The first plastics were invented in the mid-1800s, and they have been polluting our waters since that time. Yet, the term “microplastics” wasn’t introduced until 2004, and the first scientific paper on microplastics wasn’t published until 2006. This means that we are already well over 100 years behind.
And the problem is only getting bigger. Today, more than 460 million metric tons of plastic are produced annually, and an estimated 20 million metric tons of plastic end up in the environment each year. As reported by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), “[t]hat amount is expected to increase significantly by 2040.”
The History of Plastics, Plastic Pollution, and Microplastics Research
Here’s a quick look at how we got where we are today:
- 1839 – The invention of vulcanized rubber.
- 1872 – The invention of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
- 1933 – The invention of polyethylene (PE).
- 1935 – The invention of low-density polyethylene (LPDE).
- 1941 – The invention of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
- 1950 – The mass production of plastics begins.
- 1954 – The invention of polypropylene (PP)
- 1957 – Industrial resin production begins.
Rubber, PVC, PE, LPDE, PET, and PP are all among the leading contributors to the global microplastics problem. Now, let’s take a look at when scientists started to raise alarms:
- 1997 – The first reported discovery of a Pacific plastic gyre (or “garbage patch”)
- 2002 – The first national single-use plastic bag bans take effect.
- 2004 – The first use of the term “microplastics” in scientific literature.
- 2006 – The first scientific publication on microplastics in the environment.
- 2013 – The first use of the term “nanoplastics” in scientific literature.
- 2014 – The first discovery of deep-sea microplastics in the Arctic.
- 2018 – The first large-scale study confirming microplastics appear in the seafood chain.
- 2021 – The first discovery of microplastics in human placenta.
Sources: GRID Arendal (UNEP, 2021); Mercola J (December 19, 2025) From Bakelite to Biohazard: The Century-Long Rise of Microplastics; Maged A (2026) Remediation Technologies for Microplastics in Aquatic Environments.
Data-Driven Advocacy to Combat the Global Microplastics Problem
As you can see, the global study of microplastics is still very much in its infancy, and that is a major problem. Microplastics have been polluting inland, coastal, and ocean waters for more than a century—since long before the first major environmental laws were enacted in the United States and other countries in the 1960s and 1970s. While some countries are now taking a more aggressive legislative approach to combating plastic pollution, in many respects, this is too little too late.
So, what can be done?
More research will help. Scientific research is the key to environmental advocacy at all levels of government. If we can better illustrate the scope of the microplastics problem—both locally and globally—we can make a compelling case for the need for drastic change. This involves conducting on-the-water sampling, analyzing the data, and reporting the data in a meaningful and impactful way.
At Following Seas, we are conducting this research. We are gathering samples, conducting analyses, and doing our part to help others advocate for change. A movement requires many actions, and building momentum starts with taking the first step.
About Following Seas Marine Impact Research
At Following Seas Marine Impact Research, we are studying the global microplastics problem through on-the-water sampling and data analysis. Our goal is to provide other organizations with the data and science they need to advocate for change and implement clean-up solutions. We are also developing standards for citizen-scientists who are interested in gathering data where they live. Join our mailing list to follow along.