This is a great, if sobering, NPR article on the issue of plastic waste, specifically microplastics. This story is of particular interest to me as I am especially interested in this area and have...
This is a great, if sobering, NPR article on the issue of plastic waste, specifically microplastics. This story is of particular interest to me as I am especially interested in this area and have cited the research of the main subject of this article (Chelsea Rochman) several times in papers/reports for university. Unfortunately, it seems like there is a lack of research in this important area, which this article also points out:
Rochman notes that this kind of research is relatively new; most of the environmental studies on microplastics have come out within the past 10 years.
"The things we don't know," she says, are daunting. "What are all the sources where it's coming from, so that we can think about where to turn it off? And once it gets in the ocean, where does it go? Which is super-important because then we can understand how it impacts wildlife and humans."
Unfortunately, most microplastics come from the disintegration of larger pieces of plastic debris. From the article: You may be referring to plastic microbeads used in soaps and other personal...
Unfortunately, most microplastics come from the disintegration of larger pieces of plastic debris. From the article:
Since modern plastic was first mass-produced, 8 billion tons have been manufactured. And when it's thrown away, it doesn't just disappear. Much of it crumbles into small pieces.
Scientists call the tiny pieces "microplastics" and define them as objects smaller than 5 millimeters — about the size of one of the letters on a computer keyboard.
You may be referring to plastic microbeads used in soaps and other personal care products, which have fortunately been outlawed in several countries, and many companies are phasing out their usage. See here for more about microbeads.
Ah, okay. That is a much, much trickier thing to phase out, as plastic has become so cheap, ubiquitous, and crucial in so many applications, especially for medical uses and sanitary food storage....
Ah, okay. That is a much, much trickier thing to phase out, as plastic has become so cheap, ubiquitous, and crucial in so many applications, especially for medical uses and sanitary food storage. Reducing our usage is always preferred, but we will additionally need to figure out how to clean up the damage we have caused so far, without, of course, creating greater problems (i.e. creating a plastic eating enzyme that runs amok).
This is a great, if sobering, NPR article on the issue of plastic waste, specifically microplastics. This story is of particular interest to me as I am especially interested in this area and have cited the research of the main subject of this article (Chelsea Rochman) several times in papers/reports for university. Unfortunately, it seems like there is a lack of research in this important area, which this article also points out:
Really eye-opening read. I guess a real push would be to stop producing so many plastics. It is easy to forget how many things they are in.
Unfortunately, most microplastics come from the disintegration of larger pieces of plastic debris. From the article:
You may be referring to plastic microbeads used in soaps and other personal care products, which have fortunately been outlawed in several countries, and many companies are phasing out their usage. See here for more about microbeads.
No, I just meant Plastics but wrote microplastics by mistake
Ah, okay. That is a much, much trickier thing to phase out, as plastic has become so cheap, ubiquitous, and crucial in so many applications, especially for medical uses and sanitary food storage. Reducing our usage is always preferred, but we will additionally need to figure out how to clean up the damage we have caused so far, without, of course, creating greater problems (i.e. creating a plastic eating enzyme that runs amok).