Plastic Pollution and the Chesapeake Bay: The Food System and Beyond

Plastic pollution is a widespread problem across the world’s oceans, bays, estuaries and rivers. Much of this waste is the residue of food system packaging. Excessive production of these durable polymers and inappropriate disposal lead to their accumulation in aquatic environments. Large pieces of plastic debris are a regular feature of shorelines in the Chesapeake Bay, as is true around the world. Over time such plastic debris may be partially degraded, primarily by UV light and abrasion, and fragmented. In fact, a majority of plastic debris falls into the category of microplastics, i.e. debris smaller than 5 mm. The abundance of microplastics in the tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay has been linked to the population density of the surrounding area. Importantly, both large plastic debris items and microplastics threaten marine organisms through ingestion or entanglement. Another threat may accompany the plastic; the surface of the debris may carry sorbed chemical contaminants or pathogens that harm aquatic life. Some plastic polymers also contain chemical additives. These additives may be toxic to aquatic organisms and concentrate at higher trophic levels of the food chain. These phenomena are still being explored by researchers. At present, there is inadequate research detailing the distribution of plastics in the Chesapeake Bay. We explore here the plastic pollution issue, how it may impact the health of the Chesapeake Bay, and possible solutions, with particular attention to food system packaging.