Editor's Note: Plastic floating into the sea can be devastating to animals, as it gets into their stomachs and wraps itself around them. Recently, scientists discovered a new plastic-related disease in animals and named it plasticosis. Another team of researchers found microplastics in humans. CGTN invited these front-line researchers to take a closer look at the effects of plastic pollution on wildlife and humans on World Environment Day.

Today is World Environment Day. The theme this year focuses on solutions to plastic pollution.

Our planet is choking on plastic. More than 400 million tonnes of plastic is produced annually, clogging our landfills and leaching into the ocean. Millions of animals are dying of plastic. Scientists even found microplastics in humans.

CGTN Nature talked to Christine Figgener, a sea turtle biologist; Evangelos Achilleos, wildlife center manager at East Winch Wildlife Centre, RSPCA; Hayley Charlton-Howard, a seabird and marine plastic researcher at the Adrift Lab; and Jeanette Rotchell, a professor at the University of Hull.

They shared with us how plastic impacts the lives of humans and animals and solutions to beat plastic pollution.

Directors: Gao Yuxin, Chen Chen, Xu Wen
Video editor: Gao Yuxin
Designers: Du Chenxin, Zhu Shangfan

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com.)