The Devastating impact of Micro plastics on human health and marine life

Content Number: 12
Author Name: Laiba Nazir
Author I’d: SBPWNC – A12
Educational Institution: The University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
Content Title: The Devastating impact of Micro plastics on human health and marine life

Plastics are  never go away from us,  it breaks up into particles and has becomes the enemy of our planet. Micro plastics are just like tiny particles, big explosions . It takes over each and every corner of our planet from mountains to deepest oceans.

This study helps to know about this invisible enemy, it’s types, some interesting facts and some solutions.

INTRODUCTION

Micro plastics are scarcely visible small pieces of plastic having a diameter of less than 5 mm (0.2 inches) which are found in soil, seas, air . The decomposition of plastic items and the micro beads in our personal care products can cause micro plastics.

Types:

• Primary Micro plastic : These are tiny plastic particles which are in the form of Micro beads , Micro Pellets , Nano plastics.
• Secondary Micro plastic : the larger plastic items that break down into pieces and become the cause of primary micro plastics. Like: Plastic bags ,bottles and containers, fibers.

Micro plastic and Organisms

                     Marine:

Micro plastics enter in ocean through rain water, From fertilizers and pesticides. From plastic producing factories as a by product, and from laundry cleaning products.

                    Humans:

 Micro plastics is ingested by the human as seafood, beverages like bottled water and air.

Impact on Marine Life

Micro plastics can accumulate in the tissues of marine organisms specially in mussels and oysters. Smaller organisms are consumed by larger predators so the top predators has high concentration of micro plastics.

Micro plastics disturb the growth rate, behavior, and feeding patterns of marine organisms. Micro plastics effects ecosystems, disrupting food webs, decline marine diversity and affects wide range of  species.

Marine species and Freshwater:

In the year of 2020 and 2022, different studies revealed the presence of micro plastic in 80% of the Marine species and freshwater system which affect its biodiversity and nutrient cycle.

Impact on human

Micro plastics accumulate in tissues after ingested, disrupting cellular functions and may alter the gut microbiota balance. Chemicals like phthalates and biphenyl’s in micro plastics linked to endocrine disruption, reproductive issues and cancer problems. Micro plastics in body cause inflammation associated with chronic diseases such and cardiovascular and autoimmune disorders.

Human blood and Cancer exposer:

 In 2022 a study revealed the presence of micro plastics in the blood of the  80% of the humans . It also suggested the possible link between the micro plastic with the increase risk of Cancer neurological and reproductive disease.

Solutions and actions

Micro plastics pollution can be prevented by taking action individually, at industrial and governmental levels.

Here are some precautions

• Use organic fertilizers
• Avoid plastic packaging
• Recycle plastics
• Avoid products containing microbeads
• Use microfiber catching filter
• Spread awareness about the harmful effects of the micro plastics
• Encourage bans or restrictions on microbeads in cosmetics and cleaning products
• Use water filters capable of trapping micro plastics
• Support organizations and initiatives focusing on plastic pollution prevention

Biodegradable plastic are solution or myth ….???

Degradable plastic is like a dancer with some fancy moves but a hidden twist. It’s marketed as a solution to our plastic pollution problem, promising to break down faster than traditional plastics. However, there’s a catch – degradable plastics don’t fully disappear; they just fragment into smaller pieces, potentially becoming micro plastics that can still harm the environment. So, while degradable plastics may seem like a cool dance move at first glance, the long-term impact on the environment is still a bit of a mystery. It’s important to look at both sides of picture when evaluating their effectiveness as a sustainable solution.

Conclusion

Micro plastics pose a devastating threat to both marine and human life. In oceans, these tiny particles are ingested by marine animals, leading to physical harm, chemical exposure, and disruptions in the food chain.  The chemicals associated with micro plastics can leach into organisms, that causes severe health issues to humans , such as hormonal disruptions and other long-term health effects.

Previous Blog: Peak Carbon Emissions; the Turning Point Towards a Carbon-Neutral Future

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