An image of a straw stuck in a turtle’s nose drew widespread alarm, prompting bans on plastic straws and other single use plastics. But there is an invisible threat lurking in our oceans – microplastics, particles of plastic smaller than five millimetres in diameter. One estimate suggests there are 358 trillion microplastic particles – about 4.9 million tonnes – floating on the surface of oceans, with trillions more within. These pieces are ingested by all sorts of animals, from massive filter-feeding whales to small plankton. Over time, their accumulation within marine organisms is likely to hamper their life cycle. Microplastics could also impair the ocean’s capacity to store our excess carbon, thus hampering climate change mitigation. Tiny ocean animals also get entangled in microplastics, just like dolphins get entangled in nets. The problem with all plastics is that they don’t break down soon enough into harmless molecules, decomposing after hundreds or thousands of years. and their persistence in the environment is toxic to wildlife as well as humans.
Photo: Missouri Conservation Department.
There are two sources of these insidious microplastics. Primary microplastics are designed and intentionally added to cosmetics to give texture to items such as toothpaste, soap and hand sanitiser. These could be absorbed by the skin or directly ingested. Some clothes also have microplastics in the form of microfibres, which are shed as the clothes wear out, along with microfibres shed from products such as fishing nets. Microplastics that are formed owing to the breakdown of larger pieces of plastic following the physical force of waves and the sun’s heat, are secondary microplastics. All these pieces end up either in the soil or are washed off into the rivers, and ultimately into the oceans. Unfortunately, microplastics cannot be removed completely by major water treatment processes.
Products we use in our daily life are also a source of persistent microplastics. Photo: Public domain/NOAA.
. Examine the ingredient list of all the cosmetic products you buy, and reduce the use of products with microplastics. Use cosmetics made of natural ingredients.
. Purchase products that are bio-based and biodegradable and wrapped in sustainable packaging.
. Wear clothes made of natural fibres such as organic cotton.
. Put an end to the use of single use plastics such as shopping bags, straws, spoons and bottles. Carry your own bamboo or steel cutlery.
. Write to the Minister of Environment (on X, or mefcc@gov.in) urging a ban on products with microplastics, asking to implement policies to reduce plastic packaging.
. Talk to your friends and family about reducing the use of plastic-laden products. Encourage recycling and reusing. Write about the changes you made on social media, and tag us!
Write a small letter with a photograph about how you will put an end to microplastic pollution, and send it to editorial@sanctuaryasia.com.
