POLLUTION and careless dumping of rubbish in the ocean creates health hazards for our marine ecosystems, says Wildlife Conservation Society program director Sangheeta Mangubhai .

Ms Mangubhai said despite the fact the oceans were big and covered 71 per cent of our planet’s surface, it did not mean it can take all the litter thrown in it.

Collective dumpings of rubbish into our oceans resulted in bioaccumulation, she said.

“The environment (whether it be on land or marine) should be taken very seriously as pollution caused by littering could lead to various health hazards,” Ms Mangubhai said.

She said people often trivialised the importance of our oceans and the roles of organisms in it.

“Take for example — reefs — they control the amount of carbon dioxide in the ocean water by turning carbon dioxide into limestone shell.

“They also ensure biodiversity exists within its ecosystem because they house these small marine creatures.”

She said in the absence of these reefs, carbon dioxinde could accumulate in our oceans and lead to the suffocation of fish which need dissolved oxygen to survive.

Ms Mangubhai said many maritime organisms had fallen victim to plastics upon consumption.