The word of the year chosen in 2018 by the Spanish Emergency Foundation (Fundéu) was microplasticterm that first appeared in the scientific literature much earlier, in 2004, and which has since then been much talked about and has continued to have environmental relevance as a polluting agent.
Its incorporation into the Royal Academy Dictionary is however very recent, only 2 years ago, in 2022, defining microplastic as “a very small piece of plasticmanufactured as is or from the fragmentation of larger plastics, not soluble in water and very poorly degradable.
At present, the term does not figure much in the debate taking place at the United Nations about how to move the issue forward. Treaty on plastic pollution which will undergo its fifth round of global deliberations next November, although its presence is implicit in this petroleum product.
430 million tonnes per year
This treaty will become the multilateral environmental pact. the most important since the Paris Agreementwhich the UN says will be one of “the decisions taken during these negotiations that could radically transform the way we produce, consume and dispose of plastics.”
The world is crumbling under the weight of plastic pollution due to more than 430 million tons of plastic produced annually. Two-thirds of these are products with a short life span that, in a matter of seconds or minutes, become waste that then invades the oceans and often enters the human food chain.
We are facing one of the most damaging and lasting consequences that man has caused, a pollution crisis in which microplastics do not go unnoticed, a growing threat to the health of people and the planet.
Accumulation of microplastics
These tiny plastic particles are found in everyday items such as cigarettes, clothing and cosmetics. Research from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) shows that Continued use of some of these products increases the accumulation of microplastics in the environment.
Microplastics, which can contain up to 5 millimeters in diameterare leaking into the oceans due to the decomposition of marine plastic waste, runoff from pipes, factory leaks, among other sources.
Yet microplastic is one of the most heard words in recent years, and one of those that causes the most damage to the environment. These plastic fractions, which in the sea are caused by the action of UV rays and wavesare ingested by animals and often end up in the human body after ingesting certain quantities of meat.
Microplastic in water
But the microplastics that enter our bodies do not only come from the consumption of meat containing these particles, also comes from bottled water.
It is estimated that a bottle of water contains twice as many microparticles as tap waterwhich completely contradicts all the advertising made by bottled water brands according to which bottled mineral water is healthier and cleaner than tap water.
There is currently no clear scientific evidence of harm from microplastics in humans, but All signs point to nanoplastics could be one of the causes of cancer either infertility the most common.
Impact on health
The impact of microplastics on human health, particularly on male fertility, is a growing concern. These particles of less than 5 mm, resulting from the fragmentation of larger plastic products, may cause toxic effects on the bodyaffecting both sperm quality and the reproductive capacity of men.
A study published in the journal Toxicological Science has revealed the worrying presence of microplastics and nanoplastics in testicles humans and dogs.
The authors explain that to carry out this study, they analyzed 47 canine testicles and 23 human testicles “in which the presence of microplastics was quantified”, in particular the existence of 12 different types was detected in both cases.
Microplastic in the testicles
The main conclusion for the promoters of this scientific report is that “these results highlight the widespread presence of microplastics in the male reproductive systemin both canine and human testes, with possible consequences for male fertility.
An interdisciplinary team led by biologist Kieran D. Cox of the University of Victoria assessed in the study, Human consumption of microplastics he number of plastic microparticles present in foods commonly consumed in the diet average of Americans and published the results in the trade magazine Environment, science and technology.
3,600 samples
The analysis was based on data from 26 different studies, more than 3,600 samples processed, assessing about 15% of Americans’ caloric intake, estimating that annual consumption of microplastics can vary between 39,000 and 52,000 particlesaccording to age and gender.
Among the foods studied were several seafoodwhich include bivalves and crustaceans; fish; products such as honey, salt and sugar, and liquids such as beer and water.
The study also noted the inhalation of microplastics and how different drinking water sources may affect their consumption. These estimates of ingestion of microplastics increase between 74,000 and 121,000 if we consider the inhalation.
