Microplastics are tiny pieces made from man-made materials. They can be any shape and range in size from 1 micrometer (about the width of a human hair) to 5 millimeters. They come from two sources: some are made intentionally to be small, and others form when larger plastic items break down over time. Microplastics do not dissolve in water. They enter natural environments from many places, such as beauty products, clothing, construction materials, food containers, and industrial activities.
The word "microplastics" is used to describe these tiny particles, which are much smaller than larger plastic waste. There are two types of microplastics. Primary microplastics are already small (5 millimeters or less) when they enter the environment. Examples include tiny fibers from clothing, beads in cosmetics, glitter, and small plastic pellets used in manufacturing. Secondary microplastics form when larger plastic items, like water bottles, fishing nets, plastic bags, or tire particles, break down due to weathering or other natural processes.
Both types of microplastics stay in the environment for long periods, especially in water and ocean areas, where they are considered a type of water pollution. They are also found in the air and on land. Tiny plastic particles have been discovered floating in the atmosphere and in both indoor and outdoor spaces.
Because some plastics take hundreds or even thousands of years to break down, microplastics are often swallowed by animals and plants. They can build up in the bodies of living things, harming ecosystems. On land, microplastics have been shown to reduce the health of soil and the life it supports.
Over time, microplastics may break down further into even smaller pieces called nanoplastics. These are smaller than 1 micrometer (1,000 nanometers) and are too small to see with the naked eye. Nanoplastics are a type of microplastic.
Classification
The term "microplastics" was first widely used in a 2004 paper by Professor Richard Thompson, a marine biologist at the University of Plymouth in the United Kingdom. However, the term was also used in scientific studies about ocean pollution as early as the 1990s and even the late 1980s.
Microplastics are now common in the environment. In 2014, scientists estimated that between 15 and 51 trillion individual pieces of microplastic are in the world’s oceans. These pieces are believed to weigh between 93,000 and 236,000 metric tons. Over time, sunlight, wind, waves, and other natural processes cause plastic to break down into tiny pieces called microplastics, or even smaller pieces called nanoplastics.
Primary microplastics are small plastic pieces made intentionally for specific uses. They are often found in facial cleansers, cosmetics, and air-blasting technology. In some cases, they are used in medicine to deliver drugs. Microplastic scrubbers, used in products like facial scrubs, replace natural ingredients such as ground almonds or pumice. These scrubbers are also used in air-blasting technology to clean machinery and boat hulls. Over time, they wear down and may absorb harmful chemicals like cadmium, chromium, and lead. Many companies have reduced the use of microbeads, but some bioplastic microbeads still take a long time to break down.
Secondary microplastics are created when larger plastic items break down over time. This happens through natural processes like sunlight, water, and physical movement. Over time, large plastic pieces become smaller and smaller, a process called fragmentation. Scientists have found microplastics as small as 1.6 micrometers in the ocean. The uneven shapes of many microplastics suggest fragmentation is a major source. Some studies suggest biodegradable plastics may break down into more microplastics than non-biodegradable plastics in water.
Microplastic fibers enter the environment when synthetic clothing is washed or when tires wear down. Tires, which contain synthetic rubber, create tiny plastic and rubber particles that become dust. Small plastic pellets used in manufacturing can also enter ecosystems through spills or accidents.
A 2015 report by the Norwegian Environment Agency suggested classifying microplastics as "primary" if they come from human activities, such as manufacturing, rather than from natural breakdown processes.
Nanoplastics are smaller than 1 micrometer (1,000 nanometers) or even smaller than 100 nanometers. Scientists are still studying their role in the environment. Some believe nanoplastics are temporary byproducts of microplastic breakdown, while others worry they could become a serious environmental risk. Nanoplastics have been found in the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre. New tools like Raman spectroscopy and fluorescence may help scientists better understand nanoplastic levels in the environment.
Nanoplastics may harm the environment and human health. Because they are so small, they can pass through cell membranes and disrupt cell function. Studies show nanoplastics can mix with the fatty parts of cell membranes and move into organs like the brain and gallbladder in fish. They may also affect bone development and cause stress responses in animals like zebrafish and Daphnia. Nanoplastics can absorb harmful chemicals, such as antibiotics, which may help antibiotic-resistant bacteria spread through soil. Scientists are still learning about the full effects of nanoplastics on living things.
