GITNUXREPORT 2026

Ocean Pollution Statistics

Ocean plastic pollution is overwhelming marine life and requires immediate global action.

Jannik Lindner

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) like DDT in ocean water average 0.1–10 ng/L globally, from agricultural runoff.

Statistic 2

PCBs concentrations in Mediterranean sediments reach 100 ng/g, bioaccumulating 10^6 times in top predators.

Statistic 3

Neonicotinoid pesticides detected in 75% of global ocean samples at 0.1–320 ng/L.

Statistic 4

PFAS ('forever chemicals') found in 99% of Atlantic Ocean surface waters, up to 37 pg/L.

Statistic 5

Flame retardants (PBDEs) in marine mammals average 10–1000 ng/g lipid, declining 5% yearly post-ban.

Statistic 6

Herbicides like atrazine exceed 2 μg/L in 20% of coastal waters, inhibiting phytoplankton photosynthesis by 30%.

Statistic 7

Mercury from coal plants deposits 70 tonnes into oceans yearly via atmospheric transport.

Statistic 8

Antibiotics like ciprofloxacin detected at 0.1–6 μg/L in coastal sediments, fostering resistance in 40% of bacteria.

Statistic 9

Industrial solvents (e.g., benzene) spill 1.2 million gallons annually into marine environments.

Statistic 10

Endocrine disruptors like BPA from plastics leach at 1–20 ng/L, altering sex ratios in fish by 15%.

Statistic 11

PAHs from shipping exhaust average 50 ng/m³ in air over oceans, depositing 10,000 tonnes yearly.

Statistic 12

Nitrosamine carcinogens in wastewater effluents reach 100 ng/L in 30% of ocean outfalls.

Statistic 13

Dioxins in Baltic Sea sediments average 20 pg TEQ/g, 10x WHO guideline.

Statistic 14

Glyphosate herbicide concentrations peak at 2.5 μg/L post-rainfall in coastal rivers.

Statistic 15

Perchlorate from fireworks and munitions contaminates 15% of Pacific atolls at 10 μg/L.

Statistic 16

Alkylphenols (nonylphenol) in sewage exceed 1 μg/L in 50% of EU coastal waters.

Statistic 17

Veterinary pharmaceuticals like ivermectin kill 80% of marine nematodes at ocean levels of 1 ng/L.

Statistic 18

Brominated flame retardants in Arctic seals average 50 ng/g, linked to 20% pup mortality.

Statistic 19

Cyanide from mining effluents detected up to 0.05 mg/L in Coral Triangle reefs.

Statistic 20

Lead concentrations in coastal sediments average 20–50 μg/g, 5x pre-industrial levels from shipping paints.

Statistic 21

Mercury in tuna averages 0.3–1.2 mg/kg, with 20% of samples exceeding FDA limit.

Statistic 22

Cadmium from battery waste reaches 1–10 μg/L in Asian coastal waters.

Statistic 23

Copper from antifouling paints averages 3 μg/L in marinas, toxic to algae at 5 μg/L.

Statistic 24

Zinc in urban runoff peaks at 100 μg/L, bioaccumulating 1000x in oysters.

Statistic 25

Arsenic in Black Sea sediments 15–30 μg/g from mining, 3x natural background.

Statistic 26

Chromium(VI) from tanneries contaminates 50 rivers, ocean levels 1–5 μg/L.

Statistic 27

Global lead emissions to oceans 100,000 tonnes/year, mostly atmospheric.

Statistic 28

Nickel in North Sea oil platforms averages 50 μg/g in sediments.

Statistic 29

Thallium from coal ash detected at 0.1 μg/L in Pacific, neurotoxic at 0.01 μg/L chronic.

Statistic 30

Global mercury mining releases 2000 tonnes/year to waters, 30% oceanic.

Statistic 31

Vanadium in Venezuelan oil spills reaches 10 mg/kg in sediments.

Statistic 32

80% of heavy metals in oceans from rivers, with Yangtze carrying 50,000 tons/year.

Statistic 33

Antimony from flame retardants 0.1–1 μg/L in coastal zones.

Statistic 34

Cobalt mining runoff raises ocean levels to 0.05 μg/L in Indo-Pacific.

Statistic 35

Manganese in hydrothermal vents 1 mg/L, but pollution boosts 10x near ports.

