The Growing Concern and Impact of Microplastics

Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program

Every sip of water, breath of air, and bite of food we eat may carry harmful particles that we can’t even see. Microplastics are tiny fragments of plastic, usually around the size of a sesame seed, that come from the decomposition of larger plastic items manufactured at that size. Since plastics do not naturally biodegrade, they gradually fragment into smaller particles that accumulate in rivers, oceans, soil, the air, and within living organisms. Additionally, these particles can now be found in seafood, drinking water, and even inside the human body, which has raised concerns about the effect of microplastics on health and the environment. 

When people consume foods that contain microplastics or breathe in fibers containing microplastics, these particles can enter the body and bloodstream. Microplastics can affect health in several ways, including irritation and inflammation of organs, and the disruption of hormones through chemicals in the plastics. Although the long-term harm of microplastics has not yet been proven, an article from researchers at Harvard University claims that the presence of microplastics in the human body raises serious concerns about their potential impact on heart health, immunity, and overall well-being. 

Also, microplastics harm ecosystems in various ways. A study performed by Stanford University students showed that marine animals, including tiny plankton, fish, turtles, and birds, can ingest microscopics unknowingly, because they may appear as food or be mixed in with prey. These ingested plastics can block digestion, reduce the amount of energy they receive from real food, and damage their overall internal structure. Due to the fact that small animals are the backbone of many ecosystems' food and energy supply, issues with microplastics can have a cascading impact going up the food chain.

Although the risks of microplastics are very real, it is still highly unproven by scientists, and there are many uncertainties floating in the air. Variations in plastics, such as the size and shape of a plastic and the type of polymer, can change the impacts on health. Additionally, the amount of microplastics that is needed to cause harm is unknown, as well as the overall long-term health impacts they cause. 

Overall, microplastics are real, widespread, and harmful pollutants. They threaten wildlife and ecosystems and have been found inside people, but scientists are still figuring out how much harm they cause to human health at the levels most of us experience.