Sources of microplastics
The presence of microplastics in the environment is often studied through research involving water. Scientists collect samples of plankton, examine sandy and muddy sediments, observe how animals eat microplastics, and study how microplastics interact with harmful chemicals in water.
Microplastics are also tiny particles found in the air. A 2017 report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) stated that microplastics are a major cause of pollution in the ocean. These tiny plastic pieces can absorb heavy metals from seawater.
Microplastics can enter land areas through several ways, such as the breakdown of plastic films used in farming, the use of compost or sewage sludge, and through rainwater runoff, irrigation, and dust carried by the wind. How microplastics spread in soil depends on land use, farming methods, and weather conditions.
Studies have found microplastics in soil even when no plastic was directly added, showing that they can travel long distances and build up over time.
People are mainly exposed to microplastics by eating them. These tiny plastics are found in everyday items like drinking water, bottled water, seafood, salt, sugar, tea bags, milk, and other foods.
In 2017, more than eight million tons of plastic entered the ocean, which is 33 times more than the total amount of plastic in the ocean by 2015. One result of this is that ocean animals eat microplastics. It is estimated that Europeans consume about 11,000 microplastic particles per person each year through eating shellfish.
Microplastics can enter water sources in many ways, including rainwater runoff, wastewater from homes and factories, overflow from sewers, industrial waste, broken plastic waste, and dust from the air. Rainwater runoff and wastewater are the main sources, but more research is needed to better understand their exact origins. Plastic bottles and bottle caps used in bottled water have been confirmed as sources of microplastics in drinking water.
Microplastics are also found in soil, especially in farmland. They can move through the water system of plants, reaching roots, stems, leaves, and fruits. When microplastics enter soil through sewage sludge, compost, or plastic films used in farming, they can pollute food, increasing the risk of human exposure. A 2023 study found that microplastics can harm soil health and reduce crop growth by disrupting helpful microbes and the soil’s ability to hold water.
Many synthetic fibers, such as polyester, nylon, acrylics, and spandex, can come off clothing during washing and remain in the environment. Each piece of clothing in a laundry load can release more than 1,900 microplastic fibers, with fleeces shedding the most, over 170% more than other clothing types. In a typical wash of 6 kilograms (13 pounds) of clothes, more than 700,000 fibers can be released.
Washing machine filters can help reduce the number of microfibers that go to wastewater treatment plants.
These microfibers are found throughout the food chain, from tiny sea creatures to large animals like whales. Polyester is the most common fiber in clothing and is often used instead of cotton because it is cheaper and easier to make. However, polyester contributes greatly to the spread of microplastics in land, air, and ocean environments. Washing clothes releases an average of over 100 fibers per liter of water. This has been linked to health risks from chemicals like monomers, dyes, and plasticizers used in manufacturing. Studies show that synthetic fibers in homes make up 33% of all fibers found indoors.
Scientists have studied how much people are exposed to textile fibers in both indoor and outdoor areas. Indoor fiber levels range from 1.0 to 60.0 fibers per cubic meter, while outdoor levels are much lower, from 0.3 to 1.5 fibers per cubic meter. Indoors, about 1,586 to 11,130 fibers settle on each square meter of floor space every day, adding up to roughly 190 to 670 fibers per milligram of dust.
Plastic containers can release microplastics and tiny plastic particles into food and drinks.
In one study, 93% of bottled water from 11 different brands had microplastics, with an average of 325 particles per liter. Brands like Nestlé Pure Life and Gerolsteiner had the highest levels, with 930 and 807 particles per liter, respectively. San Pellegrino had the lowest levels. Bottled water had twice as many microplastics as tap water. A 2024 study found 240,000 tiny plastic fragments per liter, with 10% between 5 mm and 1 micrometer in size and 90% smaller than 1 micrometer.
Some of the contamination may come from the bottling process or water purification filters.
