By therandomsci / August 23, 2020
Plastic is the most abundant type of marine debris found in the ocean and lakes. Plastic waste comes in all different shapes and sizes, but those are less than 5 millimeters in length are called microplastic.
We don’t know much about microplastic and its impact it is an emerging field of study. Microplastic comes from various sources it includes large plastic which is degraded into small pieces, microbeads in face washes and toothpaste, and beauty products. These tiny particles can easily pass through the water filtration system and end up in the ocean and lakes, posing a threat to aquatic life.
Microplastic is not new it emerges in personal care products about 50 yr. ago for the cheap replacement of natural ingredients. Microplastics have been detected in marine organisms from plankton to whales, in commercial seafood, and even in drinking water. Water treatment facilities cannot remove all traces of microplastics.
Even so, many countries are taking action to reduce microplastics in the environment. India bans on microbeads in rinse-off cosmetics from 1 Jan 2020.
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/microplastics/
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