Climate & Environment
Plastic Pollution
The accumulation of plastic waste in the environment, from macro-debris to microplastics, harming ecosystems, wildlife and potentially human health.
Definition
Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic products and particles in the environment — on land, in rivers, oceans and air — resulting from production and consumption far exceeding waste management capacity. It spans visible debris, abandoned fishing gear, microplastics (fragments below 5 mm) and associated chemical additives, with an estimated tens of millions of tonnes entering aquatic ecosystems annually.
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