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How serious is the Microplastics problem?
Researchers have been worried about the potential harms of microplastics for almost 20 years. However, most studies have been focused on the risks to marine life.
Microplastics — as coined by Richard Thompson, a marine ecologist at the University of Plymouth in 2004 — is a term used to describe plastic particles smaller than 5 millimetres across. He created this term whilst his team consistently found them on British beaches. Unfortunately, scientists have found that microplastics are extremely common. They’ve been found in: deep oceans; Arctic snow and Antarctic Ice; in shellfish, table salt, drinking water and beer; and drifting in the air or falling with rain over mountains and cities. Scientists like Galloway believe “It’s almost certain that there is a level of exposure in just about all species.”
The tiny plastic pieces could take decades or more to degrade fully. says Galloway.
Microplatics particles originate from a variety of sources, such as ingredients in cigarette filters, textile fibres and cleaning or personal care products, and dust from car and truck tires, as well as from larger plastic products broken down. The earliest investigation of microplastics focused on microbeads found in personal skin care products, however, a large majority of all things plastic end up being broken down and washed to the ocean.