Less microplastic in the tap
Additionally, people who drink the recommended daily amount of water from bottled sources may ingest 90,000 additional microplastic particles per yearcompared to the 4,000 consumed by those who only drink tap water.
We are therefore faced with a widespread problem that already has a scientific quantification regarding its involuntary consumption, but that the scientific community and experts They are always cautious about their consequences on human health..
However, the United Nations warns that “There are over 16,000 chemicals associated with plasticsMany of them are a cause for concern given their high toxicity, which can impact human health and nature. “Some of these chemicals can separate throughout the plastic’s life cycle and appear in the air, water and soil.”
A term from 20 years ago
The first time the term microplastic appeared It was 20 years ago in an article published in Science magazineSince then, studies and analyses on its presence have multiplied.
The study’s author, Richard Thompson, head of the International Marine Litter Research Unit at the University of Plymouth, came back two decades later to say that “After 20 years of research, there is clear evidence of the harmful effects of microplastic pollution on a global scale“.
“There are still unknowns, but in the 20 years since our first study, The amount of plastic in our oceans has increased by around 50%which only further underscores the urgent need for action,” Thompson stressed a few days ago.
Three times more plastic by 2060
In the midst of negotiations on the plastics treaty, it is warned that Plastic production has doubled in 20 years and, at the current rate, it could triple by 2060, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which also warns that more than 90% of plastic is not recycled and much of it ends up in nature or buried in landfills.
In addition to global political actions arising from the Plastic Pollution Treaty, It is up to consumers to reduce their consumption at home. We leave you with a short list of tips to make your daily life more sustainable and plastic-free.
Tips to avoid producing microplastics
- No plastic in your purchases: When you go to the supermarket, forget about the typical plastic bags. Although many are now compostable, it is best to have a reusable set of different sizes to ensure you do not use plastic.
- Living without plastic: Recognize and reflect on every consumer gesture you make. There is always a more sustainable option when purchasing an object or a routine act. Look for sustainable objects without plastic or made from natural materials: for example a wooden cutting board, avoid single-use disposable objects made of plastic (cutlery, glasses, plates, bottles…).
- Bundled Options: Escape the plastic universe that opens up on supermarket shelves. Look for bulk options, with your own cloth bags or refillable containers. By changing consumption habits, we can significantly reduce the plastic waste we generate.
- Recycle plastic: We are faced with an omnipresent material, it is everywhere in our lives, so eliminating its use is complicated. The most logical option is recycling, in particular by separating and depositing the packaging that we consume in the yellow container.
- Dress Consciously: Look at clothing labels and opt for natural fabrics whenever possible. Many clothes contain plastic compounds that end up polluting in many ways.
- Always put the washing machine full: Since we are talking about clothes, there is also a habit to acquire when doing laundry. Keep in mind that clothes made of synthetic fabrics can release microplastics due to friction. Therefore, if you put each washing machine at its maximum capacity, you will reduce the friction of the clothes against each other and, therefore, you will avoid the generation of these particles.
- Water, in glass: Ditch plastic bottles and switch to refillable glass or aluminum bottles. The most economical way to remove microplastics from water is to install reverse osmosis equipment and drink from a glass container.
- Homemade water trick: If you are considering drinking tap water or water straight from a sealed bottle and want to reduce the amount of microplastics, the best strategy is to boil and filter it. Researchers from Guangzho University and Jinan University in China came to this conclusion after conducting experiments with the traditional method of sterilization and purification. The results of their study were recently published in the journal Letters on environmental science and technology.
- Careful staff: Use cosmetics, soaps and other personal hygiene products that do not contain plastic ingredients such as silicones and paraffins. Avoid products with microbeadsare tiny plastic particles used in personal care products such as facial scrubs and toothpastes.
- Natural cleaning products: Many cleaning products contain microplastics. Choose natural products or make your own with simple ingredients like vinegar and baking soda.
- Better without capsules: Avoid convenient dishwasher and laundry detergent capsules or coffee capsules
