Non-biodegradable plastics

Human influences on ecosystems · Pollution · note 2 of 3

Spec 20.3.2Download all Pollution notes (PDF)Download all notes (PDF)5 pages

Non-biodegradable plasticsSpec 20.3.2

Plastics are non-biodegradable: microorganisms cannot break them down, so they stay in the environment for a very long time. Plastics are widely used for packaging and are often thrown away carelessly.

Effects of non-biodegradable plastics
Ecosystem	Effects
Aquatic (rivers, seas)	Animals such as turtles, seabirds and fish swallow plastic, which can block their digestive system so they starve; animals become tangled in plastic and drown or cannot move; plastic breaks into tiny pieces that enter food chains
Terrestrial (land)	Plastic waste in landfill takes up space and does not rot; animals eat plastic or become trapped in it; plastic can build up in soil and may release harmful chemicals; plastic waste can block drains and watercourses

A sea turtle with a swallowed plastic bag blocking its gut, a seabird tangled in plastic netting at the sea surface, and microplastics passing along a food chain from plankton to small fish to large fish. — Plastic **blocks the gut**, **entangles** animals and enters food chains as microplastics.

Exam tip:

Always link the plastic to a specific harm: 'blocks the gut' or 'entangles the animal', not just 'it harms animals'.