National Science Week
Tiny plastics, big problems: understanding microplastics
Have you ever heard of microplastics? These tiny bits of plastic are everywhere, and they might be causing some big problems. Let’s break down what microplastics are, why they’re a big deal for us and our planet, and what we’re doing about them.
What are microplastics?
Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic that are less than 5 millimetres in size. That’s like the size of a grain of rice or even smaller, so yep – pretty tiny. That doesn’t mean they’re not a big deal though. These little plastics come from bigger pieces of plastic that break down over time. They can also come from tiny plastic particles that are added to products like face scrubs and cleaning supplies.
As you can imagine, with plastics this small, they can get into unwanted places, and cause some pretty bad problems.
Why should you care about microplastics?
Microplastics might seem small, but they can have a huge impact. They end up in our oceans, rivers, and even in our food – and we don’t know anyone who’s happy about eating plastic (hint: it’s really bad for you).
When fish and other sea creatures eat them, the plastics can move up the food chain and end up on our plates. This cycle can affect the health of animals and people alike, just from our overuse of plastic in our daily life. Plus, microplastics can also harm ecosystems and disrupt the balance of nature, which isn’t great for our planet – or for us, since we have to live on it.
The journey of microplastics
Microplastics begin their journey from many different places, and can travel far and wide. Here are a few of the ways microplastics end up in our oceans:
1. Everyday products
Microplastics are often found in products we use daily. For example, some face scrubs and toothpaste have tiny plastic beads to help clean your skin or teeth. When you wash these products down the sink, the tiny plastics can end up in rivers and oceans.
2. Synthetic clothes
Clothes made from materials like polyester or nylon can shed tiny fibres when you wash them. These little fibres can slip through the washing machine and end up in the water – once in the ocean, they might be eaten by fish and other sea creatures, which we then end up eating.
3. Big plastics
Big plastic items, like bottles and bags, don’t just disappear when you chuck them away. They break into smaller pieces over time because of sunlight, wind, and water, and then get distributed into our natural environments.
4. Industrial processes
When factories make plastic products, they sometimes create small plastic beads called pellets. If these pellets get spilled or lost (which can happen quite easily), they can end up in the environment and become microplastics.
5. Urban runoff
Rainwater that flows off streets and parking lots can pick up all sorts of trash lying around, including microplastics. This water then goes into storm drains and eventually into rivers and oceans, carrying the tiny plastics with it.
6. Agricultural runoff
Farms sometimes use fertilisers and soil products that contain tiny plastic particles. When it rains, these particles can wash off the fields and into nearby waterways, adding to the problem of microplastics in our environment.
How are scientists dealing with microplastics?
Scientists are working hard to tackle the microplastic problem. They’re developing new technologies to filter plastics from water, creating biodegradable alternatives to traditional plastics, and studying exactly how microplastics affect the environment and health. Every little bit helps, and researchers are making progress to address this issue – another reason scientists in this field are becoming so important for the future of our world.
The future of microplastics
In the future, we could see big changes to help manage and reduce microplastics. New regulations might limit the use of microplastics in products, and improved waste management practices could help keep plastics out of our oceans. If you choose to study something like Environmental Science or Marine Science at uni, you could be one of the awesome people contributing to research and awareness of microplastics, and this is how we make a difference and protect our beautiful planet.
How can you help?
Caring about the environment and wanting to make a difference is very cool. Here are three practical things you can do right now as a high school student to help tackle the problem of microplastics:
1. Reduce plastic use
One of the easiest ways to help is by cutting down on plastic use, so try to use reusable items instead of single-use plastics. For example, use a reusable water bottle instead of always buying plastic bottled water, or bring your own reusable bags when shopping. Small changes in your daily routine can add up and help reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in the environment.
2. Spread awareness
You can make a big impact by spreading the word about microplastics. Share what you’ve learned with friends and family, and use those awesome social media skills to raise awareness. Creating posters, starting a school club, or organising community awareness events can also help get more people involved in fighting plastic pollution. The more people know about the problem, the more they can do to help.
3. Participate in clean-up activities
Join or organise local clean-up events in your community. Whether it’s a beach clean-up, a park litter pick-up, or even a classroom recycling drive, these activities help remove plastic waste before it breaks down into microplastics. Volunteering for these events is a great way to make a direct impact and keep your environment clean.
Want more?
If you’re interested in more cool topics about how we can protect our environment and make a difference, check out our other articles, like this one on green gap year ideas.
Want to pursue a career helping our planet? Check out our job spotlight on how to become a wildlife biologist.