Statistic 36

Tin from TBT paints banned 2008, but legacy 10 ng/L in sediments kills 50% dogwhelks.

Statistic 37

Uranium from phosphate fertilizers 1–3 Bq/L in ocean discharge.

Statistic 38

Global heavy metal flux to oceans 1.2 million tonnes/year, doubling since 1900.

Statistic 39

Excess nitrogen from fertilizers causes 400 coastal dead zones globally, covering 245,000 km².

Statistic 40

Mississippi River delivers 1.5 million tons of nitrogen and 0.8 million tons phosphorus to Gulf of Mexico yearly.

Statistic 41

Baltic Sea eutrophication affects 97% of area, with algal blooms covering 50,000 km² annually.

Statistic 42

Global ocean hypoxia expanded 2–3% per decade since 1960, linked to nutrient runoff.

Statistic 43

Chesapeake Bay receives 300 million lbs nitrogen yearly, causing 40% oxygen depletion in summer.

Statistic 44

Sewage discharges add 10 million tons nitrogen to coastal waters annually worldwide.

Statistic 45

Eutrophication reduces seagrass by 7% yearly globally, from 29 million ha in 1870s to 15 million ha now.

Statistic 46

Gulf of Mexico dead zone averaged 15,000 km² over past 5 years, largest in Western Hemisphere.

Statistic 47

Phosphorus from detergents contributes 20% to Lake Erie algal blooms, spilling into Lake Ontario.

Statistic 48

80% of ocean nitrogen pollution from land, with China contributing 25% globally.

Statistic 49

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) increased 4.5-fold since 1970, costing $8 billion yearly in damages.

Statistic 50

Danube River inputs 60,000 tons nitrogen to Black Sea, sustaining 70% of hypoxic volume.

Statistic 51

Coral reefs lose 1–2% cover yearly from nutrient-driven phase shifts to algae.

Statistic 52

Australian Great Barrier Reef sees nitrogen levels 5x pre-industrial, bleaching 50% of corals.

Statistic 53

Urban stormwater runoff delivers 50 kg nitrogen/ha/year to nearshore zones.

Statistic 54

500 coastal systems worldwide suffer eutrophication, affecting 25% of fish catch.

Statistic 55

Yangtze River exports 0.9 million tons nitrogen to East China Sea yearly.

Statistic 56

Nutrient pollution causes 20% loss in global shellfish production, valued at $1 billion.

Statistic 57

Adriatic Sea algal blooms produce 100,000 tons biomass yearly from Italian Po River nutrients.

Statistic 58

Exxon Valdez spill released 37,000 tonnes of crude oil into Prince William Sound in 1989, killing 250,000 seabirds.

Statistic 59

Deepwater Horizon spill discharged 4.9 million barrels of oil into Gulf of Mexico in 2010.

Statistic 60

Annual illegal oil discharges from ships total 300,000 tonnes globally.

Statistic 61

40% of oil in oceans from chronic urban runoff, averaging 1–10 mg/L in harbors.

Statistic 62

Prestige spill off Spain in 2002 released 63,000 tonnes heavy fuel oil, contaminating 1,000 km coastline.

Statistic 63

Natural seeps contribute 40–50% of ocean oil (600,000 tonnes/year), less toxic than anthropogenic.

Statistic 64

Hebei Spirit spill in South Korea 2007 dumped 10,800 tonnes crude, affecting 12 km beaches.

Statistic 65

Oil slicks cover 2.8 million km² of ocean surface yearly from shipping.

Statistic 66

BP Atlantis rig leaked 4,600 barrels/day undetected for months pre-2010 spill.

Statistic 67

Arctic oil pollution persists 10x longer due to cold, with Prudhoe Bay contributing 100,000 gallons spills since 1980.

Statistic 68

12 million gallons oil enter US waters yearly from small spills and runoff.

Statistic 69

Ixtoc I blowout in 1979 released 3.3 million barrels into Gulf of Mexico over 9 months.

Statistic 70

Offshore platforms cause 7% of global oil input to seas, 50,000 tonnes/year.

Statistic 71

Taylor Energy spill off Louisiana leaks 300 gallons/day since 2004, total 1.4 million gallons.

Statistic 72

Oil reduces oxygen in water by 20–30%, creating hypoxic zones post-spill.

