Acticity 3.3.3- My Plastic Use
Defining Microplastics
Microplastics are specks of plastic that come from a variety of sources, which include larger plastic debris that eventually degrade into smaller pieces and can be invisible to the naked eye. The properties of microplastics include carbon and hydrogen atoms that create an initial bond in polymer chains. They occur in the environment as a consequence of plastic pollution. Microplastics can be found in health products, beauty products, water, and even foods. There is considered to be a primary and secondary microplastic that is divided into two parts. Primary microplastics are found in personal care products and look like little plastic pellets. They enter the environment through care products being washed through wastewater systems from households. Secondary microplastics from the breakdown of larger plastics when they undergo weathering. Which means it can be exposed through wind abrasion and ultraviolet radiation from direct sunlight. How do microplastics get there in general you might ask? Well microplastics can migrate from ingredients such as cigarette filters, cleaning supplies, dust from cars, truck tires, and from larger plastic products broken down. Not only does microplastics have its ways of getting into every possible thing it can, it can also be harmful to our environment and even our health. Scientists are still unaware of how it might strongly impact our environment but it still can cause a great strain on the health of humans. Of course the impact on our environment and our personal health are most important, but we also have to think about animals and their habitats and how it can affect them as well. According to an article by The National Ocean Service it states, “These tiny particles easily pass through water filtration systems and end up in the ocean and Great Lakes, posing a potential threat to aquatic life” (NOS 1). Once habitats that are formed by animals are affected, then our environment starts having the same impact as well. Microplastics have been detected in marine organisms from whales, plankton, seafood, and even drinking water. Alarmingly, standard water treatment facilities cannot remove all traces of microplastics. To further complicate matters, microplastics in the ocean can bind with other harmful chemicals before being ingested by marine organisms. The ingestion of microplastics can cause aquatic species to consume less food and have less energy to carry out life functions, and it can result in neurological and reproductive toxicity. A couple examples of consuming microplastics for humans that can go unnoticed throughout a typical day include heating up a plastic container with food in it and heating up a baby bottle in the microwave which most likely will have the baby swallowing thousands of microplastics particles. Latest studies have also shown that microplastics can also be found in human blood. To help overcome this obstacle, there are many organizations that raise money to help prevent plastic pollution and encourage reuse and recycling of plastics. Overall, there is a great uncertainty that these microplastics entering the atmosphere can negatively affect human health and the habitats of animals. Scientists are still doing their research to this day, but the need for plastics can be reduced through many recycled sources that will not only benefit our environment but encourage society to help as well.
(My Plastic Use In One Day)
After watching the TED Talk, “Microplastics are everywhere” by Sarah Dudas I was intrigued with her idea on making a picture collage that contained all the plastic you use throughout one day. The pictures you see above were taken on April 5th, 2022 and represent all the plastic I use in one day. When taking these pictures I reflected back on this assignment and how it allowed me to understand the real dynamics/meaning of microplastic and how it is all throughout our environment. The readings and the media provided also allowed me to view in a different perspective where microplastic comes from and how it is adapted in a human's everyday live with what they eat, what they wear, and the main necessities they use. It also allowed you to view in my perspective my outcome on how much plastic I use and a little insight in a day in my life rarely often. It is important to view these assignments as lessons throughout this course because you will eventually realize these aspects in life eventually.
Work Cited:
Dudas, S. (2018). Microplastics are everywhere [Video]. TEDx Binghamton University.
Lim, XiaoZhi. “Microplastics Are Everywhere - but Are They Harmful?” Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 4 May 2021, https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01143-3
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