Author: Khan Rabeya – PROMPT! Cohort #1
Even though we can’t see them, microplastics are found everywhere. From the deep depths of the oceans to our own blood cells and the air we breathe, the tiny fragments of plastic—known as microplastics—are embedded in every corner of our planet Earth. It’s growing as a threat to every living, breathing organism on this planet, which includes us human beings. In this post, I will break down the science of microplastics, explain how they harm our health and ecosystem, and discuss ways to mitigate the damage caused by them.
- What are microplastics and where do they come from?
Plastics that are smaller than 15 millimeters in length are called Microplastics. These tiny particles of plastic are in lakes, rivers, oceans, and even the food we consume. They cause more harm than good wherever they go. They originate from plastic waste. Many of the everyday products we use, such as water bottles, containers, food packaging, cooking utensils, cutlery, and furniture, are made from plastic. When plastic ends up in a landfill or is disposed of as litter in an improper manner, the plastic slowly becomes brittle and breaks down due to sun exposure and other elements. Once in the microplastic stage, they can move around the environment through the air, waterways, and food chains. There is also another form of microplastic, referred to as microbeads. These microbeads are found in shampoos, toothpaste, face washes, and many other cosmetic products. As we use these products, the microbeads end up in our sinks and showers and are washed away into our water and sewage systems, and since they never really fully decompose, they eventually mix into the water of lakes, rivers, and oceans. Many companies are now aware of these plastics and use alternatives, but there are many companies that still use these plastics in their products. Microplastics can also come in the form of plastic fibres used in synthetic textiles. Synthetic threads are often used in clothes that contain polyester, nylon, and acrylic. These microplastics remain in our environment for decades after decades without ever getting properly decomposed. Many reports show that the biggest source of microplastics is car tires, synthetic textiles, marine coatings, road markings, personal care products , city dust , plastic pellets, etc.
- Silent killer of Marine life
Microplastics are mistakenly consumed by marine life as food on a large scale which causes starvation and ingestion among the poor marine animals. Microplatics fill their stomachs, from tiny zooplanktons to large whales, making them feel full, which leads to starvation and malnutrition, even when they have access to real food. These plastics will cause toxic contamination as the plastics act like sponges and absorb the persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from the surrounding seawater. When they ingest the plastic, toxic chemicals get dispersed into their bloodstreams and as the chemicals become more concentrated in their bloodstream, it causes endocrine disruption, reproductive problems, and weakened immune system. When one marine animal ingests another, say a seal eating a fish, then the seal will take on those toxic chemicals as well. A ripple effect is created throughout the entire food chain and brings harmful consequences to every marine animal in the ecosystem. The ripple effect is also the reason why the seafood we humans consume can also be contaminated with these toxins and cause harm to our body. For example: Mussels and oysters harvested for human consumption were found with nearly 0.47 microplastic particles per gram. A research conducted by the Commonwealth Industrial and Scientific Organisation (CSIRO), Australia’s national science agency, shows that there might be 14.4 million tons of toxic microplastics at the bottom of the ocean.It has been noted that there is more than twice the amount of microplastics on the seafloor’s sediments than on the surface of the ocean.
- How microplastic consumption can harm Human health
Even though microplastics are not really given importance at the moment in medical research, it is growing rapidly in importance and recognition as people around the world are getting aware of its harmful effect to human health and well being. Microplastics have been detected throughout the human body, including in the blood, kidney, liver, placenta, brain, saliva, etc. This microplastics gets more dangerous as it can get smaller than 1 micrometer, Known as nanoplastics, and can infiltrate cells. Using a model of human intestinal lining, a team led by Philip Demokritou, director of the Environmental Health Nanoscience Laboratory at the Harvard Chan school, found that nanoplastics can enter cells in two different ways and even get into cell nuclei. The effects of these toxic chemicals on the human body are still being studied. However, there is some evidence showing that these chemicals can make oxidative stress molecules in the organs. Chemicals like phthalates, which are used to give plastic flexibility, have been linked to increased growth in breast cancer in laboratory settings. Bisphenol A, which is commonly found in plastic food containers, has shown to interfere with reproductive hormones. According to Harvard medicine, the Magazine of Harvard medical school, Studies in cell cultures, marine wildlife, and animal models indicate that microplastics can cause oxidative damage, DNA damage, and changes in gene activity, known risks for several cancer development. Microplastics have been found in breast milk and meconium, an infants first stool. A few studies in mice have shown reproductive effects such as reduced sperm count and quality, ovarian scarring, and metabolic disorders in offspring.
