Why are microplastics a problem and what can we do?
When we talk about protecting the environment, one of the main problems that appears often is certainly microplastics. These small, plastic particles that are under 5 mm in size are very harmful for the environment. You can’t see them, and animals, especially waterborne creatures can’t see those, either. And the problem is, according to Statista, we are ingesting anywhere from 78000 to 211000 microplastics every year.
Why are microplastics dangerous?
Microplastics are very hard to detect, and thus it’s almost impossible to remove them from water, drinks or any other compounds we ingest. And unfortunately, we can find them in personal care products, even in the clothes we wear. Plus, these are harmful for marine life, as they can harm the digestive tracts of animals, not to mention they absorb toxic pollutants, which can be lethal to animals.
Plus, microplastics can be problematic for us as well, since they can accumulate harmful toxins for the human body. These can lead to hormonal disruptions, inflammatory responses, toxic reactions and many others.
We also have other things, like the disruption of ecosystems. Due to microplastics, corals can end up damaged, and animals that would normally be prey for other animals just die, which alters the food chain. It’s also a problem that can lead to microbial life being hampered, water retention being a problem, etc.
What can we do when it comes to avoiding microplastics?
The problem is that microplastics are pretty much a part of our lives, and we don’t even know it most of the time. There are a few things we can do in order to lower the microplastics consumption, as follows:
Reducing single-use plastics can help quite a lot. You can opt for reusable bags, plastic-free alternatives, and go for businesses that use sustainable packaging.
Washing your clothes less often and trying to use filters is also going to be a much better option.
Make sure that the products you buy are sustainable and recyclable, if possible.
If you see products that have microbeads, then it’s a very good idea to avoid them, as they are very dangerous.
Filter your tap water, it’s a good way to remove most microplastics from drinking water.
There’s no denying that microplastics are very dangerous and you need to find an effective way of dealing with this problem. Thankfully, handling microplastics is not going to be a simple thing. It requires time, commitment and a great focus on results. But in the end, there are ways to get rid of microplastics. I recommend implementing these ideas into your life, it can help you quite a bit, and if you spread the word or encourage others to do so, it’s even better!
