Change Your World Week Fall 2021 (Archived)

Every year over one million tons of microplastics seep into the environment. Once in the environment these microplastics are ingested by animals or they find their way into the systems of other living organisms. This leads to human consumption of these plastic particles, and while it is not yet completely certain what effects this will have on human life, it is safe to assume that it is not healthy to be eating plastic. Currently there is a disturbing lack of research going into this topic, and there is little discussion of what should be done to remedy this issue. 

There is a great lack of research into this topic, and it would be beneficial for institutions to immediately begin funding research for the future. The little research that has been conducted on this topic has mostly found one of two results. It either leads to the research suggesting the microplastics we ingest are harmful to us, or that the results were not certain and that more research is required. For example, studies on how these microplastics affect sea-life have found that once the plastic makes its way through their digestive systems the animals often end up being unable to reproduce (Nicole). Other studies on mice in the laboratory have found that it is quite possible the microplastics caused the mice to develop cancerous tumors (Rahman et al.). 

One study of 2020 found that eating, drinking, and breathing, American's digest at least 74,000 plastic particles each year. Another recent study by the World Wildlife Fund, estimated that people consume about 5 grams of plastic each week

Here are some simple potential solutions that can help you reduce exposure to microplastics: 

1. Don't heat food in plastics. This has been known to leach chemicals into food. The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends not to put plastic into your dishwasher as well (Washington Post). 

2. Eat more fresh food. Fresh produce products are less likely to expose you to harmful chemicals. 

3. Avoid plastic food containers with known issues. The AAP report noted that recycling codes "3," "6," and "7," indicate the presence of phthalates, styrene and Bisphenols (Washington Post). If these products are labeled as "bio based" or "greenware," they do not contain Bisphenols. 

4. Drink more tap water. Drinking water is one of the biggest contributors to microplastic ingestion, but bottled water has about double the microplastic level of tap water (Washington Post). 

5. Avoid cans. Cans are lined with plastic to "protect" your food. It is safer to get produce in glass or metal containers. 

As previously mentioned microbes can be used to form biofilms which catch other plastic particles, but there are other microbes which can potentially aid in a cleanup effort. There is some evidence to suggest that some eukaryotic microbes are capable of metabolizing a portion of the microplastic particles in the ocean (Masiá et al.). There are also microbes which have already been used in research to cause plastic particles to settle out of water into a kind of sludge in wastewater treatment (Kwon et al.). 

Although the consumption of microplastics in food and water are a great concern to many, some scientists oppose and argue that there is not enough research to truly say how it can physically harm our bodies yet, and that it is not a great concern at the moment. Evaluating the effects of tiny specks of plastic on people or animals is easier said than done. More than 100 laboratory studies have exposed animals, mostly aquatic organisms, to microplastics (Nature). However, their findings -that exposure may lead some organisms to reproduce less effectively or suffer physical damage- are hard to interpret because microplastics span many shapes, sizes and chemical compositions, and many of the studies used materials that were quite unlike those found in the environment (Nature).No published study has yet directly examined the effects of plastic specks on people (Nature). The only available studies rely on laboratory experiments that expose cells or human tissues to microplastics, or use animals such as mice or rats. Just as the marine studies, it’s not clear that the concentrations used are relevant to what mice, or people, are exposed to (Nature). Due to plastic coming in many forms and additives, it is difficult to know exactly how it affects us as the consumers. 

A potential solution that can be used is bioremediation. This is the use of microbes to clean up contaminated soil and groundwater (EPA). Bioremediation stimulates the growth of certain microbes that use contaminants as a source of food and energy (EPA). One basic example of bioremediation is composting. Single use plastics do not rot, like paper or food. Instead, they hang around in the environment for hundreds of years and are contributing to a significant amount of non-biodegradable waste accumulating in landfills and in our oceans (Biolabtests). This is why bioremediation is so important. Also, the use of microorganisms for the bioremediation of plastics has become a critical turning point. Microbes can form biofilms on the surface of pollutants and result in a zone called plastisphere where they interact and produce acids or enzymes for the degradation of plastics (AIP). Microorganisms from natural sources have a great impact to reduce plastic waste for the environment (AIP). 

There is compelling evidence for both sides of this issue. It is possible that microplastics do not have major effects on human health; however, there is far more evidence suggesting this issue will have major effects on the environment, animals, and human health. Changing the amount of microplastics that end up in the environment is a large issue that requires attention from large institutions and world governments, but everyday people can choose to live cleaner lives and produce less plastic waste. Here we link to a petition which you can choose to sign to try and enact larger change regarding microplastic pollution finding its way into our bodies. 

Kwon JH;Kim JW;Pham TD;Tarafdar A;Hong S;Chun SH;Lee SH;Kang DY;Kim JY;Kim SB;Jung J; “Microplastics in Food: A Review on Analytical Methods and Challenges.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32942613/. 

Masiá P;Sol D;Ardura A;Laca A;Borrell YJ;Dopico E;Laca A;Machado-Schiaffino G;Díaz M;Garcia-Vazquez E; “Bioremediation as a Promising Strategy for Microplastics Removal in Wastewater Treatment Plants.” Marine Pollution Bulletin, U.S. National Library of Medicine, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32510394/. 

Rahman, Arifur, et al. “Potential Human Health Risks Due to Environmental Exposure to Nano- and Microplastics and Knowledge Gaps: A Scoping Review.” Science of The Total Environment, Elsevier, 3 Dec. 2020, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969720374039

Nicole, Wendee. “Microplastics in Seafood: How Much Are People Eating?” Environmental Health Perspectives, vol. 129, no. 3, Mar. 2021, pp. 034001-1-034001-2. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1289/EHP8936.

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. 

Reports, Consumer. “You're Literally Eating Microplastics. How You Can Cut down Exposure to Them.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 7 Oct. 2019, https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/youre-literally-eating-microplastics-how-you-can-cut-down-exposure-to-them/2019/10/04/22ebdfb6-e17a-11e9-8dc8-498eabc129a0_story.html.

 EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyNET.exe/P100F9WC.TXT?

Nutakor, C., et al. “Biodegradable Plastics: Prospects and Application.” AIP Publishing, AIP Publishing LLC AIP Publishing, 9 Dec. 2020, https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0032355.