Micro Plastics: The New Pollutants

According to a new study, tiny particles of plastic, known as micro plastics, have been found in the Arctic region and the Alps, carried by the wind. The study called for an urgent assessment of the risk of inhalation of the Micro plastics.

• Micro Plastics: Micro plastics are particles less than 5 mm in size but it is a catch-all term that encompasses various types of plastics, shapes, and sizes. They could potentially all have different effects on animals (including humans), plants, and other organisms and their environments.

Sources

• Beauty Products: Micro plastics are either manufactured — for instance, microbeads that are used in cosmetics and beauty products — or they are formed when larger pieces of plastic break down.
• Polythene: The small, shiny particles advertised as “cooling crystals” in certain toothpastes qualify as micro plastics if the ingredients of the toothpaste mention “polyethylene”.
• Plastic Waste: One of the main contributors to micro plastic pollution is plastic waste, 90% of which is not recycled. Plastic bottles, bags, fishing nets, and food packaging are some examples of the larger pieces that break down into micro plastics, eventually finding their way into the soil, water and the air we breathe.

Issues

• Too Small to Filter: Micro plastics are too small for most sewage treatment plants to filter out.
• Presence in Food Chain: Even if plants are equipped to catch then, those microplastics end up in fertilizer—which is concerning when chemicals associated with plastic manufacturing are considered, like BPAs (Bisphenol A, which our body confuses for estrogen) and PFAs (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances, which are known as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down as easily in the environment, and are commonly used for water, heat and oil-resistant products).
• Non-Biodegradable: Micro plastics also do not biodegrade.
• Heavy Consumption:We’re consuming an average of at least 39,000 to 52,000 microplastic particles per year through common foods and drinking water, and we’re also inhaling 35,000 to 69,000 particles annually.