In 2020, researchers found that baby bottles made of polypropylene released microplastics when used with warm liquids. Infants in 48 regions could be exposed to between 14,600 and 4,550,000 microplastic particles per day. Similar results were found with other polypropylene products like lunchboxes. In 2021, studies showed that silicone baby bottle nipples break down over time from repeated use in steam sterilizers, releasing tiny silicone particles. A baby using such nipples for a year could swallow over 660,000 particles.
Common single-use plastic items, like plastic cups or paper cups with a plastic lining, release trillions of microplastic and nanoplastic particles into water during normal use. These items often end up in waterways, and policies that reduce single-use plastics have been shown to help reduce pollution.
Plastics are widely used in construction and renovation. Activities like building, repairing, or demolishing structures create airborne microplastic dust.
Materials like polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate, polypropylene, and acrylic can break down over time, releasing microplastics. During construction, single-use plastic items are often thrown away, adding to plastic waste. These plastics are hard to recycle and end up in landfills
Exposure pathways
Tiny plastic pieces called microplastics have been found in the air, both inside and outside buildings. These microplastics can be carried by the wind to faraway places. A 2017 study found that indoor air had between 1.0 and 60.0 microfibers per cubic meter, with 33% of these being microplastics. Another study in Tehran found 2,649 microplastic particles in 10 samples of street dust, with concentrations ranging from 83 to 605 particles per 30.0 grams of dust. Microplastics and microfibers have also been found in snow and in "clean" air high in mountain areas far from their source. Like in water and soil, more research is needed to understand how airborne microplastics affect the environment.
A growing concern about plastic pollution in oceans is the use of microplastics. These are small plastic pieces less than 5 millimeters wide, often found in soaps, face cleansers, and other products that remove dead skin. When these products are washed down the drain, the microplastics enter water systems and eventually reach the ocean. Because they are so small, they often escape the filters at wastewater treatment plants. These microplastics harm ocean life, especially animals that filter water, because they can accidentally eat the plastic and get sick. Microplastics are hard to clean up because of their size, so people can help by choosing products that use safer exfoliating ingredients instead of plastic beads.
Because plastic is used so widely, microplastics are now common in oceans. They are found on beaches, in surface water, in the deep sea, and in ocean sediments. Microplastics are also mixed with other ocean particles, such as dead plant or animal material and soil carried by rivers. The number of microplastics in an area often depends on how many people live nearby and how close the area is to cities.
Plastic pollution has been found in Antarctic and Arctic environments. In 2009, scientists discovered 96 microplastic particles from 14 types of plastic in a sample of Antarctic sea ice. The larger size of these particles suggests they came from nearby sources.
Microplastics are common in freshwater environments. A 2011 study found an average of 37.8 microplastic fragments per square meter of sediment in Lake Huron. Studies have also found microplastics in all of the Great Lakes, with an average of 43,000 particles per square kilometer. In Poland, a 2019 study found microplastics in all 30 lakes studied, with concentrations ranging from 0.27 to 1.57 particles per liter. In Canada, a study found an average of 193,420 microplastic particles per square kilometer in Lake Winnipeg. Most of the microplastics found were fibers from broken-down plastic, clothing, or atmospheric fallout. The highest recorded concentration of microplastics in freshwater was found in the Rhine River, with 4,000 particles per kilogram of water.
Researchers in North Carolina found microplastics in the Richland Creek watershed. Ninety percent of the microplastics were fibers from clothing, city runoff, or air pollution.
Microplastics are expected to be found in soil, but few studies have looked at them outside of water environments. In wetlands, microplastic levels are often lower where there is more plant life. Some scientists think microplastics from washing machines might end up in soil if wastewater treatment plants fail to remove them completely. Animals like earthworms and mites might also help create microplastics in soil by breaking down plastic they eat. More research is needed to understand this better. Studies have shown that using organic waste materials can lead to synthetic fibers in soil, but most research only notes their presence without explaining how they got there or how many there are.
