This year, Earth Day gatherings will be bringing awareness to the dangers of plastic in our environment, especially our waterways.
Plastic pollution is poisoning our oceans, injuring marine life, and affecting our health.
Currently, there are five patches of floating plastic debris in the ocean. The one between California and Hawaii is the size of Texas. Animals in the ocean get ensnared or eat the plastic and die or are maimed by it. By 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.
View Stock Images & Video About Plastic Pollution
Additionally, some of the plastic consumed by fish becomes part of the human food chain.
Since the invention of plastic in 1907, our lives have become more convenient. Now we're becoming aware of the damage it is doing to us, our natural ecosystems and our climate.
42% of plastic in use today is for packaging, accounting for 54% of landfills.
Chemicals that leach from plastic food and beverage containers cause health concerns such as impaired brain and neurological function, diabetes, obesity and even resistance to chemotherapy.
Earth Day is an annual event in its 48th year. Approximately 1 billion people take part in 192 countries. In its first year, it helped propel the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and laws such as the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and many more.
Learn More about Earth Day
and How You Can Help
earthday.org