Statistic 73

MT Haven spill 1991 off Italy released 144,000 tonnes, worst in Mediterranean.

Statistic 74

Global tanker spills averaged 7 large incidents/year 1970–2022, declining 90%.

Statistic 75

Oil coats 70% of marsh vegetation, killing 90% within weeks post-spill.

Statistic 76

In 2022, an estimated 14 million tons of plastic entered the oceans globally, primarily from rivers in Asia.

Statistic 77

Microplastics constitute up to 94% of plastic particles found in surface ocean waters, averaging 35 particles per cubic meter.

Statistic 78

Over 800 species of marine animals have been affected by plastic pollution, including entanglement in 50% of large marine mammal species.

Statistic 79

By 2040, plastic pollution in the ocean could reach 29 million metric tons annually without intervention, tripling current levels.

Statistic 80

Fishing gear accounts for 46% of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch by mass, totaling over 100,000 tons.

Statistic 81

An average of 1.56 billion microplastic particles are released into the ocean daily from synthetic textile washing.

Statistic 82

88% of sea surface microplastics are polystyrene or polyethylene fragments smaller than 1mm.

Statistic 83

Seabirds ingest an average of 3.5 plastic pieces per individual, leading to 90% mortality in some populations.

Statistic 84

Tire wear particles contribute 28% of primary microplastics entering oceans, estimated at 0.23–0.46 million tonnes yearly.

Statistic 85

In the Mediterranean Sea, plastic concentrations reach 1.25 million pieces per km², highest in Europe.

Statistic 86

Global plastic production reached 460 million tonnes in 2019, with 22% mismanaged and potentially entering oceans.

Statistic 87

Coral reefs in the Asia-Pacific region show 15.2 plastic items per 1,000 m², causing bleaching in 11.6% of colonies.

Statistic 88

Bottles make up 12% of floating marine debris, with 1 million entering oceans daily worldwide.

Statistic 89

Nanoplastics (<1μm) comprise 96% of plastic particles by number in ocean water samples.

Statistic 90

Plastic pollution has increased 10-fold since 1980, correlating with a 50% decline in ocean biodiversity hotspots.

Statistic 91

In the North Atlantic, plastic ingestion affects 93% of fulmars, exceeding EU threshold by 10 times.

Statistic 92

Rivers transport 1.15–2.41 million tonnes of plastic to oceans yearly, 88% from top 10 rivers.

Statistic 93

Surface microplastic abundance averages 4.66 × 10^4 particles/km² globally.

Statistic 94

Plastic additives like phthalates leach into seawater at concentrations up to 10 μg/L, bioaccumulating in fish.

Statistic 95

In 2023, 75 countries committed to end plastic pollution, but current production grows 6% annually.

Statistic 96

Deep-sea trenches contain microplastics at 4.3 particles per liter, transported by sinking.

Statistic 97

Plastic bags breakdown into microplastics within 1 year, contributing to 10% of beach litter.

Statistic 98

Over 1 trillion plastic bags used yearly worldwide, with 0.5% entering marine environments.

Statistic 99

Arctic sea ice holds 1.5 × 10^5 microplastic pieces per cubic meter of ice meltwater.

Statistic 100

Tuna stomachs contain average 2.9 microplastic fibers per fish in Pacific fisheries.

Statistic 101

Global plastic waste generation hit 353 million tonnes in 2019, 9% incinerated, rest landfilled or littered.

Statistic 102

Ingested plastics reduce fish growth rates by 20% and reproduction by 40% in lab studies.

Statistic 103

Beach cleanup data shows 60% of litter is plastic, with cigarette butts at 27% by count.

Statistic 104

Projected ocean plastic stocks could reach 250 million tons by 2025 without policy changes.

1/104

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Our oceans are drowning in a silent deluge of plastic, chemicals, and waste, with a staggering 14 million tons of plastic pouring in yearly, microplastics poisoning 94% of surface waters, and chemical pollution creating vast dead zones that are suffocating marine life at an unprecedented scale.

