- A Plastics provide artificial reef-like habitat structures that are widely and genuinely considered beneficial to marine life populations in many coastal regions in general practice as frequently described
- B Plastics persist for hundreds of years; entangle marine animals; break into microplastics ingested by marine organisms; enter the food chain; harm marine biodiversity; absorb and concentrate toxic chemicals
- C Floating plastic debris is generally understood by many oceanographers to actively help filter and gradually clean the surrounding seawater over long periods of time in most textbook accounts during normal conditions
- D The largest, clearly visible pieces of plastic debris are mostly harmful, while the microscopic microplastic particles are often assumed to be biologically inert as generally observed in typical laboratory settings
Correct answer: B. Plastics persist for hundreds of years; entangle marine animals; break into microplastics ingested by marine organisms; enter the food chain; harm marine biodiversity; absorb and concentrate toxic chemicals
Explanation: Ocean plastic pollution: 8 million tonnes enter oceans annually. Effects: entanglement of turtles, seabirds, marine mammals; microplastics (<5mm) ingested by fish, plankton, shellfish; enter food chain (human consumption); absorb and concentrate POPs (persistent organic pollutants); alter marine biodiversity. Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a large accumulation zone.
Concept context
Pollution, global warming, ozone depletion, deforestation, and sustainability. Important for NEET and general awareness.