I’m a Marine Biologist—Here Are 28 Shocking Things I’ve Found in Ocean Plastic

Home Environmental I’m a Marine Biologist—Here Are 28 Shocking Things I’ve Found in Ocean Plastic

Environmental

I’m a Marine Biologist—Here Are 28 Shocking Things I’ve Found in Ocean Plastic

By Chu E. - June 18, 2025

Every time I venture out onto the ocean, I’m reminded just how vast and mysterious our seas are. Yet, one issue has become impossible to ignore: plastic pollution. During my years as a marine biologist, I’ve uncovered items in ocean plastic that are both unexpected and alarming.
Examining the contents of ocean plastic isn’t just about curiosity—it’s crucial. These discoveries reveal threats not only to marine ecosystems but also to our own health, as toxins and debris make their way up the food chain. What I’ve found will surprise—and disturb—you.

NEXT >>

1. Toothbrushes

I’m a Marine Biologist—Here Are 28 Shocking Things I’ve Found in Ocean Plastic — A discarded toothbrush floats among seaweed and debris, highlighting the growing issue of plastic waste in our oceans. | flickr.com

One of the most common—and unsettling—finds is the humble toothbrush. These everyday items, with their sturdy plastic handles and synthetic bristles, show up in ocean plastic samples far too often. Toothbrushes are designed to last and, unfortunately, that means they persist for centuries once discarded. Marine animals mistake them for food, putting both wildlife and the ecosystem at risk.
For more on the surprising history and impact of plastic toothbrushes, visit National Geographic.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

2. Microbeads from Cosmetics

Among the ocean’s tiniest plastic offenders are microbeads—microscopic spheres found in facial scrubs and toothpaste. These particles easily slip through water treatment systems and end up in our waterways, where they accumulate rapidly. Once in the ocean, microbeads are consumed by plankton and small fish, infiltrating the entire food chain.
Learn more about how microbeads pollute even the Great Lakes in this Scientific American article.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

3. Fishing Nets (Ghost Nets)

One of the most haunting discoveries in ocean plastic is the so-called ghost net. These abandoned or lost fishing nets drift silently, trapping fish, turtles, and even dolphins. Ghost nets are uniquely destructive—they continue to ensnare marine life for years, long after they’re discarded.
Their invisible threat makes them one of the deadliest forms of ocean plastic. WWF highlights how ghost gear devastates marine ecosystems globally.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

4. Plastic Bottles and Caps

Plastic bottles and their colorful caps are some of the most recognizable items found during ocean surveys. While bottles may start out whole, they gradually break into smaller fragments—never truly disappearing. Each stage of fragmentation puts marine wildlife at risk, from ingestion by birds to entanglement by fish.
These seemingly harmless objects are now almost everywhere in our oceans. For more information, see this Ocean Conservancy article.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

5. Disposable Lighters

It’s shocking how many disposable lighters turn up inside the stomachs of seabirds. Their bright, shiny colors make them irresistible to curious animals searching for food. Once swallowed, these lighters can cause internal injuries or even lead to slow starvation.
This tragic phenomenon highlights just how far our waste can travel—and the unexpected ways it impacts wildlife. Read more about this issue in Smithsonian Magazine.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

6. Plastic Bags

Plastic bags are one of the most deceptive hazards in the ocean. Whether floating whole or shredded into ribbons, they closely resemble jellyfish—a favorite food for many turtles. Ingesting plastic bags can block digestive tracts and often leads to fatal consequences for marine life.
Their widespread presence underscores the dangers of single-use plastics. The NOAA Marine Debris Program provides more insight into how plastic bags threaten our oceans.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

7. Balloons and Ribbons

Balloons and their trailing ribbons may seem festive on land, but in the ocean, they’re a hidden menace. I’ve found them tangled around coral reefs or drifting at the surface, where they quickly become choking hazards for turtles, fish, and seabirds.
Balloons can travel far from their release point, impacting marine life hundreds of miles away. The Marine Conservation Society campaigns to raise awareness about the dangers of letting balloons go.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

8. Plastic Cutlery

Plastic forks, knives, and spoons are surprisingly prevalent in ocean cleanup efforts. Originally designed for convenience, these items break down into sharp fragments and eventually into dangerous microplastics. Marine creatures can easily ingest these pieces, leading to internal damage or contamination.
The persistence of plastic cutlery in marine environments highlights the urgent need for alternatives. UNEP discusses global efforts to phase out single-use plastics like cutlery.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

