PollutionWhat is pollution? Pollution is the introduction of a contaminant into the environment. Pollution is mainly caused by human actions, but can also be the result of natural disasters. The most common pollution is plastic. As single-use plastic bags end up in the ocean, dolphins, turtles and other marine animals mistake them for food. Plastic contains toxic chemicals that, if ingested by fish or marine life, cause serious harm and even death. Marine debris is accumulating in the North Pacific Gyre, and by far the main ingredient in all this debris is plastic. Instead of calling it the “Pacific Garbage Patch” it is called “Plastic Soup”. All over the world, day after day, the amount of debris increases enormously. Marine plastic pollution has affected at least 267 species worldwide. Suffocation, entanglement, ingestion, starvation and drowning are just a few examples of how plastic impacts our marine ecosystem. Plastic doesn't just affect our animals; it can potentially affect us too. Plastic starts to degrade at temperatures we didn't think they could. Scientists thought they began to degrade at high temperatures, but then discovered that they begin to degrade at temperatures as low as 86 degrees Fahrenheit. When these plastics begin to degrade, they release chemicals into water that can kill us. Chemicals like bisphenol A can lead to cancer and serious health problems, even death. (Oceana) The next important topic about polluting our ecosystems is drilling. In order to drill, researchers must find oil reserves, but to find these oil reserves, researchers must send seismic waves into the ocean. If the wave recovered, they may have found the reserve. Seismic waves... middle of paper... cause them to die and potentially become extinct too. The disappearance of coral reefs would not only affect marine life, but it would also affect us socially. The extinction of coral reefs would tremendously damage the fishing and tourism industries. Furthermore, if we lose these coral reefs, hurricanes and storms could become much more violent. Coral reefs protect coastal communities, without these reefs, these storms can become more intense with stronger winds. Women and children are the people most affected by pollution. Children are more vulnerable than adults. They also sometimes have higher exposures because they eat, drink and breathe more than adults. Children also tend to inhale more dirt and dust than adults because they crawl and play outdoors more. More than three million children under the age of five die every year due to environmental factors. (Facts about pollution)