Microplastics are beads and particles that range from five millimeters to one micrometer in size. As a result, while some microplastics are visible, many are not. In fact, for every visible microplastic found in the water, there are far more microplastics that can’t be seen with the naked eye. These microplastics are consumed by marine wildlife of all sizes, and they ultimately end up in the human food chain.
Microplastics are a global problem. They are in all of the world’s oceans, and they are in the coastal and inland waters of all seven continents. In most (if not all) areas of the world, you can find microplastics in any randomly selected one-liter water sample—and it is very possible that you will find hundreds of microplastics floating in what looks like clean water.
This is a major problem, and it is only getting worse.
How do we know? When considering the scope and impacts of the global microplastics problem, there are two fundamental facts that make clear things aren’t going in the right direction: First, the amount of plastic in our world is constantly increasing, and all of the plastics in the world are either shedding or leeching microplastics (if they aren’t microplastics already). Second, there currently are not any large-scale efforts underway to remove microplastics from our waters.
We Can Divide Microplastics Into Two Categories
So what, exactly, is a “microplastic”? The generally accepted definition of a microplastic is any plastic material that is between five millimeters and one micrometer in size. While some plastics exist as microplastics from the beginning (i.e., plastic microbeads), the majority of the microplastics in our waters are created when plastic products degrade from exposure to sunlight or other environmental conditions.
Here, there is an important distinction to make: While plastics degrade they are not biodegradable. As a result, when they degrade, they remain in the environment. Some float near the surface, some sink to the bottoms of our oceans and waterways, and many are consumed by sea life. As a result, the reported harmful effects of microplastics are wide-ranging—from contributing to global warming to causing cellular damage.
While there are lots of ways to break down the different types of microplastics, one of the simplest—and most illuminating—ways is to place them into two categories: those you can see and those you can’t.
1. Microplastics We Can See
As discussed above, microplastics are beads and particles that range from five millimeters (5 mm) to one micrometer (1 μm) in size. Five millimeters is about the length of a short grain of rice. The human eye can see things that are approximately forty micrometers (40 μm) in size, with anything smaller requiring a microscope.
2. Microplastics We Can’t See
While there are lots of microplastics we can see, there are also lots of microplastics we can’t see. Forty micrometers (40 μm) is about the size of a spec of dust, or about half the thickness of a human hair. If you consider the fact that there can potentially be hundreds of microplastics of this size in a single liter of water, you can start to get an idea of the scope of the global microplastics problem.
Also, don’t forget that plastics don’t simply go away. Instead, they continue to break down. As a result, all of the microplastics we can currently see will eventually become microplastics that we can’t.
Then, There Are Nanoplastics
While one micrometer (1 μm) is tiny, it isn’t the smallest possible measurement. Beyond the world of microplastics, there is another whole world of nanoplastics. While Nanoplastics are even less well understood than microplastics, they fundamentally present the same concerns.
Microplastics Come in Many Different Forms
Regardless of their size, microplastics (and nanoplastics) can come in a variety of different forms. Each form, or shape, of microplastic is indicative of the nature of the product from which it came. The most common forms of microplastics are:
- Fibers – Fibers come from clothing and other textile products made with plastic-based fabrics.
- Line – Plastic fishing line is a major source of microplastics in the world’s oceans.
- Fragments – Fragments break off of plastic products and coatings as they degrade, gradually becoming smaller and smaller but not disappearing completely.
- Film – Film comes from plastic bags, product packaging, food wrappers, bottle labels, and other similar types of plastic products.
- Foam – Foam microplastics come from as well furniture, insulation, and a wide range of other products.
- Beads (Spheres) – Microbeads remain common in a wide variety of cosmetic and personal care products. They are easily distinguishable by their spherical shape.
- Pellets (Discs) – In contrast to beads, microplastic pellets are disc-shaped. These include nurdles and other industrial byproducts, and they can come from various other sources as well.
Different forms of microplastics are more prevalent in different marine environments. In many cases, this appears to be due to the primary source (or sources) of plastic pollution in the area. For example, in areas that are subject to heavy commercial fishing, line tends to be most common. Areas near manufacturing facilities and densely populated coastlines are often heavily polluted with microbeads, while areas with high concentrations of general plastic pollution (i.e., drink bottles and packaging) tend to have higher concentrations of fibers, fragments, film, and foam.
With that said, it is important to keep in mind that all forms of microplastic are in all of the world’s oceans. Most microplastics are too small to see—and they are too small for marine wildlife to avoid.
