On a macro scale, our marine environments may appear relatively healthy. But lurking amongst the grains of sand and ocean waters is a troubling presence: microplastics. These tiny plastic particles (smaller than 5 millimetres) have infiltrated our oceans in massive quantities. Once adrift in the currents, they pose a severe threat to marine life through ingestion and absorption of chemical pollutants.
Below the surface, a staggering 5.25 trillion microplastic particles float in the waves, weighing as much as 2,150 blue whales combined. These tiny fragments slowly sink as bacteria and algae latch on, dragging the plastic into the shadowy depths. Even the ocean depths now host a gathering storm of microscopic trash. Removal of microplastics from the oceans is a seemingly impossible task, which is why preventing their entry in the first place is absolutely crucial.
Microplastics: Tiny troublemakers
Plastic waste is a huge problem plaguing our oceans, but where do all these tiny plastic particles originate from? Many are so-called "primary microplastics" that are produced for industrial purposes. These include plastic pellets used to manufacture new products, which can spill out into the environment during transport or production. Other microplastics come from the breakdown of larger plastic items over time.
Regardless of the source, these tiny plastic bits are now virtually everywhere, from the deepest ocean trenches to the Arctic ice. Their persistence and accumulation in the environment poses risks to marine life and potentially human health that we are only beginning to grasp. More research is urgently needed to understand the full impacts of microplastics and how to tackle this flood of microscopic plastic waste.
Where do microplastics come from?
Have you ever noticed those tiny plastic beads in your face wash or toothpaste? Those seemingly harmless microspheres are actually considered primary microplastics - and a major environmental concern. When rinsed down the drain, they make their way into waterways and oceans where fish and other marine life mistake them for food.
And it's not just exfoliants. Every time synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon go through the wash, they shed plastic microfibers that also end up in our water. Even driving around in cars contributes; the abrasion from tyres releases microplastics onto roads that get swept into sewers with the rain. In Europe alone, over half a million tonnes of plastic dust enters the environment each year just from tyre wear.
It's clear these barely visible plastics that go down our drains are a big problem. While they may make products seem more "effective," their impact on marine life and our health begs the question: “Are they worth it?”
Additionally, as larger plastic items like bottles and bags are battered by sun, wind and waves, they break into smaller and smaller pieces. These fragments are called “secondary microplastics”. They insidiously make their way into seas, rivers and lakes across the globe. Even inland water bodies bear the marks of plastic pollution.
The consequences of microplastics on marine life
The ocean is teeming with life, but it is also teeming with plastic. From the tiniest plankton to the largest whales, marine animals cannot escape the onslaught of microplastics invading their habitat. These tiny plastic particles infiltrate the bodies of sea creatures in insidious ways - floating into mouths during feeding and flowing through gills during respiration.
Over 100 animal species have now been found containing plastic particles within their bodies. Studies reveal that the giants of the sea - baleen whales, manta rays and basking sharks - are the most afflicted. These titans feed on plankton, accidentally consuming massive amounts of microplastics in the process.
Lurking within plastics are hazardous chemical additives like plasticisers, which act disturbingly like hormones. These toxins impair fertility and, in extreme cases, they can even trigger the growth of ovaries in male animals. For small creatures like mussels and crabs, microplastics create a hazard of a different kind - their sharp edges damage delicate digestive tissues, causing painful inflammation.
The devastating impacts of plastic pollution permeate all levels of the food chain. As microplastics proliferate in the oceans, marine life faces threats ranging from reduced fertility to endocrine disruption. Concerted action is needed to curb the relentless surge of plastics into marine ecosystems.
Humans are not immune either. From the pristine peaks of the Alps to the icy expanse of the Arctic, microplastics have been detected in everything from honey to milk and tap water. These stealthy synthetics have become ubiquitous and their presence is a troubling testament to just how far-reaching the impacts of plastic pollution have become.
It's alarming how microplastics have infiltrated our environment, posing risks to wildlife and human health alike. In response, we need to find ways to curb this chemical invasion threatening organisms across the food chain.
Campaigning against microplastics
Microplastic particles lurk in many cosmetics, despite manufacturers' ability to use natural alternatives. Since 2011, the Plastic Soup Foundation has fought this through "Beat the Microbead," joining over 60 organisations on a mission to eliminate microplastics. This international campaign empowers consumers through a smartphone app, identifying microplastic ingredients so people can avoid them.
Others ways you can help:
As ocean-loving consumers, we can opt out of buying any cosmetic products that contain microplastics, either in solid, liquid or gel form.
When buying new clothing or textiles, avoid anything that contains synthetic fibres, which lose millions of microfibres with every wash. If you already own synthetic clothing, wash it in a Guppyfriend bag, which traps microfibres and prevents them from ending up in our waterways.
Avoid single-use plastics that could break down into microplastics by bringing a fabric shopping bag to the supermarket and supporting zero-waste grocery stores.
By using public transportation, you’ll help to reduce the microplastics that result from tyres breaking down on the roads, as well as lower your CO2 emissions.
Support organisations, activists and politicians who are addressing the microplastics issue in your community.
Microplastics require a preventative approach
Microplastics have become the sinister sequel to our global plastic addiction, a silent scourge that has permeated every corner of the natural world. These tiny plastic fragments are the result of the larger plastic waste that has accumulated in our oceans, rivers and landfills, slowly breaking down over time into even smaller pieces.
The scale of the microplastics crisis is staggering, with studies estimating that millions of tons of these insidious particles are now contaminating our waterways and ecosystems. Yet the solution lies not in complex technological fixes, but in the simple act of reducing our collective plastic footprint before it ever reaches the water in the first place.
Through concerted efforts to curb single-use plastics, improve waste management and transition to more sustainable materials, we can stem the rising tide of microplastic pollution and restore the natural balance of our precious aquatic environments. It will take care, commitment and a fundamental shift in how we produce and consume, but the health of our planet - and ourselves - depends on it.
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