A 2015 study of 15 salt brands in China found more microplastics in sea salt than in lake, rock, or well salt. This is likely because sea salt is polluted by ocean water, while other salts are more likely polluted during production. A 2017 estimate suggests that people who eat seafood may swallow 11,000 microplastic pieces each year. A 2019 study found 440 microplastic particles in a kilogram of sugar, 110 in a kilogram of salt, and 94 in a liter of bottled water.
Composition
The makeup of microplastics is made up of different parts. A study from 2023 looked at some fish and found that "about 80% of the microplastics found were shaped like threads and were made of polyethylene (25%), polyester (20%), and polyamide (10%). Most of the microplastic pieces seen were black (61%) or blue (27%) in color."
Microplastics include two kinds of chemicals. The first are additives and materials used to make plastic, such as monomers or oligomers. Additives are chemicals added during plastic production to make plastic more colorful or clearer and to help plastic products last longer by making them more resistant to damage from things like ozone, heat, light, mold, bacteria, and humidity, as well as mechanical, thermal, and electrical stress. Examples of additives in microplastics include fillers, plasticizers, antioxidants, UV stabilizers, lubricants, dyes, and flame-retardants. The second type of chemicals are those that microplastics take in from the environment around them.
Effects on the environment
In 2008, a meeting of scientists at the University of Washington at Tacoma found that microplastics were a problem in the ocean. They were found in the environment, stayed in the water for a long time, might increase in the future, and were eaten by ocean animals.
A 2019 review by the European Union’s Scientific Advice Mechanism showed that microplastics were found everywhere in the environment. At that time, there was no clear proof that they caused harm to ecosystems, but scientists warned that if pollution continued, risks could spread widely in the next 100 years.
By 2020, microplastics were found in freshwater areas like marshes, streams, lakes, and rivers in Europe, North America, South America, Asia, and Australia. In the United States, samples from 29 rivers near the Great Lakes showed that 98% of the plastic particles were microplastics, ranging from 0.355mm to 4.75mm in size. They were also found in high mountain areas far from where they started.
In 2020, studies in China found plastic in ocean sediment layers older than when plastics were first invented. This suggests that microplastics might be undercounted in surface ocean samples.
In September 2021, Hurricane Larry passed over Newfoundland, Canada, and deposited 113,000 microplastic particles per square meter each day. Scientists believe these particles came from the ocean, as the storm passed through the North Atlantic garbage patch. A similar study in China found that Typhoon Gaemi deposited up to 12,722 microplastic particles per square meter each day in Ningbo, which was 54 times higher than normal levels in Beijing. The study showed that typhoons can pull microplastics from the ocean and carry them into the air through sea spray, spreading them inland.
By 2023, research on microplastic pollution had grown quickly, with most studies focusing on oceans and coastal areas. Scientists asked for more shared data to find better solutions.
A 2023 study showed that plastic ingestion can cause a disease called plasticosis in seabirds. This disease causes long-term changes in tissue and inflammation in the digestive system, different from physical harm.
The long-term effects of plastic breaking down and releasing harmful chemicals have not been studied enough. Scientists called this "toxicity debt" because large amounts of plastic in the environment can release toxic substances over time.
Microplastics are tiny, smaller than 5mm. They are eaten by many animals, enter the food chain, and get stuck in their bodies.
Microplastics and even smaller plastic particles can get into animals’ bodies through eating or breathing. In controlled experiments, scientists found that animals can build up microplastics in their guts and gills over time. For example, lugworms and crabs have been shown to eat microplastics. Fish often mistake microplastics for food, which can block their stomachs and send wrong signals to their brains. A 2021 study showed that fish eat microplastics by accident, not on purpose. The first discovery of microplastics in wild animals was found in the skin of salmon, as the particles looked like viruses that the skin traps. This was found by chance during a study on fish skin.
A study near the Rio de la Plata estuary in Argentina found microplastics in the stomachs of 11 types of freshwater fish. These fish had different eating habits, such as eating dead matter, plankton, plants, or other fish. This is one of the few studies showing that freshwater animals eat microplastics.
