Activity 3.3.3- My Plastic Use

What are microplastics?    

     Plastic is among the most used materials globally (HABB, pg. 23), and is one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S (Science of Plastics). It is a light-weight, durable, and cheap substance, therefore is used in a lot of products. However their cheapness means they can only be used once, or very minimally, before being thrown away. The size of these discarded, plastic products range from macro debris, things like clothes and food wrappers, to micro debris, or smaller plastic fragments that are at most 5mm in diameter (HABB, pg. 26). The smallest microplastics can be breathed in or ingested, and ultimately find their way to your internal organs, blood stream, and lymph nodes (Walker, Scott). 

    After being introduced to an aquatic environment the macro debris will eventually degrade through a process known as photo-oxidation (HABB, ph.27), which is a chemical change that occurs on the surface of plastics when they are in the presence of oxygen combined with the sun's energy (Photo-oxidation of polymers), which creates micro debris, or microplastics. (HABB, pg. 27). The build up of microplastics in global ecosystems has far-reaching long and short term impacts that overall affect the health of these ecosystems, humans, and ultimately the biodiversity in them. It should be noted that most studies conducted to observe the effects caused by microplastic pollution have been preformed in marine environments, and only recently was documented within surface water and freshwater environments, so the full extent of affects isn't currently known for all environments (HABB, pg. 28- 50).

Where are they found?

    In 2004 researchers started identifying the fact that microscopic particles of plastic were building up in global ecosystems, specifically marine environments. They also found them in the sewage sludge created at water processing plants, skincare and makeup products, and the processed wastewater put back into the environment (HABB, pg. 27). Some more familiar places you may find some of these microplastics before they end up in the environment are film, (Polyethylene), packaging, household products, medical devices, (The Definitive Guide to Polypropylene), smart phone screens, dental cavity filings, (PMMA Plastics Poly(Methyl Methacrylate)), insulation for homes and businesses, mattresses, (What Is Polyurethane?) automotive parts, safety controls (Polyamide/Nylon (PA Plastic)), hair dye, sunscreen (Kleida), etc. 

How do they get there?

    There are a few different ways that microplastics get into global ecosystems. Firstly, the existing wastewater treatment infrastructure is not equipped with the tools required to be able to remove microplastics from the wastewater, which means they either get discharged back into the local waterways, or they accrue in the sludge that is created in processing wastewater (HABB, pg. 50-51). That sludge is typically used as fertilizer, and is left out to dry before transport. If it rains while this sludge is drying, the rain will wash all the microplastics back into our waterways(HABB, pg 50-53). Other microplastics get into the water treatment systems through human uses of things like cosmetics, face scrubs, body washes, the washing of clothes and textiles, etc. in our everyday lives that end up washed down the drain (HABB, pg. 45-53).

Why are they a problem?

    There are a few main problems I would like to address in regards to microplastics. First is that they persist in the environment; due to not being biodegradable they build up in ecosystems and continuously absorb toxins like a sponge. This is bad because these plastics full of toxins are either further poisonings the creatures that eat them, or changing the ways that their bodies operate and drastically reduce their energy levels. Next is how they create bioaccumulation through trophic levels; starting from the very bottom of the food chain with phytoplankton and zooplankton we can track the build up of microplastics in each level to see that the amount of microplastic being consumed and building up in a creatures body is much more than the creature below in the food chain. This is bad especially for humans because we depend on animals in lower levels to feed us, but if they are diminishing in numbers or dying off then that will ultimately mean that humans are going to run out of food sources. My next point is how it is threatening biodiversity, which is very important because biodiversity essentially creates variety in plant and animal life, which produces alternatives for food and medicine. Lastly, every living creature is dependent on fresh water. We have such minimal fresh water on earth, only 2 % of the overall water is fresh, and of that, only less than one percent was available as surface water that could be accessed by people for drinking, bathing, etc. By not paying attention to the toxic, harmful things we put in our water sources we are threatening the existence of all life on earth, because once we use and contaminate all of our water, then we will have nothing left and will die off (HABB, pg. 23-53). 

This collage of seemingly random pictures is actually a pictorial collection of all of the plastic-containing products I used in one day. By making this collection and putting it together I can help myself become more aware the things I am using that have, or are made of plastics and microplastics so that I can try to help reduce the amount of plastic pollution that I am ultimately putting into the world and our waterways. 

Works cited 

“The Definitive Guide to Polypropylene (PP) .” Polypropylene (PP) Plastic: Types, Properties, Uses & Structure Info, Omnexus , omnexus.specialchem.com/selection-guide/polypropylene-pp-plastic.

Haab, S., & Haab, K. (n.d.). The environmental impacts of microplastics: An investigation of microplastic pollution in North Country waterbodies. Adventure Scientists. pg. 9-53. Available:  HABB and HABB_Microplastics.pdf

Kleida, Danae. “Beat the Microbead.” Get to Know Microplastics in Your Cosmetics, Plastic Soup Foundation , 12 Mar. 2020, www.beatthemicrobead.org/get-to-know-microplastics-in-your-cosmetics-2/.

“Photo-Oxidation of Polymers.” Photo-Oxidation of Polymers , Wikimedia Foundation, 18 July 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photo-oxidation_of_polymers.

“PMMA Plastics Poly(Methyl Methacrylate): Properties, Uses & Application.” PMMA or Acrylic: Guide to Support Your Future 'Transparent' Developments , Omnexus , omnexus.specialchem.com/selection-guide/polymethyl-methacrylate-pmma-acrylic-plastic.

“Polyamide/Nylon (PA Plastic): Uses & Properties .” Polyamide (PA) or Nylon: Complete Guide , Omnexus , 2019, omnexus.specialchem.com/selection-guide/polyamide-pa-nylon.

“Polyethylene (PE).” Polyethylene (PE) Plastic: Properties, Uses & Application, Omnexus, omnexus.specialchem.com/selection-guide/polyethylene-plastic.

“Science of Plastics.” Science Matters: The Case of Plastics, Science History Institute, 20 Nov. 2019, www.sciencehistory.org/science-of-plastics.

“What Is Effluent Discharge?” What Is Effluent Discharge? , Detectronic, 11 Nov. 2019, detectronic.org/what-is-effluent-discharge/.

“What Is Polyurethane?” What Is Polyurethane , Polyurethanes, 12 July 2020, www.polyurethanes.org/en/what-is-it/.