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Effects on Values

Preventing wastes entering the environment is essential to reduce the significant effects they have on values in our society. The values effected by waste pollution include:

Human health
Animal health – including wildlife and pets
Economic prosperity
Cultural values

Turtle recovering after fishing gear injury Photo by Currumbin Wildlife Hospital

Quick facts

Nanoplastics: can be absorbed by humans in the gastrointestinal tract and may accumulate in the brain, liver and other tissues[1].
Cigarette butts: are the most common form of litter in Queensland and can be responsible for fires, loss of wildlife, pets and homes.
By 2050: 99 percent of seabirds are expected to have ingested plastic[2].

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References

^ Waring, RH, Harris, RM & Mitchell, SC (2018), 'Plastic contamination of the food chain: A threat to human health?', Maturitas. [online], vol. 115, pp. 64-68. Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378512218303505.
^ Wilcox, C, Van Sebille, E & Hardesty, BD (2015), 'Threat of plastic pollution to seabirds is global, pervasive, and increasing', Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. [online], vol. 112, no. 38, pp. 11899-11904. Available at: https://www.pnas.org/content/112/38/11899.

Last updated: 10 May 2021

This page should be cited as:

Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, Queensland (2021) Effects on Values, WetlandInfo website, accessed 20 December 2024. Available at: https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/wetlands/management/pressures/litter-illegal-dumping/effects-values/