There are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic waste estimated to be in our oceans. 269,000 tons float, 4 billion microfibers per km² dwell below the surface. 70% of our debris sinks into the ocean’s ecosystem, 15% floats, and 15% lands on our beaches. In terms of plastic, 8.3 million tons are discarded in the sea yearly.

4.40 pounds

Exactly How Much Garbage Do Humans Make Every Year? The average American consumer produces just under five pounds of trash each day, while a family creates about 18 pounds. Multiplying those numbers by 365 days for the year, it all adds up to: 1,642 pounds per person.

Starting with an estimate that 150 million tonnes of plastic are already polluting the world’s oceans, and that “leakage” adds at least 9.1 million tonnes more each year — a figure that is said to be growing by five per cent annually — the MacArthur report calculates there will be 850-950 million tonnes of ocean …

With no changes to current production, consumption, or waste management of plastic, by 2040 almost 30 million metric tons of plastic will end up in the ocean per year.

By 2050, plastic in the oceans will outweigh fish, predicts a report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, in partnership with the World Economic Forum. The report projects the oceans will contain at least 937 million tons of plastic and 895 million tons of fish by 2050.

By 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans. (30 to 40% of the carbon dioxide from human activity released into the atmosphere dissolves into oceans, resulting in the creation of carbonic acid.) Ocean acidification is therefore a rising concern.

By 2050 our seas will be viewed as more than a platform for tourism and recreation and rather an ocean for solutions. Our sustainable energy solutions will be aided by marine algae–derived biofuel, while new medicines to treat modern diseases will be derived from sea creatures with novel chemical structures.

The Great Barrier Reef will be over within 20 years or so.” According to Veron, “Once carbon dioxide hits the levels predicted for between 2030 and 2060, all the world’s coral reefs will be doomed to extinction… They would be the world’s first global ecosystem to collapse.

Lack of ocean protection will not only accelerate climate change—it could impact our resilience to its impacts. Coral reefs, for example, provide coastal communities with important protection from storm surges. But they have already been pushed toward extinction by climate change, pollution and overfishing.

The BBC reports that, in a new scientific review published in the journal Nature, a team of researchers argues that the ocean is “remarkably resilient” and could fully recover from the negative impacts of human interaction over the next three decades — if we act now. …

How can you help our ocean?

1. Conserve Water. Use less water so excess runoff and wastewater will not flow into the ocean.
2. Reduce Pollutants. Choose nontoxic chemicals and dispose of herbicides, pesticides, and cleaning products properly.
3. Reduce Waste.
4. Shop Wisely.
5. Reduce Vehicle Pollution.
6. Use Less Energy.
7. Fish Responsibly.
8. Practice Safe Boating.

The air we breathe: The ocean produces over half of the world’s oxygen and absorbs 50 times more carbon dioxide than our atmosphere. Climate regulation: Covering 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, the ocean transports heat from the equator to the poles, regulating our climate and weather patterns.

So, what can you do about ocean plastic pollution?

1. Reduce Your Use of Single-Use Plastics.
2. Recycle Properly.
3. Participate In (or Organize) a Beach or River Cleanup.
4. Support Bans.
5. Avoid Products Containing Microbeads.
6. Spread the Word.
7. Support Organizations Addressing Plastic Pollution.

At least half of Earth’s oxygen comes from the ocean. The surface layer of the ocean is teeming with photosynthetic plankton. Though they’re invisible to the naked eye, they produce more oxygen than the largest redwoods. Scientists estimate that 50-80% of the oxygen production on Earth comes from the ocean.

The ocean is one of Earth’s most valuable natural resources. It provides food in the form of fish and shellfish—about 200 billion pounds are caught each year. It’s used for transportation—both travel and shipping. It provides a treasured source of recreation for humans.

A Great Remedy for Various Skin Conditions Magnesium, calcium, and potassium are all skin-friendly minerals that can be found in sea salt. These minerals are great benefits of salt water since they help combat acne-causing bacteria, skin infections, and speed up the healing process.

Sea Water Cleans Out the Large Intestine The ingestion of small amounts of ocean water facilitates the cleansing of the colon, detoxifies the body, and renews the body’s energies, especially in children.

Salt water is an excellent exfoliator and also stimulates blood flow in the scalp. This ensures that more nutrients get to the hair follicles, which results in healthier hair. Salt has anti-fungal properties and helps get rid of fungus-induced dandruff by reducing moisture. Sea water is a natural shampoo.

Saltwater is damaging because it dries out your hair and scalp, it strips it of all its water, leaving it rough and dehydrated. This lack of moisture for your hair leads to split ends breakage and dandruff on your scalp.

“You should always rinse your hair if possible after swimming in the sea, as salt can leave it parched and brittle,” said Nadia Dean, Senior Stylist at John Frieda salons. Alternatively, opt for intensive moisturising products, like a deep conditioning spray or a lotion that you comb through the hair.

Swimming in the sea can actively improve your health and wellness with calming immersion and sunshine exposure. The elements activate the body’s healing mechanisms and support healing for diseases, asthma, bronchitis, arthritis and also localised aches and pains.

Answer: It’s safe to open your eyes in the ocean, but it may sting at first. Many people become accustomed to salt water and they don’t feel pain when they open their eyes underwater. The ocean also contains many different irritants like bacteria, sand, and microorganisms, so don’t forget to pack your goggles!

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , ocean water can be contaminated with animal waste, sewage spills, stormwater runoff, fecal matter, and germs from the rectal areas of swimmers.

Due to its antibacterial properties salt has long been used as a preservative. Salt kills some types of bacteria, effectively by sucking water out of them. In a process known as osmosis, water passes out of a bacterium so as to balance salt concentrations on each side of its cell membrane.

“Swimming in the pool with an open cut is generally safe, from a skin and soft tissue infection standpoint,” says Elizabeth Wang, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center. “Chlorination, if done properly, should kill a lot of bacteria in the water.

What happens when you drink Seawater? Interestingly, after some searching around we discovered that these micro-organisms rarely have negative impacts on human heath, the only time when you may get ill from sea water is normally a result of bacteria and organisms that end up in the sea from our land based pollution.

Does salt water kill bacteria? Salt water may kill some, but does not kill all, mouth and throat bacteria. However, solutions of salt can help bring bacteria to the surface of the gums, teeth, and throat. Once the bacteria is brought to the surface, some of it washes away when a person spits the salt water out.

Mouthwashes that kill 99.9% of the bacteria in your mouth are also killing off good bacteria. This can damage the mouth’s microbiome and its ability to fight cavities, gingivitis and bad breath.