Main image: Photo by FlyD on Unsplash
Microplastics, as stated in their name, are tiny particles of plastic typically 5mm or less, and originating from the breakdown of larger plastic objects or intentionally manufactured micro-sized pieces.
Despite their tiny size, these particles have a rather invasive environmental presence, from being discovered at the deepest parts of the ocean, to floating up to the Pyrenees mountains, this minuscule debris is finding its way into every nook and crevice on the planet.
[ref: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/20/plastic-pollution-mariana-trench-deepest-point-ocean https://www.sciencenews.org/article/plastics-remote-places-microplastics-earth-mount-everest ]
Little is truly known about the effects of microplastics, with less than a decade's worth of research to back-up new findings, yet, as new findings come to light, it begins to paint a bleak future for human and environmental health.
What are microplastics?
Apart from being known for their micro-size, these tiny fragments of plastic are a direct result of household and industrial waste. Whether it be garbage dumped into water, drinking from plastic bottles, or untreated wastewater entering rivers, microplastics have no direct source-point other than the presence of plastic itself.
Plastic is already criticised for its extremely lengthy process to decompose, with some plastics estimated to fully biodegrade within 600 years. Throughout this timely process thousands of tiny fragments and fibres are released into the environment completely undetectable to the human eye. [ref: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/11/chart-of-the-day-this-is-how-long-everyday-plastic-items-last-in-the-ocean/ ]
There are two main types of microplastics: primary and secondary. Primary microplastics are those that are intentionally produced, such as microbeads found in exfoliants and cosmetics, or small industrial pellets. Secondary microplastics are formed through the degradation of larger plastic items due to factors such as weather or mechanical action, which eventually break the item down into smaller pieces.
[ref: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X20310018 ]
The Effects of Microplastics
Looking further into the intricacies of such a wide-spread issue unveils a web of harsh realities and long-term consequences, such as ecological disruptions, and threats to human health.
Understanding the effects of microplastics and the impact they have on our bodies and planet is paramount in order to grasp the depth of the issue, as well as seeking efficient solutions to mitigate such a crucial issue.
Aquatic Health
A large majority of plastic waste ends up in rivers, streams and open waters, exposing aquatic environments to the many side-effects of swimming amongst millions of plastic fibres, microbeads and fragments. Researchers and campaigners have worked tirelessly to identify how plastic-clogged national waters really are, with some saddening results.
In one report conducted by Friends of The Earth, they tested 10 rivers, reservoirs and lakes in the UK for microplastics, with all samples testing positively for the presence of plastic debris. The most plastic-dense sample came from River Tame in Manchester, who counted a staggering 1000 pollutants per litre.
[ref: https://friendsoftheearth.uk/nature/microplastics-found-every-british-river-we-tested ]
Just as the risks to human health exist from ingesting these particles, there also exists real consequences to the health of the aquatic environment, with microplastics being discovered in streams as deep as 400 ft underground. Research has emerged suggesting that all species, from vertebrates to invertebrates are at risk of a multitude of health risks from microplastics in water, such as reproductive issues, behavioural changes and developmental disorders.
[ref: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/21/microplastics-found-deep-underground-in-uk-waters https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8923096/ ]
Microplastics are even impacting the harmony of the waters. As aquatic organisms continuously ingest plastic particles, their stomachs slowly fill which in turn reduces food intake, creating a harmful ripple effect in the aquatic ecosystem and interrupting the natural food chain. With this worrying research coming to light, it’s becoming more difficult to paint a picture of a future not negatively impacted by microplastics. [ref: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-021-13184-2 ]
Human Health
Virtually nothing is known about the long-term implications of microplastics in the body. On one hand, this has allowed new research to lead the way in unveiling the real impact of this pollutant, yet newer research seems to only reveal how long-overdue this research is, as well raising real concerns about human health.
In terms of the quantity of microplastics present in food and water, certain choices we make can predict the level of microplastics absorbed by humans. For example, it was discovered by a Belgian research team that those who frequently eat seafood could ingest 11,000 particles per year. Yet, the disturbing reality is that these same plastics are now being found in human bodies, being buried deep inside the lungs and even found in blood samples. [ref: https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/environment-and-conservation/2022/04/microplastics-are-in-our-bodies-how-much-do-they-harm-us ]
More concerningly, the presence of microplastics have even been found in breast milk, and in one study that aimed to locate microplastics in human placentas, there was evidence found in every single one. Other studies unveiled the impact of microplastics via food, with side effects such as allergic reactions, gastrointestinal and respiratory issues, damage to cell walls, and even cell death.
[ref: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/07/microplastics-human-breast-milk-first-time https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/27/microplastics-found-every-human-placenta-tested-study-health-impact https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8923096/ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/dec/08/microplastics-damage-human-cells-study-plastic ]
With such a vast quantity of microplastics being ingested, it’s predicted that these tiny particles can travel around the body and potentially lodge themselves in organs. The presence of plastic in the body also contributes to endocrine disruption, causing hormone imbalances which can lead to fertility issues, child developmental problems, and even increased risk of breast cancer.
[ref: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/24/microplastics-found-in-human-blood-for-first-time https://www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/microplastics-and-the-human-health-impact/ ]
Drinking Water
The necessity for access to clean drinking water has been a global topic over these past decades, and with the discovery of millions, if not billions, of small plastic particles, in streams, rivers and oceans, questions are raised as to whether drinking water is impacted, and if so, how it will affect us.
In a study published by Water UK, it discovered that 99.9% of microplastics are removed from drinking water, with only 0.00011 microplastics per litre present after wastewater treatment processing. This research undoubtedly lessens anxieties and concerns surrounding the risk of ingesting microplastics, however, this research is only applicable to water that is treated, and looks past the millions of litres of untreated wastewater discharged into UK rivers. [ref: https://www.water.org.uk/news-views-publications/news/ground-breaking-research-shows-999-microplastics-are-removed-uk ]
In 2022, sewage was illegally dumped 375,000 times in the UK by water treatment centres, resulting in hundreds of thousands of hours of contaminated substances entering UK waters. As a good portion of microplastics enter water from household use, campaigners and researchers claim that water companies are the main culprit in contributing to this pollutant entering our waters in the first place.
[ref: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/31/sewage-released-i https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/13/water-firms-are-main-source-of-microplastics-in-uk-rivers-study-says ]
This information is not a new discovery, as even back in 2019, a study conducted by WHO discovered microplastics that could be absorbed by the human body present in UK drinking water. However, there is still a lot of ground to cover in the area of research, and whilst researchers uncover new information, the true consequences of ingesting these tiny particles remains somewhat unclear.
What can be done?
First and foremost, reducing plastic consumption and using alternatives to disposable plastics can begin to reduce the amount of plastic waste in the environment, gradually decreasing the amount of newer microplastics entering the environment. Other incentives such as ‘clean-up’ groups would also be advantageous in removing plastic from land and water to slow down the present quantity of plastic particles being released.
Enforcing strict regulations on plastic production, usage, and disposal, alongside promoting sustainable packaging and product design, is also an essential task for minimising the release of microplastics into the environment. As well as improving waste management infrastructure, including enhanced recycling systems and proper disposal facilities.
Finally, supporting and funding new and emerging research in this area is vital to understand the true impact that microplastics have on UK waters and human health. By educating ourselves on items and products most harmful to the environment - and possibly ourselves - we can begin to slowly reduce this toxic nuisance from further infiltrating our planet and our bodies.