Plastic is everywhere. It is present in plastic form in everything we use in our daily life, from soda bottles to cars, from packaging to electronics, from fishing gear to clothing. It is not surprising that such a widely used substance has environmental consequences.
Although plastic is one of the conveniences of modern life, the microplastic contamination it creates is increasing day by day. So what is microplastic and why is it so harmful to the environment?
What is Microplastic Particle?
As the name suggests, microplastic is a term used to describe small plastic particles and plastic parts less than five millimeters in diameter.
Their small size and mass allow them to be easily carried by the wind. Therefore, microplastics can be found in the most remote parts of the world, from mountainous regions to the poles.
How Is Microplastic Formed?
There are two main categories of microplastics, primary and secondary uses.
Primary microplastics are small particles designed for commercial use such as cosmetics, as well as microfibers shed from other textiles such as clothing and fishing nets.
Secondary microplastics are particles that result from the breakdown of larger plastics, such as water bottles.
Both degradations are caused by exposure to a variety of environmental factors, primarily solar radiation and ocean waves. As a pollutant, microplastics can harm the environment and animal health.
What is Microplastic Particle?
The microplastic particle, called nanoplastic, is found in all kinds of objects of our daily lives, from plastic food containers to kettles and even baby bottles. Microplastic particles are created when you boil your baby's bottle or heat food in a plastic container in the microwave. In short, we are constantly swallowing or breathing in microplastic particles as a result of our many daily activities.
The problem of microplastics continues to worsen with each passing year. Moreover, microplastic pollution, which occurs due to the durability of microplastics, lasts for many years.
Where Are Microplastics Most Found?
The problem with microplastics is that they don't easily break down into harmless molecules like plastic pieces of any size.
Decomposition of plastics; it can take hundreds or even thousands of years, and in the meantime, it causes great damage to the environment.
microplastics on beaches; appear as small, multi-colored pieces of plastic in the sand. In the oceans, marine animals are constantly exposed to microplastic pollution. The traces of microplastic particles carried all over the world by storms and currents can be detected in all marine organisms, from plankton to whales, commercial seafood and even drinking water.
Harms of Microplastics to Humans
Scientists are still unsure whether consumed microplastics are harmful to human or animal health, and if so, what special hazards they may pose. But microplastics surround us, and because they're ubiquitous, including in air, water, food and consumer products, it's thought we could swallow thousands of microplastic particles every day.
The few studies in which human cells and tissues are exposed to microplastics also reveal the dangers that microplastics can pose to our health. The results show that the presence of microplastics in human blood has potential for metabolic disturbance, neurotoxicity and carcinogenic effects.
What is the Impact of Microplastics on the Environment and Health?
Plastic debris enters the oceans from rivers, shorelines or boats. These plastic wastes affect all kinds of ocean life, from sea turtles to ocean birds, from sharks to fish. Animals get tangled in discarded nets or bottles, choke on plastic debris, stuff their stomachs with plastic from food crates. As these animals die, the ecosystems in which they play an important role begin to die with them.
Just like their aquatic counterparts, land animals did not evolve to deal with environmental pollution. In addition, although the effects of plastic on plant life are still being studied, initial experiments also show that plastic negatively affects plant growth. This shows that microplastics not only affect the ecosystems around us, which store carbon and provide oxygen, but also extend their damage to our tables.
How Can Microplastic Consumption Be Reduced?
Yes, microplastics are everywhere, but you can take action to reduce your and your family's exposure to them. In order to reduce the leakage of microplastics to the planet, first of all, it is necessary to be environmentally conscious and to follow a life policy in accordance with the protection of the environment. For this, “What is Environmental Awareness? How is Environmental Awareness Formed?” you can take a look at our content.
In addition, the following few steps can help you do your part in reducing microplastic consumption:
- Buy clothes made from organic materials.
- Change the way you do laundry. For this, you can try to dry your clothes with natural methods instead of a dryer, to choose sensitive programs that use less water, and to collect and wash your clothes collectively.
- Avoid single-use plastics. Carrying a fabric bag with you when you go shopping, shopping at zero-waste grocery stores and other environmentally conscious retailers, replacing single-use plastic straws with reusable metal, glass, or bamboo straws, or opting for refillable water bottles over disposable plastic water bottles are small but effective steps. it could be.
- Buy plastic-free cosmetics. Read labels carefully, avoid products containing Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyester (PETE), Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and nylon.
- Reduce shellfish consumption. Microplastics reaching the ocean are ingested by bottom-feeding shellfish. When you consume shellfish, you are ingesting microplastics.
- Do not microwave your food in plastic.
- Dust regularly. A significant portion of the dust particles in the house consists of microplastics. You can reduce this amount by keeping your home as clean as possible.
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