Key Takeaways

In 2022, an estimated 14 million tons of plastic entered the oceans globally, primarily from rivers in Asia.
Microplastics constitute up to 94% of plastic particles found in surface ocean waters, averaging 35 particles per cubic meter.
Over 800 species of marine animals have been affected by plastic pollution, including entanglement in 50% of large marine mammal species.
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) like DDT in ocean water average 0.1–10 ng/L globally, from agricultural runoff.
PCBs concentrations in Mediterranean sediments reach 100 ng/g, bioaccumulating 10^6 times in top predators.
Neonicotinoid pesticides detected in 75% of global ocean samples at 0.1–320 ng/L.
Excess nitrogen from fertilizers causes 400 coastal dead zones globally, covering 245,000 km².
Mississippi River delivers 1.5 million tons of nitrogen and 0.8 million tons phosphorus to Gulf of Mexico yearly.
Baltic Sea eutrophication affects 97% of area, with algal blooms covering 50,000 km² annually.
Exxon Valdez spill released 37,000 tonnes of crude oil into Prince William Sound in 1989, killing 250,000 seabirds.
Deepwater Horizon spill discharged 4.9 million barrels of oil into Gulf of Mexico in 2010.
Annual illegal oil discharges from ships total 300,000 tonnes globally.
Lead concentrations in coastal sediments average 20–50 μg/g, 5x pre-industrial levels from shipping paints.
Mercury in tuna averages 0.3–1.2 mg/kg, with 20% of samples exceeding FDA limit.
Cadmium from battery waste reaches 1–10 μg/L in Asian coastal waters.

Ocean plastic pollution is overwhelming marine life and requires immediate global action.

Chemical Pollution

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) like DDT in ocean water average 0.1–10 ng/L globally, from agricultural runoff.
PCBs concentrations in Mediterranean sediments reach 100 ng/g, bioaccumulating 10^6 times in top predators.
Neonicotinoid pesticides detected in 75% of global ocean samples at 0.1–320 ng/L.
PFAS ('forever chemicals') found in 99% of Atlantic Ocean surface waters, up to 37 pg/L.
Flame retardants (PBDEs) in marine mammals average 10–1000 ng/g lipid, declining 5% yearly post-ban.
Herbicides like atrazine exceed 2 μg/L in 20% of coastal waters, inhibiting phytoplankton photosynthesis by 30%.
Mercury from coal plants deposits 70 tonnes into oceans yearly via atmospheric transport.
Antibiotics like ciprofloxacin detected at 0.1–6 μg/L in coastal sediments, fostering resistance in 40% of bacteria.
Industrial solvents (e.g., benzene) spill 1.2 million gallons annually into marine environments.
Endocrine disruptors like BPA from plastics leach at 1–20 ng/L, altering sex ratios in fish by 15%.
PAHs from shipping exhaust average 50 ng/m³ in air over oceans, depositing 10,000 tonnes yearly.
Nitrosamine carcinogens in wastewater effluents reach 100 ng/L in 30% of ocean outfalls.
Dioxins in Baltic Sea sediments average 20 pg TEQ/g, 10x WHO guideline.
Glyphosate herbicide concentrations peak at 2.5 μg/L post-rainfall in coastal rivers.
Perchlorate from fireworks and munitions contaminates 15% of Pacific atolls at 10 μg/L.
Alkylphenols (nonylphenol) in sewage exceed 1 μg/L in 50% of EU coastal waters.
Veterinary pharmaceuticals like ivermectin kill 80% of marine nematodes at ocean levels of 1 ng/L.
Brominated flame retardants in Arctic seals average 50 ng/g, linked to 20% pup mortality.
Cyanide from mining effluents detected up to 0.05 mg/L in Coral Triangle reefs.

Chemical Pollution Interpretation

We have laced the entire ocean with a devil’s apothecary of our own invention, where a single drop can travel up the food chain to kill a pup, a part-per-trillion can turn a fish sterile, and our casual runoff writes a toxic recipe into the very water that gave us life.

