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Table of Contents
Introduction
Introduction
We've known about the dangers of plastic pollution for decades, but scientists are making disturbing discoveries about the microscopic pieces that are produced over time as plastic degrades in our environment, or even in our kitchens and cafeterias.
Plant-Based Plastics
Plant-Based Plastics
"Starch-based biodegradable plastics may cause organ damage and metabolic issues, raising concerns about their safety despite being considered eco-friendly.
Plastic products gradually break down through wear and tear, releasing tiny, often microscopic, plastic particles that may pose health risks if inhaled or ingested. To address this, researchers have developed biodegradable plastics made from plant starch rather than petroleum.
However, a preliminary study published in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that animals exposed to particles from these plant-based plastics experienced health issues, including liver damage and disruptions to their gut microbiome." - SciTechDaily: "Safe" Plant-Based Plastics Linked to Organ Damage
Dangers of Microplastics
Dangers of Microplastics
Harm to Living Organisms & Soil Health
Harm to Living Organisms & Soil Health
Microplastics can cause organ damage in humans and animals. Microplastics disrupt our soil, plant function, and collect in our waterways. Once inside a human or animal, microplastics begin to cut and shred our soft tissues, making their way into our lungs, guts, and even our brains.
Baby birds that had eaten plastic were found to be smaller, with smaller wings, and other health problems that impact their chances of survival.
Reduction of Photosynthesis in Plants & Algae
Reduction of Photosynthesis in Plants & Algae
According to "... a multiecosystem meta-analysis of 3,286 data points and reveal that MP exposure leads to a global reduction in photosynthesis of 7.05 to 12.12% in terrestrial plants, marine algae, and freshwater algae. These reductions align with those estimated by a constructed machine learning model using current MP pollution levels, showing that MP exposure reduces the chlorophyll content of photoautotrophs by 10.96 to 12.84%. Model estimates based on the identified MP-photosynthesis nexus indicate annual global losses of 4.11 to 13.52% (109.73 to 360.87 MT·y−1) for main crops and 0.31 to 7.24% (147.52 to 3415.11 MT C·y−1) for global aquatic net primary productivity induced by MPs. Under scenarios of efficient plastic mitigation, e.g., a ~13% global reduction in environmental MP levels, the MP-induced photosynthesis losses are estimated to decrease by ~30%, avoiding a global loss of 22.15 to 115.73 MT·y−1 in main crop production and 0.32 to 7.39 MT·y−1 in seafood production. These findings underscore the urgency of integrating plastic mitigation into global hunger and sustainability initiatives." - A Global Estimate of Multiecosystem Photosynthesis Losses Under Microplastic Pollution
Interactions with Weather & Solar Radiation
Interactions with Weather & Solar Radiation
"The impact of microplastic in the atmosphere is unclear to the researchers at this point. Brahney suggested the particles could influence atmospheric chemistry, including cloud formation, and therefore have some impact on weather. They could also affect the balance of solar radiation that we need for heat and energy." - CBC Radio: Tonnes of Microplastic are Soaring into the Atmosphere from Roads Oceans and Fields
Source of Microplastics
Source of Microplastics
According to research, the three main ways that microplastics enter our atmosphere is via roads, ocean movement, and from fields.
"... Notably, high-income countries are the main contributors, accounting for more than one-third of the global total of the above microplastics in 2016. Without immediate changes, the data shows ocean microplastic pollution will more than double to 3 Mt a year in 2040." - PEW
Microplastics in Water
Microplastics in Water
"Because microplastics tend to be a lot less dense than water, they're floating on the surface," said Brahney. "As the waves are churning and bubbles are bursting on the surface of the ocean, that has the capacity to emit these tiny particles into the atmosphere where they can then be transported." - CBC Radio: Tonnes of Microplastic are Soaring into the Atmosphere from Roads Oceans and Fields
Microplastic from Tire Wear
Microplastic from Tire Wear
"A new study found that 78% of ocean microplastics came from vehicle tire dust. " - Weather: Surprising Source for Majority of Ocean Microplastics
Click the Transit button for ideas of ways to travel without tires, or with smaller tires. Bike, trike, and skateboard wheels for example have significantly less surface area than car or truck tires. Buses have slightly bigger wheels, but transport far more people, overall reducing their impact, while trains don't have tires at all, and can carry even more people.
Laundry & Body Care Products
Laundry & Body Care Products
A "report found that in 2016, four sources of microplastics alone accounted for 1.3 million metric tons (Mt)—or 11%—of total ocean plastic pollution. These were microbeads used in personal care products such as face scrubs and body washes; the breakdown of plastic fibers caused when synthetic textiles are washed; plastic pellets, also known as nurdles, that are used in the production of almost every plastic item..." - PEW
Dishwashers
Dishwashers
"During mechanical dishwashing, plastic items are exposed to chemical, thermal and abrasive cleaning processes with high temperatures up to 70 degrees Celsius, detergent, and rinse cycles.
[One] study found a single dishwasher cycle containing a full load of common household plastic items could release about 920,000 micro and nano particles into wastewater – or 33 million particles per household per year globally.
The overall plastic mass equated to about 6 milligrams per person per year, or about a quarter of the weight of a grain of rice.
“Despite the high number of particles released, the total mass released from plastic containers is low and is minor compared to other known sources of plastic pollution." - University of Queensland: Dishwashing a Source of Microplastic Pollution
Plastic from Fields
Plastic from Fields
"The researchers identified two major sources of plastic in agricultural soils. First, biosolids from wastewater treatment plants are used as fertilizer, and include significant amounts of plastic. Second, in recent years plastic mulch has been used in significant amounts in agriculture and can enter soils.
"Over time, those plastics break down and end up being incorporated into the soil," Brahney said. "We think that agricultural soils will have really high concentrations of microplastics compared to wild land soils. Then when the fields are fallow or when they're being tilled, there's the potential to produce dust from those activities."" - CBC Radio: Tonnes of Microplastic are Soaring into the Atmosphere from Roads Oceans and Fields
Solutions
Solutions
Prevent Microplastics from Entering Our Waters
Prevent Microplastics from Entering Our Waters
“Removing this pollutant before it can enter the environment is better than implementing costly measures after the pollutant has already been released.
“Small changes, when multiplied across millions of households, can help reduce the global burden of plastic pollution." - University of Queensland: Dishwashing a Source of Microplastic Pollution
Dish Washers
Dish Washers
One scientist explained that "58 per cent of Australian households regularly used dishwashers and that future appliances could be fitted with built-in filters or traps to capture plastic particles to help reduce the amount of plastic entering wastewater and the environment.
“Plastic manufacturers could also develop plastics that are more resistant to degradation during dishwashing,’’ he said." - University of Queensland: Dishwashing a Source of Microplastic Pollution
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