Microplastics: The Tiny Cause of a Big Problem

By Paige Lo Bianco
Paige is a biology student and Sustainability Assistant at Ontario Tech University. She is passionate about environmental conservation, sustainability, and climate justice.

Hidden throughout our environment, in our oceans, Great Lakes, and even in the ground are something microscopic that are causing huge problems, they’re called microplastics. These tiny particles are invisible to the naked eye but have quickly invaded the world. Let’s talk about where they come from, their impact on our health and the environment, and what we can do to reduce their production.

What are Microplastics?

When plastic breaks down it doesn’t disappear, in fact, it’s actually just becoming smaller and smaller until you can’t see it. Microplastics are minuscule pieces of plastic that are less than 5 millimetres long. They originate from a variety of different sources, including the breakdown of plastic water bottles, the wearing down of tires, and the microbeads in personal care products like hand sanitizer and body wash. Microplastics can also be released into the environment when we wash clothes made of materials like polyester. There are an endless number of types and origins of microplastics which make them so abundant.

Their Health Impact

We are constantly exposed to microplastics through the food we eat, the water we drink, and even the air we breathe. One study estimates that adults can take in up to 121,000 microplastic pieces every year. Due to their invasive nature, every single living being has some amount of microplastics within them. While most of these microplastics will eventually leave the body, some remain and accumulate in certain areas including the colon, placenta, and lungs. A main concern is the variety of health issues that could be caused by the chemicals in microplastics that may be released when ingested, including cancer, weight gain, a decrease in reproductive health, and insulin resistance.

Their Impact on the Environment

Due to their size, microplastics are consumed by organisms all along the food chain. In a global study conducted in 2019-2020, it was found that 60% of fish studied contained microplastics. With carnivorous species, the concentration of microplastics in their bodies bioaccumulates exponentially because they ingest more microplastics with each fish they eat. A concern is that chemicals from microplastics including Bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates can leach out into the water, causing further harm. In addition, microplastics can also collect and hold onto pollutants like industrial chemicals, leading to detrimental effects on animal populations including impaired growth, DNA damage, reduced food consumption, and a decrease in reproduction.

What Can We Do?

To truly combat the issue of microplastics there needs to be input from both consumers and policymakers. As an individual, one action you can take is using reusable alternatives to single-use plastics. That could look like shopping in bulk with reusable vessels, bringing your own container for lunch, or using beeswax food wraps instead of plastic bags. Other suggestions include purchasing personal care products without microbeads and opting for clothing made of natural materials like cotton and hemp instead of polyester. For clothing you already own, consider purchasing items to catch microplastic fibres like a Cora laundry ball or a filter for your washing machine.

We can also show our support for organizations that are committed to reducing and collecting plastic pollution, such as A Greener Future. A Greener Future holds a variety of programs aimed at helping to protect our environment from waste, including their Nurdle Hunts. Nurdles are the raw material used to make plastic items, they are small beads of virgin plastic that are melted and processed by manufacturers which are used to create everything from plastic bottles to furniture. Unfortunately, it is common for nurdles to spill or leak from vessels during transport or manufacturing, with an estimate from Pew Charitable Trusts that over 230,000 metric tons of nurdles enter the ocean each year. It is interesting to note how plastic begins and ends in microplastic form, infiltrating ecosystems and organisms throughout its lifespan, further highlighting its long-term environmental impact.

In terms of policy, we can advocate for the implementation of filtration systems to capture microplastics and stop their entry into our waterways. The gradual ban on single-use plastics and products is also a step in the right direction.

Even though they are small, microplastics have a big impact on the environment and our health. By working together and committing to sustainable and preventative practices we can advocate for a healthier future for ourselves and our ecosystems.

References

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Cox, K. D., Covernton, G. A., Davies, H. L., Dower, J. F., Juanes, F., Dudas, S. E. (2019). Human Consumption of Microplastics. Environmental Science & Technology, 53(12), 7068-7074. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b01517 

Deemer, A. (2023). What are nurdles? Retrieved from https://environmentamerica.org/pennsylvania/articles/what-are-nurdles/  

Hermabessiere, L., Dehaut, A., Paul-Pont, I., Lacroix, C., Jezequel, R., Soudant, P., Duflos. (2017). Occurrence and effects of plastic additives on marine environments and organisms: A review. Chemosphere, 182, 781-793. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.05.096 

Ibrahim, Y. S., Anuar, S. T., Azmi, A. A., Khalik. W. M. A. W. M., Lehata, S., Hamzah, S. R., Ismail, D., Ma, Z. F., Dzulkarnaen, A., Zakaria, Z., Mustaffa, N., Sharif, S. E. T., Lee, Y. Y. (2020). Detection of microplastics in human colectomy specimens. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 5(1), 116-121. https://doi.org/10.1002/jgh3.12457 

National Ocean Service. (2023). What are microplastics?. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/microplastics.html

Reddy, S., & Lau, W. (2020). Breaking the plastic wave: Top findings for preventing plastic pollution. Retrieved from https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2020/07/23/breaking-the-plastic-wave-top-findings 

Sequeira, I. F., Prata, J. C., da Costa, J. P., Duarte, A. C., Rocha-Santos, T. (2020). Worldwide contamination of fish with microplastics: A brief global overview. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 160, 111681. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111681

Shabani Isenaj, Z. (2023). Microplastics on human health: How much do they harm us? Retrieved from https://www.undp.org/kosovo/blog/microplastics-human-health-how-much-do-they-harm-us