Heavy Metal Pollution

Lead concentrations in coastal sediments average 20–50 μg/g, 5x pre-industrial levels from shipping paints.
Mercury in tuna averages 0.3–1.2 mg/kg, with 20% of samples exceeding FDA limit.
Cadmium from battery waste reaches 1–10 μg/L in Asian coastal waters.
Copper from antifouling paints averages 3 μg/L in marinas, toxic to algae at 5 μg/L.
Zinc in urban runoff peaks at 100 μg/L, bioaccumulating 1000x in oysters.
Arsenic in Black Sea sediments 15–30 μg/g from mining, 3x natural background.
Chromium(VI) from tanneries contaminates 50 rivers, ocean levels 1–5 μg/L.
Global lead emissions to oceans 100,000 tonnes/year, mostly atmospheric.
Nickel in North Sea oil platforms averages 50 μg/g in sediments.
Thallium from coal ash detected at 0.1 μg/L in Pacific, neurotoxic at 0.01 μg/L chronic.
Global mercury mining releases 2000 tonnes/year to waters, 30% oceanic.
Vanadium in Venezuelan oil spills reaches 10 mg/kg in sediments.
80% of heavy metals in oceans from rivers, with Yangtze carrying 50,000 tons/year.
Antimony from flame retardants 0.1–1 μg/L in coastal zones.
Cobalt mining runoff raises ocean levels to 0.05 μg/L in Indo-Pacific.
Manganese in hydrothermal vents 1 mg/L, but pollution boosts 10x near ports.
Tin from TBT paints banned 2008, but legacy 10 ng/L in sediments kills 50% dogwhelks.
Uranium from phosphate fertilizers 1–3 Bq/L in ocean discharge.
Global heavy metal flux to oceans 1.2 million tonnes/year, doubling since 1900.

Heavy Metal Pollution Interpretation

Our oceans have become a devil's cocktail of industrial history, with each metal telling a sobering tale—from the tuna in your sushi to the mud on the seafloor—proving that our waste, once written in water, is now etched in permanent, toxic ink.

Nutrient Pollution

Excess nitrogen from fertilizers causes 400 coastal dead zones globally, covering 245,000 km².
Mississippi River delivers 1.5 million tons of nitrogen and 0.8 million tons phosphorus to Gulf of Mexico yearly.
Baltic Sea eutrophication affects 97% of area, with algal blooms covering 50,000 km² annually.
Global ocean hypoxia expanded 2–3% per decade since 1960, linked to nutrient runoff.
Chesapeake Bay receives 300 million lbs nitrogen yearly, causing 40% oxygen depletion in summer.
Sewage discharges add 10 million tons nitrogen to coastal waters annually worldwide.
Eutrophication reduces seagrass by 7% yearly globally, from 29 million ha in 1870s to 15 million ha now.
Gulf of Mexico dead zone averaged 15,000 km² over past 5 years, largest in Western Hemisphere.
Phosphorus from detergents contributes 20% to Lake Erie algal blooms, spilling into Lake Ontario.
80% of ocean nitrogen pollution from land, with China contributing 25% globally.
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) increased 4.5-fold since 1970, costing $8 billion yearly in damages.
Danube River inputs 60,000 tons nitrogen to Black Sea, sustaining 70% of hypoxic volume.
Coral reefs lose 1–2% cover yearly from nutrient-driven phase shifts to algae.
Australian Great Barrier Reef sees nitrogen levels 5x pre-industrial, bleaching 50% of corals.
Urban stormwater runoff delivers 50 kg nitrogen/ha/year to nearshore zones.
500 coastal systems worldwide suffer eutrophication, affecting 25% of fish catch.
Yangtze River exports 0.9 million tons nitrogen to East China Sea yearly.
Nutrient pollution causes 20% loss in global shellfish production, valued at $1 billion.
Adriatic Sea algal blooms produce 100,000 tons biomass yearly from Italian Po River nutrients.

Nutrient Pollution Interpretation

We have turned our oceans into a grotesque, over-fertilized garden where the only things thriving are dead zones and algal slime, proving that what flows from our farms and cities ultimately chokes the life out of the seas.