It can take up to 14 days for microplastics to leave an animal’s body, compared to 2 days for normal digestion. If microplastics get stuck in an animal’s gills, they may never leave. When animals that eat microplastics are eaten by predators, the microplastics move up the food chain. For example, small fish called lanternfish, which are eaten by tuna and swordfish, have been found to have plastic in their stomachs. Microplastics also absorb harmful chemicals, which can then enter the bodies of animals. Small animals may eat less food because microplastics make them feel full, leading to starvation or physical harm.
Zooplankton, tiny ocean animals, eat microplastics and pass them out in their waste. Microplastics also stick to their legs and shells. Zooplankton eat microplastics because they smell like dimethyl sulfide, a chemical also used by phytoplankton. Plastics like plastic bags, food containers, and bottle caps can smell like this. Green and red plastic pieces have been found in plankton and seaweed.
Bottom feeders, like sea cucumbers, eat a lot of ocean sediment. Studies showed that sea cucumbers can eat up to 20 times more plastic than sand. This suggests they may choose to eat plastic, which is different from their usual feeding habits.
Caddisfly larvae, which are freshwater insects that build protective cases, now use microplastics in their cases. In 2023, scientists found microplastics in caddisfly cases collected in 1971 and 1986, long before the term "microplastic" was used. These old samples help scientists study how microplastics have affected water ecosystems over time. A 2025 study found that in some streams, more than half of all caddisfly cases contained microplastics.
Human health
Although scientists are still studying how microplastics affect human health, research on similar tiny materials, such as nanoparticles from industrial processes, can help predict possible effects. Studies in laboratories and on living organisms have shown that microplastics and nanoparticles can harm the body by causing physical stress, cell death, inflammation, and changes in how cells function. Microplastic pollution has been linked to health issues like respiratory disease and inflammation, but it is not yet clear if these conditions are directly caused by microplastics. These tiny particles have been found in the brain, especially in materials like polyethylene.
Microplastics often contain harmful chemicals, such as phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA), which can interfere with the body’s hormone system. These chemicals and microplastics themselves may disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, a system that controls male reproductive health.
A Harvard study found that microplastics are connected to health problems, including inflammation, cell death, effects on the lungs and liver, changes in the gut’s bacteria, and changes in how the body processes fats and hormones. Many studies have shown that microplastics can cause inflammation in the body. A laboratory study found that very small particles made of polystyrene, a material with low toxicity, can trigger inflammation because of their large surface area. Another study found signs of inflammation and debris in human joints from polyethylene used in medical implants, such as knee and hip replacements.
Laboratory experiments have also shown that polystyrene nanoparticles can cause oxidative stress, cell death, and breakdown of cells in ways that depend on the situation. However, no severe toxicity was observed in the livers, intestines, testes, lungs, hearts, spleens, or kidneys of mice after they were exposed to a mix of microplastics.
Recent research has shown that microplastics and nanoparticles can harm how cells use energy in both laboratory and living models. When human lung cells were exposed to 20 nm negatively charged polystyrene nanoparticles, ion channels in the cells became active, increasing the flow of certain ions. These particles also caused long-term increases in ion movement, depending on their concentration. In addition, 30 nm polystyrene nanoparticles caused large, bubble-like structures to form in the cells of macrophages and human cancer cells. These structures blocked the movement of proteins needed for cell division, leading to the formation of cells with two nuclei.
A Stanford Medicine article reported that microplastics are common in the human body and have been found in babies through the placenta and breast milk. Traces of microplastics and nanoparticles have been discovered in the brain, heart, and bodily fluids like urine. Early evidence from animal and cell studies suggests that these particles can cause inflammation, immune system problems, tissue damage, digestive issues, and breathing difficulties. A 2024 study found that people with microplastics in their artery plaque had a higher risk of heart attacks, strokes, and death. Recent research has also shown that exposure to microplastics can change how genes work, which may lead to blood vessel disease and long-term health problems.
Prevention
Some dust control methods include covering cutting areas with tarps, cutting materials inside protective tents, and using vacuum bags on power tools when working with materials like Trex and Azek. These methods are inexpensive. Street sweeping can help reduce the spread of pollution by collecting dirt and debris from construction, renovation, and rebuilding projects such as roads, tunnels, bridges, and buildings.
