MICROPLASTICS
Microplastics, as the name suggests, are tiny fragments of plastic measuring less than 5mm in size. These minuscule particles are a result of the degradation and breakdown of larger plastic products such as bottles, packaging materials, and synthetic textiles.
Despite their small size, microplastics pose a significant danger to our environment and marine life. Due to their widespread presence in oceans, rivers, and even the air we breathe, they permeate every corner of our planet. These particles are ingested by marine organisms, such as fish and seabirds, and can accumulate in their bodies, causing internal damage and potentially disrupting their reproductive cycles.
Moreover, microplastics have the ability to absorb and release harmful chemicals, acting as toxic carriers that can enter the human food chain when we consume seafood. The dangers of microplastics demand immediate action to reduce plastic pollution and safeguard the health of our ecosystems.
More on Microplastics
People might inhale up to 7,000 tiny plastic bits every day at home because of plastic in things like carpets, curtains, and packaging.
Humans are exposed to plastic bits through breathing, eating, and drinking, with some estimates saying we might take in up to 121,000 pieces per year.
Hot drinks from takeaway cups can have tens of thousands of tiny plastic bits and millions of even smaller ones. We swallow these when we drink coffee, tea, or hot chocolate.
Babies who drink formula from plastic bottles might swallow millions of tiny plastic bits each year. A study found that 97% of kids aged 3 to 17 have plastic inside them, probably from clothes and food.
Over 9 million microfibers are released into waterways with every laundry cycle due to plastic textiles, which constitute over 60% of fashion textiles and 70% of home furnishings.
The average person consumes 5 grams of plastic per week and the “average American eats, drinks, and breathes in more than 74,000 microplastic particles every year”--Just about the size of a credit card
Just from clothing, carpets, and curtains, humans inhale between 13,000 and 68,000 plastic microfibers per year
Biggest Contributions
Microplastics are all around us, however there are some sources that contribute to the problem more than others.
According to the European Parliament, the primary sources of microplastics consist of “...Laundering of synthetic clothes (35%); abrasion of tires through driving (28%); intentionally added microplastics in personal care products (2%)”
(Microplastics: Sources, Effects and Solutions | Topics | European Parliament, 2018).