9. Synthetic Clothing Fibers

Not all ocean plastic is instantly recognizable. Microfibers shed from synthetic clothing—such as polyester and nylon—find their way into the sea every time we do laundry. These tiny threads are detected in ocean samples worldwide and are easily ingested by plankton and fish, quietly infiltrating the marine food web.
Synthetic clothing fibers are a hidden but significant source of plastic pollution. The Guardian has more on how our wardrobes contribute to this global issue.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

10. Cigarette Filters

Cigarette filters, which may seem small and harmless, are actually made of cellulose acetate—a type of plastic. These filters are among the most littered items on the planet and appear consistently in ocean plastic surveys. Once in the water, they leach toxins and break down into tiny fibers, posing a threat to fish and birds alike.
For more about the environmental impact of cigarette butts, see this Ocean Conservancy post.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

11. Plastic Food Wrappers

Single-use plastic food wrappers, from candy bars to chips, are everywhere in marine debris collections. These thin plastics are designed for convenience but are nearly impossible to recycle, making them one of the top ocean pollutants by count. They easily blow into waterways and wash up on shorelines, where they persist for decades.
For a list of the most common items polluting our oceans, check out this resource from Earth Day.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

12. Straws and Stir Sticks

Plastic straws and stir sticks are deceptively small but incredibly dangerous to marine life—especially sea turtles, which often mistake them for food or become injured by them. These items are consistently among the most commonly found plastics during ocean cleanups. Once in the ocean, they rarely break down and can travel great distances, causing long-term harm.
Learn more about the global impact of plastic straws from National Geographic.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

13. Bottle Rings and Six-Pack Holders

Plastic rings from bottles and six-pack holders are notorious for entangling ocean wildlife. Seabirds, turtles, and even marine mammals can become trapped, leading to injuries or death. These rings often go unnoticed until it’s too late, highlighting the dangers of seemingly harmless packaging.
Their persistent presence in ocean surveys is a stark reminder to cut these items before disposing of them. Read more from Ocean Conservancy about efforts to reduce this threat.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

14. Lost Shoes and Flip-Flops

Lost shoes and flip-flops are surprisingly common finds during ocean surveys. Made from buoyant plastics and foams, they can float for years, crossing entire oceans and washing up on even the most remote beaches. These items become artificial islands, sometimes colonized by marine organisms, but ultimately add to the mounting plastic problem.
For more on how flip-flops and shoes travel the world’s seas, see this BBC article.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

15. Children’s Toys

It’s not uncommon to spot plastic dolls, toy cars, and colorful building blocks during marine fieldwork. These children’s toys are a clear sign of household waste reaching even the most distant shores. Lightweight and durable, toys can travel far, persisting in the ocean for decades while leaching chemicals into the water.
For more on the surprising journey of toys across the seas, check out this The Guardian article.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

16. Tampon Applicators

Plastic tampon applicators, often nicknamed “beach whistles”, are a striking example of how sanitary product waste invades our coastlines. These bright, cylindrical plastics are regularly found during shoreline surveys, illustrating the far reach of everyday bathroom waste.
Their presence not only pollutes beaches but also threatens marine life that may ingest or become entangled in them. Discover more about this overlooked form of pollution in The Independent.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

17. Contact Lens Cases

Contact lens cases and, occasionally, discarded lenses themselves have turned up in ocean samples. These items highlight the often-overlooked problem of “invisible” plastic waste. Small and lightweight, lens cases can easily make their way from household drains to open waters, where they persist for years.
Their presence in the ocean is a reminder that even the tiniest plastics have global consequences. Learn more in this CNN report.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

18. Detergent Pods

Colorful detergent pods, once used for household chores, often end up in the ocean along with their plastic casings. While the pods themselves dissolve, the outer casings persist, breaking down into microplastics that are nearly impossible to remove from marine environments.
These small fragments are easily ingested by aquatic life, adding to the growing microplastic problem. To learn more about the challenges of plastic pollution from household products, see this NPR article.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

