You’re Full Of It; The Problems of Microplastics.

Hey you! Look around the room you’re sitting in right now, I bet we see the same thing, plastic. That’s right plastic. This toxic material is everywhere, and it’s not going away any time soon. Stick around to learn more about these everyday micro-sized plastics. 

                                                                      What are Microplastics? 

Microplastics are extremely small pieces of plastic that can come from many different sources. There are two types of microplastics: primary microplastics, which are plastics created in small pieces, and Secondary microplastics, which are larger pieces of plastic that break down into microplastics. Some examples of Secondary plastics are plastic bags and plastic bottles. These both break down into smaller microplastics over time, creating these microscopic materials.   

Where are Microplastics found?

Microplastics are everywhere, and that’s not an exaggeration. Due to their microscopic size, they can be found in our soil, air, waterways, and food. Because of these extremely small plastics, researchers have found it difficult to find and research them. This is also why most microplastic research focuses on water: It is easier to find and test the microplastics in water. 

The Health Risks of Microplastics

Microplastics have become a large part of everyone’s life, researchers have found that “humans are consuming more than 100,000 microplastic particles a year.” (Yale experts explain microplastics). This is a little under 274 microplastic particles entering your system daily. Small particles entering your respiratory system can lead to serious cardiovascular problems, aka heart problems. Other long-term effects that may happen are unknown due to how new the microplastic problem is. Researchers have made educated guesses based on other microplastic research. It is estimated that the chemicals in the plastic that break down in your body can cause liver damage, stunt growth, hurt your appetite, and cause tissue inflammation. These are just a few risks that microplastics can cause, and possibly lead to.

Negative Impact on Earth’s Ecosystem 

Microplastics affect more than just people, the ecosystem also deals with this problem. Due to the extremely small size of these plastics, they are often mistaken as food for many ocean animals like fish, muscles, and whales. Microplastics also release harsh chemicals into the water, which is assumed to hurt animal growth. Smaller ocean animals called zooplankton create the base of the food chain. When these small ocean organisms get eaten by larger animals, it can cause those microplastics to spread up the food chain, creating an imbalance in the ocean ecosystem.    

How to Reduce Health Risks

According to Laura López González a few ways you can avoid microplastics are, 

 -Don’t microwave plastic.

-Don’t eat a lot of fatty foods. (Known to contain chemicals.)

-Avoid plastic containers.

-Choose more organic fruits/foods when possible.  

Microplastics are everywhere, so do your part to keep yourself and others safe. Thank you so much for reading, I hope you learned more about microplastics. 

Sources

Shemitz, Leigh, and Paul Anastas. “Yale Experts Explain Microplastics | Yale Sustainability.” Sustainability.yale.edu, Yale University, 1 Dec. 2020, sustainability.yale.edu/explainers/yale-experts-explain-microplastics.

Lopez Gonzalez, Laura. “I’m a Microplastics Researcher. Here’s How to Limit Their Dangers | UC San Francisco.” Www.ucsf.edu, 27 Feb. 2024, www.ucsf.edu/news/2024/02/427161/how-to-limit-microplastics-dangers.

US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “Coastal Pollution Tutorial: NOAA’s National Ocean Service Education.” Oceanservice.noaa.gov, 8 July 2024, oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/tutorial-coastal/marine-debris/md04-sub-01.html.