Lesson Thirty-One: Microplastics
How it’s a macro problem
This week’s lesson is about small plastics that are a BIG problem.
Simply, a microplastic is a piece of plastic less than 5mm in length. There are two types, primary and secondary microplastics.
Both types enter natural ecosystems from a variety of sources, including cosmetics, clothing, and industrial processes.
They can be classified into two types: Primary and Secondary.
Primary: These microplastics are smaller than 5mm in size before they enter the environment. AKA they intentionally are designed to be tiny.
Secondary: These microplastics have been created as larger pieces of plastic but they break down over time. Eg. pieces of plastic bags
Microplastics in the environment can originate from microfibres, to pieces of tires, to pieces of city waste, to microbeads, and even to plastic pellets (which are a by-product of plastic production).
OCEAN IMPACTS
Microplastics have been found throughout the entire ocean, from sea surfaces to the deepest crevice in the sea floor.
Tiny crustaceans called zooplankton are mistaking the plastic pieces for food. These little guys form the base of the ocean food chain and their health is fundamental to a productive ocean/food supply.
But fish aren’t the only ones who ingest small pieces of plastic!
HUMAN IMPACTS
A recent study commissioned by the World Wildlife Fund and conducted by researchers at the University of Newcastle in Australia estimated that people consume about 5 grams of plastic a week — roughly the equivalent of a credit card.
The largest source of plastic ingestion was drinking water, but another major source was shellfish.
Yum.
The research behind microplastics and how they affect the human body is still in its infancy. That being said, preliminary findings state:
Microplastics may cause harm to humans via both physical and chemical pathways.
Microplastics can be retained in the gut for extended periods where they may cause abrasion and damage to internal tissues.
What can you do about it? To learn more about it you can:
Watch: A Plastic Ocean on Netflix
Listen: The Big Story Podcast. Episode: Microplastics are everywhere. Even in the air you breathe.
Read: Plastic Soup, An Atlas of Ocean Pollution
Donate: Take 3 for the Sea and/or 5 Gyres (Both organizations pack such a punch and do amazing work!)
Do you want to know more about the types of microplastics? Or what to avoid to have less plastic in your system? Let me know below!
