Science & Tech Spotlight: Microplastics in the Body and Environment

Why This matters Across the globe, over 24 million tons of plastic (as much weight as 12 million cars) enter the environment each year. Larger plastics gradually break down into smaller microplastics, which can move into the organs, blood, and cells of humans and other animals. Key Takeaways Major sources of microplastics include vehicle tires, synthetic fabrics, plastic bottles, and paint. Exposure to microplastics is associated with health problems in humans and other organisms, but scientists have not determined the extent to which microplastics cause such problems. Federal agencies have announced actions to measure and remove microplastics in the human body, consider potential regulation of microplastics in drinking water, and reduce microplastic exposure from synthetic fabrics. The Science What is it? Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than 5,000 micrometers (i.e., 5 millimeters). The smallest microplastics, called “nanoplastics,” are smaller than 1 micrometer (see fig. 1). Figure 1. Relative Sizes of Microplastics Some microplastics are intentionally produced. For example, exfoliating products and toothpastes containing plastic microbeads were common until the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 prohibited their production in the U.S. However, most microplastics result from the gradual breakdown of larger plastics, and these particles may never fully decompose. Major sources…

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