FAQs: Understanding Microplastics and Their Negative Impacts
Where Do Microplastics Come From?
Microplastics come from two main sources: (i) manufactured microplastics; and, (ii) larger plastic products that degrade over time. The most common manufactured microplastics are microbeads, which appear in a wide range of cosmetic and beauty products, as well as many sunscreens. While the United States has banned “rinse-off” products containing microbeads, “leave-on” products are still widely sold in the U.S.—and both rinse-off and leave-on products are also sold in other countries around the world.
From acrylics and epoxies to polycarbonates and other polymers, all types of plastics either shed or leech microplastics. Think about how many plastic products there are (and have been) in the world—now you have an idea of the scope of the problem.
What Types of Products Shed Microplastics?
All types of plastic products shed microplastics. This includes everything from phone cases to tires, and from paints to sunscreens. Many fabrics are also made with plastic-based materials (including polyester and nylon, among many others), and clothing items are major contributors to the global microplastics problem as well.
What Are the Environmental Impacts of Microplastics?
The environmental impacts of microplastics are varied and wide-reaching. Notably, while microplastics are most commonly discussed in the context of our oceans and waterways, microplastics are also in our air and soil. At Following Seas, when we collect water samples, we also collect a “blank” sample that is open to the air—and these “blanks” end up with microplastics in them as well.
As explained in an article from Harvard Medicine:
“The production and destruction of plastics produces particles and gases that contribute to climate change, and plastic left to break down in the environment releases greenhouse gases. Studies suggest that microplastics disrupt marine microorganisms’ globally crucial roles of sequestering carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. These deficits further jeopardize [the] health . . . of our planet.”
Our water, our air, our soil, and wildlife and plant life worldwide are all contaminated with microplastics. This is truly a global crisis, and it is one that is not getting the attention it deserves.
What Are the Human Impacts of Microplastics?
The human impacts of microplastics are still being researched. Microplastics research is still fairly new in general, and the majority of the current research is devoted to understanding the scope of the problem.
But, early studies have identified several potential concerns. To date, microplastics have potentially been linked to lung and liver damage, alteration of the gut microbiome, effects on metabolism, and an increased risk of developing various cancers and other chronic conditions.
How Do We Know There Are Microplastics We Can’t See?
If we can’t see microplastics that are less than forty micrometers in size, how do we know they exist? There is a simple answer: microscopes. At Following Seas, we collect water samples, process them to eliminate biological and mineral material, and then look at what is left under our microscopes. It is amazing—and alarming—to see what is there that we can’t see with the naked eye.
What Can Be Done About the Global Microplastics Problem?
If microplastics are the problem, what’s the solution? Unfortunately, at this point we don’t know. While there are some innovative efforts underway to remove microplastics from our waters, these efforts are currently nowhere near the scale that is necessary to clean up our offshore, coastal, and inland waters. The unfortunate reality is that while local cleanup efforts of a meaningful scale may eventually be possible, microplastics are almost certainly here to stay.
What Can You Do to Help Reduce Microplastics?
If you are interested in minimizing your contributions to the global microplastics problem, what can you do? One way to minimize your impact is to limit your use of plastic products. If you choose clothes made of natural fibers and avoid products that contain microbeads, these steps alone will put you well ahead of the crowd.
Another way you can help is by contributing to microplastics research. Research is essential to advocacy—and advocacy is essential to change. If you think you may be interested, you can visit our Donate page for more information.
Following Seas is Gathering Data on the Scope of the Global Microplastics Problem
At Following Seas, we are gathering data on the scope of the global microplastics problem. We conduct shore-based and on-the-water microplastics research, and we make our findings publicly available. This work is essential, and our scientific, data-oriented approach produces meaningful and reliable findings that can be used to advocate for change.
As the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) explains:
“As an emerging field of study, not a lot is known about microplastics and their impacts yet. . . . Standardized field methods for collecting sediment, sand, and surface-water microplastic samples have been developed and continue to undergo testing. Eventually, field and laboratory protocols will allow for global comparisons of the amount of microplastics released into the environment, which is the first step in determining the final distribution, impacts, and fate of this debris.”
You can learn more about our research here; and, if you are interested in working with Following Seas, we invite you to get in touch. While we are actively conducting our own microplastics research, we are also available to assist like-minded organizations with collecting data in specific locations and for specific purposes.