Microplastics: Sources, Types, and Dangers to the Environment

Microplastics are plastic particles with a diameter of less than 5 mm (five millimeters), originating from plastic-based products or fragments of larger plastics. These particles consist of carbon and hydrogen atoms bonded in polymer chains and are intended to produce commercial products.

Microplastics are used as one of the materials for manufacturing products. There are undoubtedly numerous microplastic particles dispersed daily. These particles dispersed because microplastics are released from these products during usage or the production process.

The released microplastics will eventually dissolve in water or become airborne and accumulate. This accumulation grows over time because the degradation of microplastics takes hundreds of years.

This phenomenon will undoubtedly have a detrimental impact on the environment as it will lead to contamination of microplastics in the surroundings for living creatures such as humans and animals.

Sources of Microplastic Dispersal

Microplastics are primarily generated during the production and use of various plastic-based products. According to the United Nations Environment Programme from noaa.gov, microplastics have been present in body care products for the past fifty years.

Microplastics are primarily generated during the production and use of various plastic-based products. According to the United Nations Environment Programme from noaa.gov, microplastics have been present in body care products for the past fifty years.

Microplastics found in body care products like various beauty products and toothpaste are dispersed by dissolving in the water used to wash the skin’s surface after using these products. The wastewater will then carry the microplastics into the sewage system and eventually into the ocean.

In addition to body care products, other products spread microplastics into the environment. There are several categories of products that contribute the most microplastic particles. Here are some of them:

1. Synthetic Fabric Products

Products in this category contain microfibers of acrylic, polyethylene, or polyester in significant quantities. These fibers can become microplastic particles, and the dispersion of microplastics is not a result of the manufacturing process. Instead, synthetic fabric products release their microplastic particles during the washing process.

2. Tires

Rubber tires containing polymers will shed particles when the tires are in use and directly interact with asphalt. The detached tire rubber will be scattered on the asphalt and can be carried by the wind and rain, polluting the air.

3. Road Markings

Microplastics can also originate from road deterioration and the erosion of road markings. The dust particles, which become microplastics, will be carried by the wind and spread when exposed to rain, contributing to air pollution.

4. Microbeads

Microplastics can also come from materials like microbeads commonly used in personal care products. Microbeads can be found in toothpaste and serve various functions, such as polishing teeth, reducing bad breath, or eliminating mouth odor, according to the Beat the Microbead website.

Types of Microplastics

Microplastics are divided into two types: primary and secondary. Here’s an explanation of each type:

Primary Microplastics

Primary microplastics are microplastic particles used in commercial products such as fishing nets and cosmetic products. The majority of primary microplastic dispersion in the environment originates from the residues of widely used products carried by water and air.

Microplastics can be released when we wash products containing them, and they are carried away by the wastewater and end up in the sewer system. Additionally, microplastics can also be dispersed from spills that occur during the production of these products in factories.

Secondary Microplastics

In contrast to primary microplastics, which come directly from commercial products, secondary microplastics originate from plastic waste scattered in the environment. 

This waste releases its microplastic particles, which then disperse in the environment. This is due to the weathering process caused by ultraviolet radiation and strong winds.

Impact of Microplastics

The tiny size of microplastics, almost invisible to the human eye, makes them potentially harmful to the environment and health.

Ending up unmanaged and polluting the environment

These tiny microplastics will eventually end up in landfills. However, according to CNN, approximately 18% of plastic waste ends up in the environment.

The plastic waste will break down into small particles that will settle in the environment. This is undoubtedly dangerous for the sustainability of the environment because plastic decomposition takes hundreds to thousands of years.

The phenomenon of microplastic sedimentation appears to continue in the coming years as plastic production grows. According to Statista, in 2021 alone, 399.7 million tons of plastic were produced. The Environment Agency recorded 145,000 tons of microplastics scattered in the same year.

These microplastics will end up in the ocean or the air. According to Technology Networks, there are already 24.4 trillion microplastics with a total weight ranging from 83,000 to 572,000 tons.

Harming Living Creatures

This number is undoubtedly sufficient to pollute the oceans and the marine life in their vicinity. Research has already found microplastics in the bodies of marine creatures.

Due to their small size, microplastics are often mistaken for plankton and become a food source for fish. Britannica reported that in 2018, microplastics were found in the bodies of more than 114 species of marine animals.

In addition to the oceans, microplastics are also a cause of air pollution. This phenomenon typically occurs in large cities where plastic usage is significant.

Microplastics, which result from plastic product fragments, are carried into the air by the wind and contaminate the atmosphere.

Studies also suggest that microplastics can remain airborne for six to six days. These microplastic particles are highly hazardous to human health as they can disrupt respiratory health.

This was confirmed by Dr. Mohammad Islam, a researcher and engineer at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, who stated, “For the first time in 2022, research found microplastics have entered human respiratory pathways, raising concerns about serious respiratory health risks.” This was quoted from phys.org.