Some researchers suggest burning plastics to produce energy, a process called energy recovery. Instead of letting plastic waste release energy into the air in landfills, this method captures energy from plastics for use. However, unlike recycling, this process does not reduce the total amount of plastic produced. Recycling is seen as a more effective solution.
Biodegradation is another way to manage microplastic waste. In this process, microorganisms use enzymes to break down synthetic polymers. Once broken down, these plastics can be used for energy or as a carbon source. These microbes might also help treat sewage wastewater, reducing the amount of microplastics that reach natural environments.
Removing microplastics through wastewater treatment is important to stop them from entering natural water systems. Microplastics collected in treatment plants become part of the sludge produced. The problem is that this sludge is often used as fertilizer, which can cause microplastics to enter waterways through runoff.
Fionn Ferreira, the 2019 Google Science Fair winner, is creating a device that uses ferrofluid to remove microplastic particles from water.
The Ocean Cleanup, a Dutch organization, has proposed plans to remove 90% of ocean microplastics. However, oceanographers and experts in plastic pollution have criticized the project, saying it is unlikely to make a significant difference. Some reasons include that the plan only targets plastics larger than 2 cm (larger than the size of microplastics), is not technically feasible, and only collects plastic from the top 3 meters of water, where most plastic is not found.
Some bacteria can break down plastic, and scientists have modified certain bacteria to eat specific types of plastic. Microbes have also been engineered to trap microplastics in their biofilm, making it easier to remove pollutants. The microplastics can later be released using a special mechanism to help recover them.
Absorption devices, such as sponges made from cotton and squid bones, may be useful for cleaning water in large projects.
Microplastics are hard to detect because they are very small. Traditional methods include counting and measuring them under a microscope and identifying their type using Raman microspectrometry. Scientists have also engineered microbes to detect microplastics by activating a green fluorescent protein.
Methods to detect micro- and nanoplastics are not fully standardized. Differences in how samples are collected and analyzed can affect results. For example, the size of mesh used in water samples can influence the size and shape of particles detected. Using larger mesh sizes may lead to underestimating smaller particles, which can affect how accurately pollution levels are measured. Variations in how samples are prepared and measured can also make it hard to compare results between different laboratories.
Educating people about recycling is another way to reduce microplastic pollution. While this is a smaller solution, it has been shown to reduce littering, especially in cities with high plastic waste. Increasing recycling efforts could create a cycle of reuse, reducing waste and the need for new plastic production. To do this, governments would need better recycling systems and technology to recycle smaller plastics.
In April 2013, Italian artist Maria Cristina Finucci started The Garbage Patch State to raise awareness about pollution, supported by UNESCO and the Italian Ministry of the Environment.
In February 2013, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched the "Trash-Free Waters" program to stop single-use plastics from entering waterways and oceans. By 2018, the EPA worked with the United Nations Environment Programme and the Peace Corps to clean up the Caribbean Sea. The EPA also funded projects in the San Francisco Bay Area to reduce single-use plastics like cups, spoons, and straws at three University of California campuses.
The Florida Microplastic Awareness Project (FMAP) is a group of volunteers who look for microplastics in coastal water samples. Many organizations work to stop microplastic pollution and raise awareness. Global efforts aim to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14, which seeks to reduce marine pollution by 2025.
The Clean Oceans Initiative, started in 2018 by the European Investment Bank, Agence Française de Développement, and KfW Entwicklungsbank, aimed to provide up to €2 billion in loans, grants, and technical help by 2023 to remove pollution from waterways before it reaches the ocean. The project focuses on efficient ways to reduce plastic waste and microplastics, especially in rivers and coastal areas. In 2020, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) and Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO) joined the initiative. By December 2023, the program had funded nearly €3.2 billion, reaching 80% of its €4 billion goal. Over 20 million people were expected to benefit from projects like improved wastewater treatment in Sri Lanka, China, Egypt, and South Africa, better waste management in Togo and Senegal, and stormwater management in Benin, Morocco, and Ecuador.
