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Table of content
Definition
Definition
Microplastics are plastic fragments size ranging from 1 μm to 5 mm.
They fall into two categories:
Primary microplastics: Intentionally tiny, like microbeads in cosmetics or industrial pellets.
Secondary microplastics: Result from the breakdown of larger plastics like bottles or fishing nets.
Sources of Microplastics
Sources of Microplastics
Everyday Products
Everyday Products
Personal care products: Until recently, exfoliants and toothpastes contained plastic microbeads. A single shower could flush 100,000 microbeads down the drain.
Synthetic textiles: Washing one polyester garment releases 700,000 microplastic fibers.
Industrial Wastes
Industrial Wastes
Nurdles: Tiny plastic pellets used in manufacturing. Up to 230,000 tonnes leak into oceans yearly.
Environmental Degradation
Environmental Degradation
Plastic bags, bottles, and fishing gear fragment into microplastics under sunlight and waves. 80% of ocean microplastics originate from land-based sources.
Amount of Microplastics
Amount of Microplastics
Oceans: An estimated 15–51 trillion particles float in surface waters globally (van Sebille et al., 2015). By 2030, plastic waste could reach 300 million tonnes annually.
Humans: We ingest 5 grams of plastic weekly—the weight of a credit card. Microplastics are found in blood, lungs, and even placentas.
Ecological Impact
Ecological Impact
Human Health Risks
Human Health Risks
Environmental Persistence
Environmental Persistence
Economic Costs
Economic Costs
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