There’s a high likelihood you’ve heard of microplastics, but they have a larger impact than you think. Here at Glass Planet, we wanted to learn about what microplastics are and the bigger impact they have on life.
Microplastics are less than five millimeters in length. These are not a recent problem, they first appeared in personal care products about fifty years ago, during the time when plastics were increasingly replacing natural ingredients.
Microbeads are usually less than one millimeter. They are similar to microplastics; however, they are created small, unlike microplastics which occur from the process of a piece of plastic degrading. They are used a lot in exfoliating body washes and facial scrubs.
How they enter the environment:
Bigger pieces of plastic: Plastics does not biodegrade; instead, it breaks down into smaller pieces. Plastic waste such as bottles and bags are exposed to wind, waves, and solar radiation. These factors cause the plastic to break down into smaller pieces over time.
Cosmetics: Microbeads can be found in our everyday cosmetics, such as skincare and hygiene products. Toothpaste and facial scrubs contain microbeads and are added to enhance their cleaning/abrasive properties. After using and flushing these products down the drain, they end up in water supplies because the microbeads are too small to be filtered out by wastewater treatment plants.
Clothing: Synthetic materials are made of plastic. Once we wash or wear a piece of clothing, small pieces of the fabric fall off. These small pieces are called microfibers, which are also a type of microplastic. Microfibers can end up in the air we breathe or the water supply.
Impact on the Environment:
Plastic does not biodegrade which means it ends up sitting in landfills, polluting soil and water supplies. Marine animals mistake microplastics for food causing them to fill up, and they aren’t able to eat any real food. After eating the microplastics, they die from starvation. These microplastics do not only affect the original organisms who ate the microplastics. When a predator eats a prey who ate microplastics, the toxic chemicals from the microplastics are transferred to the predator. This process is disrupting the oceanic food chain.
Effect on Humans:
Due to our increase in plastic consumption, humans are eating, drinking, and breathing in microplastics. These plastics can be found in drinking water or foods we eat, such as seafood. Microplastics are being found in the placentas of unborn babies. Pollutants stick to microplastics and cause them to act as a sponge collecting chemicals on their surface. The research on how microplastics affect humans is limited, and right now scientists do not know the full extent to how the human body reacts to microplastics. Once microplastics are released there is nothing humans can do; however, people can stop the production of more microplastics.
Ways to reduce:
There are many reasons why microplastics are bad for humans and the environment; however, there are actions we can take to reduce the number of microplastics. Humans lived thousands of years before plastic was widely available, and it means we can as well. Single-use plastic items are unnecessary and are contributing to massive damage. Here are some ways you can reduce your plastic consumption and live an eco-friendly lifestyle.
Reducing the amount of packaged food we eat
Reusing containers
Using reusable bags for our groceries
Using biodegradable materials, such as polylactide (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA).
Recycling properly
Use less plastic
Organizing/participating in a beach or a river cleanup
Avoiding products that contain microbeads
Supporting bans on single-use plastic items, like bags
Educating others about microplastics
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the number of options, don’t worry. Start slowly with a simple fix such as using a reusable water bottle instead of a plastic bottle. Living sustainably can be a slow or fast journey depending on what you’re comfortable with.
Let us know in the comments below if you learned anything new. Also, be sure to check out our Instagram and podcasts for more information.
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