Green Junction - A Plastic Ecosystem
According to the United Nations Environment Program, the equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic are dumped into the world's oceans, rivers, and lakes every day. The surge and growth of the plastic industry has led to more plastic materials that are released into the environment as long-lasting plastic garbage. The amount of plastic in the oceans is estimate between 100 and 200 million tons. While most of this comes from land sources, fishing gear is also a significant contributor to this plastic pollution in our oceans.
According to a study from 2021, ten rivers in the world account for 18% of the plastic pollution carried via rivers to the oceans. Most of these rivers are in poorer Asian countries that have inadequate waste management practices. These rivers are near cities where higher populations of people use disposable plastics. Furthermore, cities have lots of paved surfaces that facilitate the movement of garbage into rivers.
Last week, I described the plastic pollution that moves in the other direction: from the waters of Lake Michigan to the land. Light weight plastic pieces can travel for years in the atmosphere and at great distances. This mode of transportation accounts for the microplastics that have been discovered on mountaintops. A recent study by meteorologists at the University of Vienna found that over 20 times more microplastic particles are emitted from land than from the ocean. This makes sense given that most plastic is on land.
When we breathe, we are exposed to microscopic plastic particles. The concentration of microplastics in indoor air may be greater if your home is full of plastic-based materials, especially plastic microfibers. A study released last year by French scientists estimated that adults daily inhale about 68,000 microplastics in the range of 1-10 micrometers. (For comparison, the diameter of strands of hair ranges from about 20 to 200 micrometers.) The 1-10 micrometer particles are small enough to be inhaled deep into the lungs and create health problems. To lessen your exposures, reduce the fabrics (fleece, rugs, toys) that release plastic fibers in your home. All of this data tells us that plastic has invaded our lives and our earth and it is on all of us to say no to unnecessary plastic.