Oil Pollution

Exxon Valdez spill released 37,000 tonnes of crude oil into Prince William Sound in 1989, killing 250,000 seabirds.
Deepwater Horizon spill discharged 4.9 million barrels of oil into Gulf of Mexico in 2010.
Annual illegal oil discharges from ships total 300,000 tonnes globally.
40% of oil in oceans from chronic urban runoff, averaging 1–10 mg/L in harbors.
Prestige spill off Spain in 2002 released 63,000 tonnes heavy fuel oil, contaminating 1,000 km coastline.
Natural seeps contribute 40–50% of ocean oil (600,000 tonnes/year), less toxic than anthropogenic.
Hebei Spirit spill in South Korea 2007 dumped 10,800 tonnes crude, affecting 12 km beaches.
Oil slicks cover 2.8 million km² of ocean surface yearly from shipping.
BP Atlantis rig leaked 4,600 barrels/day undetected for months pre-2010 spill.
Arctic oil pollution persists 10x longer due to cold, with Prudhoe Bay contributing 100,000 gallons spills since 1980.
12 million gallons oil enter US waters yearly from small spills and runoff.
Ixtoc I blowout in 1979 released 3.3 million barrels into Gulf of Mexico over 9 months.
Offshore platforms cause 7% of global oil input to seas, 50,000 tonnes/year.
Taylor Energy spill off Louisiana leaks 300 gallons/day since 2004, total 1.4 million gallons.
Oil reduces oxygen in water by 20–30%, creating hypoxic zones post-spill.
MT Haven spill 1991 off Italy released 144,000 tonnes, worst in Mediterranean.
Global tanker spills averaged 7 large incidents/year 1970–2022, declining 90%.
Oil coats 70% of marsh vegetation, killing 90% within weeks post-spill.

Oil Pollution Interpretation

This dismal inventory reveals that for every catastrophic headline spill, there is a constant, grinding chorus of chronic leaks, illegal dumps, and urban runoff, proving humanity is lethally adept at both spectacular disasters and silent, systemic poisoning.

Plastic Pollution

In 2022, an estimated 14 million tons of plastic entered the oceans globally, primarily from rivers in Asia.
Microplastics constitute up to 94% of plastic particles found in surface ocean waters, averaging 35 particles per cubic meter.
Over 800 species of marine animals have been affected by plastic pollution, including entanglement in 50% of large marine mammal species.
By 2040, plastic pollution in the ocean could reach 29 million metric tons annually without intervention, tripling current levels.
Fishing gear accounts for 46% of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch by mass, totaling over 100,000 tons.
An average of 1.56 billion microplastic particles are released into the ocean daily from synthetic textile washing.
88% of sea surface microplastics are polystyrene or polyethylene fragments smaller than 1mm.
Seabirds ingest an average of 3.5 plastic pieces per individual, leading to 90% mortality in some populations.
Tire wear particles contribute 28% of primary microplastics entering oceans, estimated at 0.23–0.46 million tonnes yearly.
In the Mediterranean Sea, plastic concentrations reach 1.25 million pieces per km², highest in Europe.
Global plastic production reached 460 million tonnes in 2019, with 22% mismanaged and potentially entering oceans.
Coral reefs in the Asia-Pacific region show 15.2 plastic items per 1,000 m², causing bleaching in 11.6% of colonies.
Bottles make up 12% of floating marine debris, with 1 million entering oceans daily worldwide.
Nanoplastics (<1μm) comprise 96% of plastic particles by number in ocean water samples.
Plastic pollution has increased 10-fold since 1980, correlating with a 50% decline in ocean biodiversity hotspots.
In the North Atlantic, plastic ingestion affects 93% of fulmars, exceeding EU threshold by 10 times.
Rivers transport 1.15–2.41 million tonnes of plastic to oceans yearly, 88% from top 10 rivers.
Surface microplastic abundance averages 4.66 × 10^4 particles/km² globally.
Plastic additives like phthalates leach into seawater at concentrations up to 10 μg/L, bioaccumulating in fish.
In 2023, 75 countries committed to end plastic pollution, but current production grows 6% annually.
Deep-sea trenches contain microplastics at 4.3 particles per liter, transported by sinking.
Plastic bags breakdown into microplastics within 1 year, contributing to 10% of beach litter.
Over 1 trillion plastic bags used yearly worldwide, with 0.5% entering marine environments.
Arctic sea ice holds 1.5 × 10^5 microplastic pieces per cubic meter of ice meltwater.
Tuna stomachs contain average 2.9 microplastic fibers per fish in Pacific fisheries.
Global plastic waste generation hit 353 million tonnes in 2019, 9% incinerated, rest landfilled or littered.
Ingested plastics reduce fish growth rates by 20% and reproduction by 40% in lab studies.
Beach cleanup data shows 60% of litter is plastic, with cigarette butts at 27% by count.
Projected ocean plastic stocks could reach 250 million tons by 2025 without policy changes.

Plastic Pollution Interpretation

While our civilization's most enduring monument appears to be a synthetic soup of our own making, its primary ingredients—countless microplastics, ghost nets, and tire dust—are steadily smothering the very ecosystems we once found so inspiring.