Microplastic Pollution

Microplastics can be found everywhere. This is not a hyperbolic statement: microplastics, or small bits of plastic, have been found in places previously assumed to be safe from pollution: freshly fallen Antarctic snow, your table salt, and even in the placentas of unborn babies. However, we don't know much about microplastics. Science has proven thus far that these plastics disrupt the endocrine and reproductive system in the human body, but that's all we know. There are recent studies trying to assess the full ramifications plastic poses for humans, the environment, and/or other animals, but there are only preliminary results, not concrete observations.

In spite of the fact their effects are mostly unknown, plastic is still being made at a rampant rate: research indicates humans have created around 11 billion metric tons of plastic, half of which was produced in the last two decades alone. Plastic does not easily decompose, so over time, it breaks down into pieces as small as five millimeters in diameter. From there, they are scattered everywhere. Not only are microplastics are found in our food and drinking water (bottled and tap alike), but they are also released through everyday practices such as doing one's laundry or recycling.

Because the particulates are so small, they circulate within the air we breathe, as well as the hydrologic cycle, and cause harm to plants and animals as they move: 99% of microplastics fall to the seafloor, mixing with food sources for marine life. The remaining 1% of microplastics in the ocean can be found in the 'Great Pacific Garbage Patch,' which is 3 times the size of France. It’s not just saltwater, either: freshwater systems are affected by microplastics. Even the Great Lakes are at risk, annually receiving 22 million pounds of plastic, but Michigan doesn’t currently have any microplastic legislation in place.

While plastic pollution seems daunting, there are many things to effect change. Beach cleanups can be effective at reducing larger plastics, for example, and limits what can degrade over time. Water filters can mitigate the amount of microplastics. Or, instead of using tumble dryers, hang your clothes outside to dry. You can also participate by bringing your own utensils and reusable food containers with you to work, and reusable bags to the store. Recycling alone is not the most effective way to effect change, but rather is more successful in conjunction with reducing plastic use and finding ways to reuse items. For further reading, be sure to explore the hyperlinked articles and studies!