The Microplastics Crisis is Worse Than You Think
Hiya,
This month I decided to look into microplastics. I’ve done several videos on recycling and the plastic industry, but I felt it was high time that I tackled the newest specter of the petrochemical industry. Microplastics have been gaining traction in the headlines in recent years for their potential health impacts, so I wanted to see for myself how destructive they really were— not just for our bodies, but for the planet. The result of my research is the video below. Check it out, and make sure to check out the three links and quotes I found illuminating during the research process.
Three Quotes:
“For decades, petrochemical companies and the plastics industry have known of the technical and economic limitations that make plastics unrecyclable and have failed to overcome them. Despite this knowledge, the plastics industry has continued to increase plastic production, while carrying out a well-coordinated campaign to deceive consumers, policymakers, and regulators about plastic recycling.”
— Center for Climate Integrity
“Emissions of microplastics to the environment are estimated to be between 10 and 40 million tonnes per year, and under business-as-usual scenarios, this amount could double by 2040. Even if it were possible to immediately halt emissions, quantities would continue to increase because of the fragmentation of legacy items.”
— Richard C. Thompson et al.
“Subsequently, we estimated that globally on average, humans may ingest 0.1–5 g of microplastics weekly through various exposure pathways.”
— Kala Senathirajah et al.
Three Links:
Microplastics: How Worried Should You Be? (Science Vs)
Twenty years of microplastic pollution research—what have we learned? (Richard C. Thompson et al.)
The Fraud of Plastic Recycling (Center for Climate Integrity)
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Hope you have a great day,
In solidarity,
Charlie