In February 2022, the initiative increased its funding goal to €4 billion by 2025. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) became the sixth member of the initiative. By February 2023, the program had reached 65% of its goal, spending €2.6 billion on 60 projects that helped over 20 million people
Policy and legislation
Groups are working to remove microplastics from products because they harm the environment. One group, "Beat the Microbead," helps reduce plastics in personal care items. Another group, the Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation, collects water samples to study how microplastics spread in nature. UNESCO supports research on microplastic pollution because it affects areas across borders. These groups will continue to push companies to stop using plastics to protect ecosystems.
In 2018, China stopped accepting recyclable materials from other countries, which made those countries rethink their recycling systems. The Yangtze River in China sends 55% of all plastic waste into the ocean. This river carries about 500,000 pieces of plastic, including microplastics, per square kilometer.
In 2019, a report in Scientific American stated that China is responsible for 30% of all plastic waste in the ocean.
The European Commission has studied the effects of microplastics on the environment. In 2018, it asked scientists to review evidence about microplastic pollution. A report was completed in 2019, and the European Commission used it to decide if new rules should be made to reduce microplastic pollution.
In 2019, the European Chemicals Agency proposed rules to limit the use of microplastics in products. The European Union produces about 10% of the world’s microplastics, or 150,000 tonnes each year. This equals 200 grams of microplastics per person yearly, though amounts vary by region.
The European Union’s Circular Economy Action Plan requires companies to recycle more and reduce waste. It aims to stop the addition of microplastics in products and improve ways to capture microplastics throughout a product’s life. For example, the plan will examine policies to reduce microplastics from tires and clothing. The EU also plans to update laws about wastewater treatment and drinking water to monitor microplastics.
A rule banning synthetic polymer microparticles took effect on October 17, 2023.
In Haiti, there is no organized system to collect or treat waste. Plastic waste often ends up in urban water systems, where it breaks down into microplastics. Warm temperatures and long daylight hours may speed up this breakdown. Plastic waste in Port-au-Prince Bay harms the environment and increases risks from pollution and ocean acidification.
In 2012, Haiti banned the use of polyethylene bags and polystyrene containers for food. Thirteen other Caribbean countries have also banned single-use plastic bags or polystyrene containers.
In 2013, Haiti banned the use of polystyrene for food again. Officials from multiple ministries announced plans to enforce this rule by sending teams to check compliance.
In 2024, Hong Kong started its first phase of a plastic restriction law. Videos were made to encourage people to bring their own utensils and shopping bags. Stores are not allowed to give customers plastic items.
In 2018, Japan passed a law to reduce microplastic pollution, especially in water. This law focuses on personal care products like face wash and toothpaste. It updates earlier rules about removing ocean plastic and includes efforts to teach people about recycling. However, the law does not punish companies that still use microplastics.
In England, a 2017 law banned microbeads in rinse-off personal care products, such as exfoliants. Companies that break this law face fines. If fines are not paid, they may be forced to stop production until they follow the rules.
In the United States, some states have taken action. Illinois banned cosmetics with microplastics in 2014. At the federal level, the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015, signed by President Obama, banned microbeads in rinse-off products like toothpaste and face wash. The law took effect in 2017 for manufacturing and in 2018 for sales. In 2020, California defined microplastics in drinking water, helping to study their effects on health.
In 2018, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a law to reduce microplastics as part of the Save Our Seas Act. This law supports efforts to clean up and study plastic pollution in the Great Lakes. President Trump signed the law into effect in 2018.
Studies debunk
Studies on microplastics have been widely disputed, and some have been questioned for their accuracy and shown to be incorrect. Research examining the amount of microplastics in brain tissue has faced scrutiny because fat in human tissue may be mistakenly identified as the plastic polyethylene, leading to overestimations of microplastic levels in tested brains. Fats in human tissue have also been found to produce fumes similar to those from polyethylene and PVC plastics, causing errors in laboratory tests that detect microplastics in organs. Additionally, particles from standard latex and nitrile gloves coated with stearate salt can rub off during testing. These particles are similar in size and shape to microscopic polyethylene, potentially misleading infrared light methods used to scan for microplastics. This can create the appearance of extra plastic particles per square millimeter in examined organs.