With the arrival of Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea, presented by Dar Stumpf & Clyde Reed, we’ve been talking a lot about microplastics and the damage they do to the environment. The nine breathtaking sculptures a part of this exhibit are made out of plastic pollution collected on Oregon’s beaches, and each one features a different animal that’s negatively affected by plastic and microplastic pollution.

But what even are microplastics?

Well, you’re about to find out! We’ve got you covered with a crash-course on everything you need to know about microplastics: what they are, where they come from, and the damage they do to both wildlife and humans.  

What are microplastics?

Any piece of plastic that is less than 5 millimeters long (which is around the size of a pencil eraser) is a microplastic¹. When plastic is thrown away or discarded, it doesn’t naturally decompose – instead, it breaks down into tiny pieces, creating microplastics.

5 millimeters is small, but it’s not that small… right?

Sure, you can easily see pieces of plastic the size of a pencil eraser – you could pick them up off of the beach! But microplastics don’t stop breaking down when they reach a size of 5 millimeters – they’ll keep on disintegrating into smaller and smaller pieces.

When microplastics break down into small enough pieces, they’re considered nanoplastics – which are less than one micrometer wide. To put it to scale, a human hair is generally between 80 and 100 micrometers wide (in other words, nanoplastics are SMALL). These nanoplastics are too small to be seen by the human eye, which means they’re also small enough to infiltrate our digestive systems, organs, food, and water – leading to many adverse health effects.

Where do microplastics come from?

Most microplastics come from broken-down macro plastics, which are larger plastic items (like water bottles, plastic bags, straws, and more). Over time, these plastic products break down into microplastics.

One often-overlooked type of microplastic pollution is plastic fibers from synthetic fabrics. Synthetic fabrics (such as polyester, nylon, spandex, and more) use fibers that are made from plastic, and end up “shedding” tiny plastic fibers – oftentimes while being washed. Because they’re so small, wastewater treatment plants often miss these fibers, allowing them to enter our waterways. 

Another source of microplastic pollution are tiny pre-production plastic pellets, called “nurdles.” These pellets are transported to plastic production factories, where they’re melted and shaped into plastic products. However, nurdles sometimes get spilled during transportation, contributing to microplastic pollution – and because there are a lot of plastic facilities in the Great Lakes region, many of these nurdles end up getting washed into our lakes.

What’s so bad about microplastics?

Because microplastics are so small, they can be found nearly anywhere – this includes agricultural soil, drinking water, beer, sea salt, and even in our blood. There’s also been evidence of nanoplastics – the extremely small microplastics – in liver and lung cells, reproductive tissues, and even in the air we breathe.

Recent research has also shown that microplastics are infiltrating our crops, primarily through leftover wastewater “solids” being used as fertilizer (in other words, sewage is processed and used as fertilizer – which often contains microplastics from clothing fibers, runoff, and other waste sources). There’s also evidence that using plastic products while farming (such as plastic mulch or landscape fabric) also contributes to microplastic pollution in our soils.

After making their way into the soil, microplastics then end up in plant tissue – and, because plastic doesn’t degrade, the microplastics get passed along to any organism that lies higher up on the food chain. This means that when we eat lettuce that contains microplastics, they’re passed along to us. Or, if a cow eats grass that’s contaminated by microplastics, the microplastics end up in the cow – and anyone who consumes meat from that cow.

How do microplastics impact our health?

Unfortunately, there isn’t a ton of existing research about the specific health effects of microplastics. However, one concern many scientists have is the possibility of microplastics passing on harmful chemicals to anything (or anyone) who accidentally ingests them.

Plastic can act as a “sponge,” soaking up harmful chemicals and toxins that it’s exposed to – and this also applies to microplastics. When these toxic bits of plastic are consumed by an organism, the absorbed chemicals can leech into their body.

Another concern about microplastic ingestion is the damage microplastics do to internal tissues and organs. When sharp or jagged pieces of microplastics are consumed, they can penetrate or tear an organism’s internal organs, which can lead to inflammation and impact organ functionality. 

What can you do to prevent microplastic pollution?

Unfortunately, once microplastics are in our environment, it’s too late to remove them – they’re too small for any cleanup efforts to be effective. Instead, we need to stop plastic pollution at its source to prevent microplastic pollution.

Whenever possible, avoid single-use plastic products, and opt for more sustainable alternatives. Additionally, do your best to purchase clothing made of natural fibers rather than synthetic ones.

Plastic and microplastic pollution is a huge problem – but through small steps, everyone can make a difference in helping the environment, wildlife, and even ourselves!

For more information on the impacts of plastic and microplastic pollution, check out our other blogs inspired by Washed Ashore:

• Our Waters, Our Responsibility: Plastic Pollution in the Great Lakes
• Meet the Washed Ashore Animal Advocates: Sylvia, Scrappy, & Hugo
• Meet the Washed Ashore Animal Advocates: Stanley, Giacometti, & Rosa
• Meet the Washed Ashore Animal Advocates: Edward, Marigold, & Clementine

Sources:

• NOAA. “What Are Microplastics?” NOAA’s National Ocean Service, June 16, 2024. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/microplastics.html.
• “What Are Microplastic Fibers and Why Are They Dangerous?” Plastic Soup Foundation, June 30, 2023. https://www.plasticsoupfoundation.org/en/blog/what-are-microplastic-fibers-and-why-are-they-dangerous.
• Meyer, Alex. “Are Plastic ‘leachates’ Affecting Lake Erie Ecosystems?” Ohio Sea Grant College Program, September 29, 2024. https://ohioseagrant.osu.edu/news/2024/wkqys/are-plastic-leachates-affecting-lake-erie-ecosystems.
• Petersen, Kate S. “Microplastics in Farm Soils: A Growing Concern.” EHN, August 31, 2020. https://www.ehn.org/plastic-in-farm-soil-and-food.