MICROPLASTICS – TINY POLLUTANTS POSING BIG PROBLEMS

 

What are micro plastics? 

Microplastics are defined as being ‘extremely small pieces of plastic debris in the environment resulting from the disposal and breakdown of consumer products and industrial waste.’ They are generally less than 5 millimeters in length. 

Size of the problem 

Look around you. Plastic is everywhere. Everywhere. Plastic production has risen from 2 billion tons (1950) to 8.3 billion tons (2017) and is estimated to be as high as 34 billion tons by 2050. The global plastic waste volume, which was 6.3 billion tonnes in 2015, is now estimated to be 12 billion tons in 2050. 

Plastic that has been released into the environment persists for many years, before disintegrating into microplastics through natural degradation. 

Composition 

According to a research paper and study on the chemical composition of microplastics floating on the surface of water, microplastics were found to be made of some dominant polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and the rarer categories of polymers such as polyethylene-vinyl acetate, ethylene propylene rubber, polymethyl methacrylate, polyamide, polyurethane and polyvinylchloride. 

Consequences 

Microplastics pose a serious threat to aquatic and marine life. They can pass through water filtration systems undetected, and can end up in our drinking water and food too! 

Inflammation, particle toxicity, DNA damage, oxidative stress, and other health issues have been theorized as possible outcomes of human exposure to microplastics. Chronic inflammation could lead to very serious additional health problems. 

Additionally, surfaces of microscopic plastic particles could harbor pathogens and serve as an environmental disease vector. Microplastics can also interact with soil fauna and can adversely affect soil ecosystems. 

Sources 

Sources of microplastics can be broadly classified into two types: Primary and Secondary sources. Primary Sources include plastic pellets, personal care products containing microbeads, city dust, rubber roads and vehicle tire wear, whereas secondary sources are particles that result from the breakdown of larger plastic items such as plastic bags, plastic bottles, farming film and other large size plastic wastes.

Quantum of microplastics  

The above graph shows the amount of microplastics in million tons in the surface ocean, from 1950  to 2020, with a future model till 2050. As can be seen, the outlook is bleak unless emissions stop  soon. 

Suggested approach to reduce microplastic pollution 

There are several ways one can reduce the amount of microplastics in the environment: •Following the three principles of reducing consumption, reusing, and recycling, and applying these  to plastic 

•Avoiding single use plastics, and try alternatives to plastic. 

•Spread awareness 

In conclusion, I would like to say that the issue of microplastics is clearly a big one. The need for it to  be solved increases by the hour. 

Tejas Anand – IX E