creatures starve to death. We have seen sea turtles and other animals tangled in fishing nets or trapped in plastic pack rings. Plastic pollution also wreaks havoc on land, clogging drains and preventing rainwater from soaking into the soil, which leads to flooding. Terrestrial creatures also suffer the effects of plastic waste, with some getting trapped in discarded plastic bags and suffocating to death.
Plastic has distressing effects on
Analyzing the Impact of Plastic Pollution from the Passage
The passage discusses the pervasive issue of plastic pollution and its consequences. The question asks about the distressing effects of plastic based on the information provided in the text. We need to examine the passage to identify who is affected by plastic pollution.
Plastic's Effects on Humans According to the Passage
The passage explicitly mentions impacts on human health. It states:
- The World Health Organization (WHO) called for further studies on the effects of microplastics on human health.
- Although an initial WHO study was inconclusive, other studies have linked chemicals in plastic to negative health outcomes, specifically mentioning endocrine disruption.
- Plastic particles have been detected in drinking water and food.
- A study estimated that humans consume about five grams of plastic per week from food and water.
These points clearly indicate that the passage presents evidence and concerns regarding the distressing effects of plastic, particularly microplastics and chemicals, on humans.
Plastic's Effects on Marine Life According to the Passage
The passage also details the devastating effects on marine life. It provides specific examples:
- Seabirds and other sea creatures starve to death because they ingest plastic waste pieces that they cannot process.
- Sea turtles and other animals get tangled in fishing nets or trapped in plastic pack rings.
These examples demonstrate the direct and harmful impacts of plastic pollution on animals living in the ocean.
Plastic's Effects on Terrestrial Life and Environment
While the question specifically asks about humans and marine life, it's worth noting the passage also mentions effects on land:
- Plastic pollution clogs drains, preventing rainwater from soaking into the soil, which leads to flooding.
- Terrestrial creatures suffer, with some getting trapped in discarded plastic bags and suffocating.
However, the core question focuses on humans and marine life.
Conclusion based on the Passage
Based on the detailed information provided in the passage, plastic pollution has distressing effects on both humans (through health concerns from microplastics and chemicals) and marine life (through ingestion and entanglement leading to death). Therefore, according to the author and the contents of the passage, both groups are negatively affected by plastic.
| Group Affected | Distressing Effects Mentioned in Passage |
|---|---|
| Humans | Linked health issues (endocrine disruption), microplastics in food/water (ingestion) |
| Marine Life | Ingestion leading to starvation, entanglement in nets/packaging |
Revision Table: Key Impacts of Plastic Pollution
| Effect Type | Description from Passage | Affected |
|---|---|---|
| Health Effects | Endocrine disruption linked to plastic chemicals; microplastics in food/water consumed by humans | Humans |
| Physical Harm (Ingestion) | Animals starve after ingesting plastic they cannot process | Marine Life (Seabirds, sea creatures) |
| Physical Harm (Entanglement) | Animals trapped in fishing nets or plastic rings | Marine Life (Sea turtles, other animals) |
| Environmental Damage | Clogging drains, leading to flooding | Environment (Land) |
| Physical Harm (Terrestrial) | Animals trapped and suffocating in plastic bags | Terrestrial Creatures |
Additional Information: Understanding Plastic Pollution
Plastic pollution is a global crisis arising from the accumulation of plastic waste in the environment. Plastic's durability, while useful for products, means it persists in the environment for hundreds of years, breaking down into smaller pieces known as microplastics and nanoplastics but never fully biodegrading. These tiny particles and the chemicals they contain can enter ecosystems, affecting wildlife through ingestion and entanglement, and potentially impacting human health through consumption of contaminated food and water.
Efforts to combat plastic pollution include reducing single-use plastic consumption, improving waste management and recycling infrastructure, developing biodegradable alternatives, and cleaning up existing pollution from oceans, rivers, and land.
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