By Asier Chaurrondo.

November 15th, 2020.

​

​

Sea pollution has serious impacts on human health, the stability of marine species and the preservation of the seas and oceans. According to the latest Greenpeace report, "Plastics in the Oceans", it is estimated that between 4.8 and 12.7 million tonnes of plastic reach the oceans each year (equivalent to the weight of 800 Eiffel towers, enough to cover 34 times the island of Manhattan or the weight of 14,285 Airbus A380 aircraft), and the Mediterranean is one of the most polluted seas in the world.

​

Every second more than 200 kilograms of rubbish is dumped into the oceans, and there are already five islands of rubbish made up mostly of microplastics: two in the Pacific, two in the Atlantic, and one in the Indian Ocean. And almost everything, 80 percent of it, comes from the land continents. It is estimated that by 2020 this will exceed 500 million tonnes per year, 900 percent more than in the 80s.

​

It is clear that this affects in a horrible way to the sea species and the ocean preservation, but is this as harmful to our ecosystem as it seems? And how does this affect us?

​

Apart from the fact that the plastics are one of the most widespread pollutants in just 100 years, they cause such toxic effects on marine organisms that they are breaking the food chain, which is so important for maintaining the balance of seas and oceans.

​

And the problem goes much further. The water cycle, which is so necessary for life on Earth, is already affected. From the ocean, the clouds, the mountains, the rivers, and of course, even the glass of water you fill from the tap, have certain degrees of pollution. According to a study by the journalistic organisation "Orb Media", eight out of ten drinking water samples collected contain microscopic plastic fibres which contain toxic substances and which humans ingest. Here a video that helps us to understand the problem:

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Business and industry have a key role to play to reduce water pollution, since many of their activities cause residues. They are both contributors and solution-providers; making them essential to lowering pollution, building innovation and showing governments that fixing water pollution and economic development are not mutually exclusive. It is important to create a space where the scientific community, policy-makers, government officials and the private sector can strategize to reduce water pollution.

​

In order to contributing and stop this massive pollution and to keep our seas and oceans clean, allowing us to protect marine species and our own health, we have decided to collect a few ideas to change procedures and preserve our environment.

​

​

3 ways we can tackle water pollution

​