Offline: The scent of death in our oceans

Abstract

Who cares about the world's oceans? Too few, and almost no-one in health. This indifference is shocking and dangerous. Geir Wing Gabrielsen leads ecotoxicology research at the Norwegian Polar Institute in Tromsø, in the northernmost part of the country. His main concern is the pollution of one of the world's most important and neglected environments—our oceans. His specific focus is plastic. In 2016, the world produced 325 million tonnes of plastic, a figure that is growing by 4% annually. 40% of the plastic we make is used just once. By 2050, the expected production of plastic will have reached 1124 million tonnes. 8–10 million tonnes enter the oceans annually—by 2050, the total mass of ocean plastic will exceed that of fish. In 1976, on average, each person used 2 kg of plastic annually. By 2017, that figure had risen to 43 kg. Every minute, human beings use 2 million plastic bags and 1 million plastic bottles. Only 14% of these plastics are recycled effectively. The main categories of plastic pollutants are polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, and polyurethane. A vast gap exists between the plastics produced and those recovered. The main effort to reduce environmental plastic contamination is landfill. Yet a third of all plastics still remain in the environment—most plastics are non-biodegradable—with the oceans being their principal dustbin. You might think that ocean plastic pollution is a small problem. When you look at the seas, their shores and beaches, little plastic is evident—a few discarded plastic bottles and containers, at most. But of the total quantifiable marine plastic pollution, only 1% is floating on the sea surface and 5% is washed up on beaches. The remaining 94% sits on the sea floor. The effects on life are devastating. Sea birds die with their intestines full and obstructed with plastic detritus. Marine and terrestrial mammals, fish, and marine invertebrates are all fatally affected. Gabrielsen's research shows that 93% of northern fulmars (a sea bird found in the Arctic) have an average of 32 pieces of plastic in their stomachs. A particular concern are micro (<5 mm) and nano (<1 μm) plastics. In 1983, 29% of fulmars had microplastics in their stomachs. By 2013, that figure had risen to 88%. Plastic is a cruel pollutant. It plays tricks on its victims. Plastics can become coated with an attractively nutritious biofilm of marine microbes, tempting ingestion. Microplastics produce dimethyl sulfide, an odorant (or scent) that encourages consumption. Plastic pollution is ubiquitous and deadly. All very well, but what has this to do with human health? A signal of possibility—and urgency—was published last year in Scientific Reports. Karin Mattsson and colleagues found that plastic (polystyrene) nanoparticles reduced the survival of zooplankton and penetrated the blood–brain barrier of the fish that consume them. These fish exhibited severe behavioural disturbances. The conclusion is menacing. Plastic nanoparticles can move through the food chain and enter and damage the neural tissue of consumers. As Mattsson et al conclude, “our results may have implications for human wellbeing”. Sustainable Development Goal 14 is about life below water—reducing marine pollution, protecting marine ecosystems, addressing ocean acidification, ending overfishing, conserving marine areas, and enhancing oceans and their resources. These objectives seem remote from human health. But Gabrielsen argues that our oceans are indispensable to human wellbeing. The human-induced erosion of ocean ecosystems is a threat not only to marine life but also to terrestrial life, including human health. Gabrielsen argues that, “We need more studies on the effects of plastic pollution on marine animals and humans. We need to do more recycling of plastic.” 2018 is the 50th anniversary of the Arctic University of Norway, the Universitetet i Tromsø. It is the world's northernmost university. Geography determines form and content. This global university dedicates itself to research into the region's natural environment, culture, and society, and their international implications—auroral light research, fisheries science, telemedicine, Sami society, and multiculturalism (the university sits at a junction between west and east, with Russia a close and valued neighbour). Institutions such as the Norwegian Polar Institute and Arctic University of Norway may lie outside the usual axes of global health discussion. But their concerns are central to the future of life on our planet.