19. Beverage Can Pull Tabs

Aluminum beverage can pull tabs, often overlooked, frequently turn up in ocean waste—sometimes still attached to plastic rings. Their small size and shiny appearance make them especially tempting for seabirds and fish, who risk ingesting these sharp pieces.
The combination of metal and plastic highlights how even tiny bits of litter can create long-lasting problems for marine life. Discover more about different types of marine debris from the EPA.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

20. Disposable Gloves

Latex and nitrile gloves have become a far more common sight in ocean plastic collections, especially since 2020. These gloves, often used for hygiene and safety, pose a real threat to marine animals that mistake them for food or become entangled.
Their sudden increase highlights how global events can quickly impact ocean pollution. Explore more about pandemic-related plastic waste in this The Guardian article.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

21. Plastic Pellets (Nurdles)

Nurdles are tiny, round plastic pellets used as raw material in the manufacturing of countless plastic products. Spilled during transport or at factories, they easily escape into waterways and oceans, where they’re often mistaken for fish eggs or food by marine life.
Nurdles are a significant contributor to microplastic pollution, making cleanup especially challenging. For more on the global spread of nurdles, see this BBC report.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

22. Ballpoint Pens

Ballpoint pens and their caps are surprisingly common among ocean debris. These everyday items, often lost or discarded from offices and schools, serve as a reminder of the pervasiveness of plastic waste from all aspects of daily life.
Their durable plastic components persist for decades, adding to the mounting problem of plastic pollution in our seas. For deeper insight into how plastics are turning our oceans toxic, read this The Conversation article.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

23. Disposable Face Masks

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, disposable face masks have emerged as a significant new source of ocean plastic pollution. These masks, with their elastic ear loops and synthetic fibers, easily entangle marine creatures or are mistaken for food.
The sudden influx of masks highlights how quickly global habits can impact the environment. For a closer look at the pandemic’s effect on marine plastic, see this National Geographic article.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

24. Plastic Packaging Straps

Heavy-duty plastic straps, commonly used for bundling boxes and shipping goods, are alarmingly frequent in marine debris. Their tough, unyielding loops can wrap tightly around turtles, seals, and seabirds, causing deep injuries or even death.
These straps often go unnoticed until they’re already harming wildlife. To see the real impact of these plastics on sea creatures, read this WWF blog.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

25. Syringes and Medical Waste

Syringes and other medical waste are some of the most alarming items I’ve found in ocean plastic. These sharp, hazardous objects not only threaten marine life—which can be injured or poisoned—but also pose a serious public health risk to anyone encountering them on beaches.
The improper disposal of medical waste highlights the intersection of human health and environmental safety. For more on the dangers of medical debris in our oceans, refer to this CDC resource.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

26. Plastic Bottle Labels

Plastic labels from beverage and water bottles are a subtle but persistent form of ocean pollution. These labels often detach from their bottles, drifting separately and contributing to the overall microplastic load in the marine environment.
Once fragmented, they are easily ingested by marine organisms, further complicating cleanup efforts and contaminating food webs. For more on how plastic labels impact our oceans, visit this ScienceDirect study.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

27. Chewing Gum

Many people don’t realize that modern chewing gum is made from synthetic polymers—essentially, a type of plastic. Discarded gum is often found stuck to rocks along the shore or even floating in the ocean, blending in as invisible pollution.
This small but persistent pollutant highlights how everyday habits add to the plastic crisis. To learn more about the hidden plastic in chewing gum, read this Scientific American article.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

28. Glitter

Glitter might look harmless, but these tiny, sparkling bits are actually microplastics used in crafts, cosmetics, and party decorations. I’ve found glitter embedded in sand and floating in water samples, where it’s easily consumed by filter feeders and damages coral reefs.
Its minuscule size makes it nearly impossible to clean up, turning a source of joy into a persistent pollutant. Learn more about glitter’s environmental impact in this National Geographic article.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

Conclusion

The sheer variety of plastic items I’ve found in the ocean—from everyday household objects to seemingly invisible microplastics—shows just how widespread and insidious this problem is. Every piece of plastic has a story and an impact, whether it’s harming wildlife, polluting remote beaches, or entering our food chain.
We all have a role to play: reduce single-use plastics, support cleanup initiatives, and educate ourselves and others. Small changes in our daily lives can lead to a healthier, cleaner ocean for everyone.

<< Previous