Volunteers find styrofoam, cigarette butts and plastic on Helsinki beach

Young Baltic Sea ambassadors from Luontoliitto organised a plastic-free sea cleanup at Mustikkamaa beach in Helsinki on Saturday, collecting styrofoam, cigarette butts, nicotine pouches and plastic. The event was reported by Yle.

Miina-Stiina Tanskanen, one of the organisation’s young Baltic Sea ambassadors, handed out gloves, litter pickers and bags to participants.

“I want to save the Baltic Sea. It is full of microplastics, which also end up in us humans,” Tanskanen said.

The ambassadors have organised Plastic-Free Sea cleanup events in different parts of Finland throughout the summer. Tanskanen said the Baltic Sea is home to many organisms, but biodiversity loss caused by eutrophication has taken away their habitat.

She urged people to recycle, reduce their use of plastic packaging and eat more plant-based food.

Seven-year-old Arvo Laine joined the cleanup with his father, Matias Laine.

“People should not throw rubbish on the ground,” Arvo Laine said.

Nine-year-olds Axel Teronen and Roope Rikala also joined after seeing the volunteers on the beach. They said they had heard worrying news about the Baltic Sea.

“It is a shame that everyone just litters. It is not good for the fish,” Teronen said.

“Animals can die because of littering,” Rikala added.

Young members of Helsinki’s Rotaract club also collected rubbish after a picnic. Petra Pessi said they found many small pieces of styrofoam, cigarette butts, nicotine pouches and pieces of plastic.

Eutrophication and microplastics burden the Baltic Sea

According to the John Nurminen Foundation, eutrophication is the Baltic Sea’s most serious environmental problem. Its effects are particularly visible in summer, when warmer water contributes to an increase in blue-green algal blooms.

Nutrients enter the Baltic Sea from sources including agriculture and forestry, transport and fish farming. Eutrophication and climate change contribute to biodiversity loss.

Plastic waste is also a threat to marine life in seas around the world. Animals can become entangled in rubbish or eat pieces of plastic after mistaking them for food. In the sea, plastic waste gradually breaks down into microplastics but does not fully decompose.

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare says current research indicates that the health risks of microplastics to humans appear to be low. However, the situation could change in coming decades if plastic pollution in the environment grows uncontrollably. More research into the health effects is needed.

Luontoliitto has submitted an appeal to the Finnish government and Finnish members of the European Parliament, calling for effective legislation and regulation to end the pollution of waterways. The organisation also wants Finland to take an active role in solving the problem within the European Union.