The dangers of microplastics

People discuss how to define microplastics, but it is generally said that they are solid plastic particles less than 5 mm, non-biodegradable, and water-insoluble.

The particles can be found in seas, rivers, canals, and there is an 80% chance that MPs (microplastics) are in tap water. MPs are everywhere and even in our bodies, which is a huge problem because they can cause huge issues for our bodies and marine life. Human exposure to microplastics happens because we eat seafood (sea life eats the MPs), pulmonary inhalation, and dermal infiltration. Microplastics can be ingested by living organisms and therefore reach our organs.

Problems that MPs can cause pollute drinking water, accumulate in the food chain release toxic chemicals that may cause certain diseases or cancers. The toxicity in nano plastics can cause cardiovascular toxicity, hepatotoxicity, and neurotoxicity.

Our society doesn’t stop producing plastics even though this is the result of their manufacturing and business. It baffles me how the numbers keep growing and we don’t put a stop to it, because we are destroying ourselves. It is estimated that Europe annually releases between 75.000 to 300.000 tons of MPs. There is a continent of plastic floating around in the ocean that is huge, and we don’t stop producing because we only keep on consuming.

Since plastic was invented in the 1950s, we have been using it for everything (packaging, straws, food wrap film, shopping bags, water pipes, etc.)

MPs float around in the ocean, and they are moved due to the ocean currents, which leads to uneven distribution. There is a correlation between MP contamination levels and population density. 80% of the MPs come from land, and the other 20% from the fishing and marine industries.

MPs can enter the food chain and even destroy it. Experiments have proven that MPs have already affected lobsters, squid, crabs, zooplankton, sea earthworms, sea cucumbers, fish, seabirds, whales, and seals.

Source: Yue Li, Le Tao, Qiong Wang, Fengbang Wang, Gang Li, Maoyong Song. Potential Health Impact of Microplastics: A Review of Environmental Distribution, Human Exposure, and Toxic Effects. Environment & Health. 2023. Vol 1/Issue 4. https://doi.org/10.1021/envhealth.3c00052

Karolina Larsen S5 DAA, EEB1 / Project: Erasmus Maris