The U.S. National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is leading an international effort to halt plastics in the world’s oceans. According to NOAA, the effort "is undertaking a national and international effort focusing on identifying, reducing, and preventing debris in the marine environment."

The millions of pounds of plastic used across the globe are disintegrating into smaller pieces and particles now termed microplastics and floating in the oceans. “During a 1998 survey, 89% of the trash observed floating in the North Pacific Ocean was plastic” (BlueOceanSociety).

As the plastics are exposed to salt water and other environmental conditions, toxins are released into the water. As if that environmental degradation wasn’t enough, marine life are ingesting the microplastics. Now, several scientists involved with the effort and Environmental Science and Technology have released various studies detailing their experiments with aquarium-based marine life. The groups are using plastics found on beaches that release chemicals common to microplastics and impact marine food chains.

This affects humans in multiple ways. Of course, any fish consumed may contain toxins or plastic particles exposing humans to an accumulation of chemicals. This brings a whole new dimension to food poisoning. On a separate note, an opportunity is completely wasted by not collecting the millions of pounds of plastics and recycling that plastic for additional uses. And, for future endeavors, it will be interesting understanding if and how microplastics will affect desalination operations.

For NOAA, this effort is one of the greatest challenges facing the organization where thousands of dollars will be spent to accomplish their mission, to protect and preserve oceans that lap against American shores. Starting on an international level, multiplying clean-up efforts, is definitely a way to make significant headway protecting and preserving oceans.