Microplastics: hurting sealife and potentially human health

In 10 seconds? The oceans are awash with microplastics, including the seafood we eat. This may have harmful effects on the human body, depending on the level of exposure but scientist are testing eco-frienly methods to capture the particles. (Check out the a collection of research papers by following the links)

What are microplastics? Microplastics are small pieces of plastic less than 5 mm in size that cannot dissolve in water. It is estimated that 4.8 to 12.7 million metric tons of microplastic enter the ocean every year, as measured from 192 coastal countries. They are created either through the breakdown of larger pieces of plastics, such as water bottles and food packaging, or they are produced when fibres are shed from things such as fishing nets, tyres and synthetic clothing. A 5kg wash of synthetic fibres releases over 6 million microplastic particles into the water system