Microplastic Pollution Linked to Rise in Chronic Diseases

We have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to end plastic pollution

Plastic pollution protestors outside UN Plastics Treaty meeting in Ottawa

Need-to-Know: We’re all exposed to microplastic fallout every day.

Hundreds of kilograms of mostly invisible microplastic particles fall from the sky on your town or city every day.

About 2.4 tons of microplastics will fall on the City of Ottawa over the next 5 days, according to extensive measurements done previously.

Thanks to the Minderoo Foundation, a Plastic Fallout Forecast should soon be available for other towns and cities. For more, watch this short video.

 

Need-to-Know: Microplastics linked to a stunning array of health impacts

Microplastics are now linked to a wide range of health impacts, including escalating levels of male infertility, obesity, heart and intestinal diseases, and some cancers.

Need-to-Know: Microplastic fallout is akin to being constantly exposed to radiation

Microplastic fallout is like radiation exposure: Invisible microplastics enter our bodies daily and penetrate virtually every organ. Microplastic particles are in our lungs, heart, blood, and even our brains. They damage the delicate tissues in our bodies while leaching chemicals, many of which are known to be dangerous.

Need-to-Know: 92% of plastics are NOT recycled

You and I could be ingesting as much as a credit-card-sized amount (5 grams) of microplastics every week, according to a 2021 study.

Unborn children are also ingesting microplastics which are commonly found in placentas.

For more on health impacts:

Becoming Plastic People on a Plastic Planet

Plastic Planet = Plastic People

Need-to-Know: We have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to end plastic pollution

A legally binding UN Global Plastic Treaty is being debated this week in Ottawa. The treaty could cap the amount of new plastic being made and control the toxic chemicals being used.

I say could because the plastic and fossil fuel industries are vigorously lobbying against this effort. They have enormous influence over government delegations from the U.S., China, India, Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf States. These are some of the countries that oppose any control measures.

Not surprisingly, the vast majority of people in every country support cutting plastic pollution. And 80% want virgin plastic production cut too.

Need-to-Know: Over 200 million tons of single-use plastics made every year

Single-use plastics are only truly needed in health care. No one needs a plastic-wrapped cucumber—all that does is allow the many different chemicals in the polyethylene plastic wrap to contaminate the cucumber.

"Every type of plastic contains unknown chemicals," and many of those chemicals may well be unsafe, says Jane Muncke, Ph.D., an environmental toxicologist

The UN Global Plastic Treaty is in the end stages of negotiations. The second to last stage is in Ottawa until April 30th, and then the treaty will be finalized in Busan, Korea at the end of November (INC-5).

Need-to-Know: Your help is needed for a strong plastics treaty to end plastic pollution

We will all have to push our respective governments to get a plastic treaty that can end plastic pollution. The plastics industry is pumping out advertising saying plastic is essential to good health!

Who knows what else is being said behind closed doors?

Here’s a good source on actions you can take from the folks who made the new documentary film Plastic People: The Hidden Crisis of Microplastics.

I highly recommend watching the film. Here’s the trailer.