Let’s get to know microplastics! Plastic is integrated into our daily lives in so many ways, yet sometimes it goes unnoticed, especially microplastics. Understanding its definition, impacts, and possible solutions is key to tackling plastic pollution closer to the source.
By Teagan Prawmanee Intaralib
What are microplastics?
Microplastics are commonly defined as solid plastic particles containing a mixture of polymers with less than 5mm in diameter. It comes in various types and forms and has been found in every environment on Earth. Microplastics are present in air, water, soil, ice, and sand, but also inside humans and animals.
Types of microplastics
There are two types of microplastics – primary microplastics and secondary microplastics.
Primary microplastics include pre-production plastic pellets and intentionally manufactured tiny plastic particles that are used in creating texture and friction for certain products. For example, microbeads are added to cosmetic products like toothpaste and facial scrubs, while microfibers are used in various household products and the textile industry.
Agricultural fertilisers are also known to carry microplastic additives that are spread into the environment, creating a higher concentration of microplastics in the soil. These microplastics make their way into the natural environments through water runoffs from rains, irrigation or regular water use and then disperse themselves in waterways to eventually reach the ocean.
However, most microplastics in the environment are secondary microplastics, which are the result of breakage and deterioration from bigger pieces of plastic in the environment. The fragmentation is caused by sun exposure and other environmental factors and leads to fragmented pieces that vary in size.
Sources of microplastics
Common sources of microplastics include plastic packaging, cosmetic products, clothing, tyres, paints, artificial turf pitches, agricultural practices, and many industries like fishing, shipping, manufacturing and production.
Even though sea-based activities contribute to the spread of microplastics in water, land-based sources remain the major cause of microplastics in the environment. It is estimated that around 420,000 tonnes of intentionally added microplastics enter the environment every year through product usage. [1]
Impact of microplastics
Microplastics have immense impacts on the environment and all living organisms and cause ecosystem disruption in both terrestrial and aquatic systems.
Microplastic contamination in the soil alters the composition of the soil and the physio-chemical surface properties, like its nutrients and porosity, affecting plant growth and water evaporation and absorption rate. [2]
The presence and accumulation of microplastic in aquatic systems negatively affect marine life. Toxic chemicals released from the degradation of plastic disrupt nutrient cycling in the water, disrupt the food web, and most importantly cause physical damage to many marine life. Once ingested, microplastics can cause inflammation, digestive system disruption, weakened immune system, and alteration in swimming patterns in fish, invertebrates and marine biota. [3] [4]
As microplastics can be found everywhere, even in the air, humans are exposed to them in various ways, ranging from inhalation to ingestion. One of many is through consumption. Microplastics are found in tap and bottled water, seafood and salt, posing a risk to human health. Even though there is still uncertainty regarding the effects of microplastics on human health and well-being, the risks of ingesting microplastics, along with their harmful chemicals, can have detrimental effects on human health and make us susceptible to many diseases. [4]
What can we do?
Firstly, we can start by preventing microplastics from entering the environment in the first place. Implementation of measures and regulations against single-use plastic and unnecessary use of microplastic from authorities is an important step in reducing the use of plastic. On top of that, better waste management and separation systems will be beneficial in ensuring proper disposal and efficient recycling can be done as much as possible. Industries also play an important role in making changes in their systems to ensure an environmentally friendly production process and prevent accidental plastic leakage into the environment.
Although individuals are not responsible for the scale and size of the issue, we can also have a positive impact. We rely on plastic so much in our daily lives. By avoiding unnecessary use of plastic and being mindful about our consumption, we can help reduce plastic pollution.
Did you know that there are microplastics in cosmetics? Microplastic additives in consumer products sometimes go unnoticed, especially in toothpaste, facial and body scrubs. To help identify microplastics in products, the Beat the Microbead application is a useful tool that can help you identify unwanted microplastic exposure through product use.
It’s crucial to stop plastic before it enters waterways as it can eventually end up in the ocean. Once it’s lost at sea, it will continue to degrade and negatively affect marine life and the ecosystems even more. However, the current plastic pollution in riverine systems and plastic leakage into the environment are still ongoing and pose risks to human health, animals, and ecosystems. To tackle the issue, innovative solutions like the Bubble Barrier can help catch plastic pollution close to the source, and prevent it from flowing into the ocean.
Learn more about our technology, or contact us if you are interested in implementing a Bubble Barrier in your waterway.
References
[1] European Chemicals Agency, n.d., Microplastics, available at https://echa.europa.eu/hot-topics/microplastics
[2] Li et al., 2023, A discussion of microplastics in soil and risk for ecosystems and food chains, available at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653522041303
[3] Gola et al., 2021, The impact of microplastics on marine environment: A review, available at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215153221001276
[4] Ghosh et al., 2023, Microplastics as an emerging threat to the global environment and human health, available at https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/14/10821#:~:text=Microplastics%20in%20soil%20are%20known,the%20health%20of%20aquatic%20organisms.
