“When one
tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the
world.” John Muir
The Ripple Effect:
Last week we
discussed the great power that each of us has to create change. Today’s post is
a reminder of that power and how each and every decision, no matter how small,
impacts the world around us. While there are many examples of this ripple
effect, there’s nothing quite like the deeply intertwined waterways of the
world to remind us that we are all connected. That’s why today’s story
highlights the current pollution challenges facing our waters and what can be
done to lessen that impact.
Pollution
in the News:
If you are fortunate enough to live near a body of water,
you have also probably experienced the unfortunate effects of pollution. From
the discarded cigarettes on the beach to the bits of trash collecting along the
shore, the evidence of pollution is floating on the surface of nearly every
lake, river and ocean around the world. While this tangible pollution is a
serious concern, scientists are now finding that microscopic fibers and plastic
particles are among the most persistent pollutants in our waterways today.
Generally, less than 4.5 mm in diameter, these tiny
troublemakers can be found in everyday products ranging from toothpaste and
body wash to synthetic clothing. Often labeled as polyethylene or polypropylene
these seemly small and harmless particles escape down your drain and into the
sewer system where they make their way into the aquatic ecosystem. Once there,
research shows that these microplastic particles are capable of absorbing
persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the environment (Chau, 2014) before
eventually being ingested by wildlife.
Examples of POPs include:
- polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which is a plastic additive,
- polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which can be found in plasticizers and hydraulic fluid
- and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDTs) an insecticide which has been banned in the United States since 1972 but is still persistent in the environment.
Micro
Pollution, Macro Problem:
As a
2014 study published in EnvironmentalScience and Technology put
it, these microplastic particles “pose a risk of contaminating aquatic food
chains with the potential for increasing public exposure through dietary
sources” (Chau, 2014).
“It’s
a challenging thing to get at since these are coming off of a number of
products,” said Titus Seilheimer Ph.D., a fisheries specialist at Wisconsin Sea
Grant in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. “It comes back to the fact that these are the
types of things that are very small and there’s some concern that a lot of
these small fish are mistaking these for food and feeding on these microfibers.
The question here too is, are these microfibers carrying things like persistent
chemicals or contaminants picked up from the environment and concentrating
them? As a group from the marine debris side of things, we need to know the
answer to this. These are questions that are important to understand.”
The Bad News:
The
bad news is that not only are these microplastic particles potentially
hazardous, but they also have a way of getting past our best defenses. Given
their small diameter, microplastic particles easily escape down our drains and
into the sewer system. Though your water may be filtered at a treatment plant,
the beads are so small that they often escape the filtration process and are
released out into the environment.
While the amount
of pollution stemming from your bathroom sink or laundry room may seem like
small sources, Seilheimer says it’s an economy of scale issue. In fact,
according to researchers, there is an estimated minimum of “5.25 trillion plastic particles, weighing 268,940 tons”
currently in the ocean (Eriksen et al., 2014). While the researchers in this
study looked at plastic debris ranging in size from microplastic (.33mm-4.75mm)
to macroplastic (200mm or larger), the researchers found that particles
ranging from .33mm to 4.75mm, or micro size, accounted for “92.4% of the global particle count” (Eriksen et
al., 2014).
While
microplastic is clearly a huge contributor to pollution, overall, Seilheimer
said that microplastic particles are part of a larger group called “chemicals
of emerging concern.” These are chemicals such as microplastic pollution,
caffeine and prescription drugs that have been shown to have an impact on the
environment. In other words, “things that we ingest, pass through us and then
go through the wastewater treatment and out into the environment.”
The jury is still
out on the overall impact of some of these chemicals, but Wisconsin Sea Grant
and other related organizations are continuing to research the impact and then
share their knowledge with the public.
The Good News:
In
fact, thanks to the work of scientists and advocates, we are already on our way
to minimizing microplastic pollution. For example, in 2015 former President
Barack Obama signed the “Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015” which “bans
rinse-off cosmetics that contain intentionally-added plastic microbeads
beginning on January 1, 2018.” The act will also put a ban on the “manufacturing
of these cosmetics beginning on July 1, 2017” (H.R.1321, 2015).
Another piece of good news is that back in 2006, the Marine
Debris Act was signed into law. This act works to “identify, determine sources
of, assess, prevent, reduce, and remove marine debris and address the adverse
impacts of marine debris on the economy of the United States, marine
environment, and navigation safety,” which is great news for our environment
(OR&R, 2016).
While
this is a wonderful start, these acts will not decrease all debris and will not
affect the microplastic being released into the environment when larger pieces
of plastic begin breaking down. Therefore, we must all take steps to protect
and preserve this important ecosystem for future generations.
For more on that please visit:
https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/about-our-program/marine-debris-act
What can I do?
According to Seilheimer, there
are a number of simple ways to reduce your plastic pollution impact and create
change in your community.
1. Start to think about the single use items you use including straws, plastic forks, plates, coffee mugs and more. Can you get by without a plastic water bottle? Even if you recycle those, think about whether or not you really need those. Also, consider the cost comparison of the water bottle vs municipal. Seilheimer says, “You don’t have to live a completely plastic free life, but be more aware of the impact on the environment. Using less is a good thing.”
2. Look at the ingredient label and be sure that the products you are using do not contain polyethylene or polypropylene (microbeads).
3. Consider purchasing clothing made from natural fibers. If you need to use synthetic fibers, consider washing those pieces of clothing less frequently to reduce the amount of microfibers making their way into the environment.
4. Consider getting involved with a program such as The Alliance for the Great Lakes, which organizes beach clean-up efforts. (https://greatlakes.org/get-involved/)
5. In addition to plastic pollution, water quality on the nutrient side is a big concern in Wisconsin. So, consider creating a rain garden and using a rain barrel that intercepts the water coming off of hardened surfaces. This helps to reduce the fertilizer and pesticide run-off going from your lawn into the lakes.
So, go forth
powerful ones and be the change you wish to see! And, be sure to check back
Sunday for more on local and international organizations working to reduce our
impact on waterways.
Want to know more?
Learn more from my
sources:
Chau, E. M., Shimeta, J., Nugegoda, D., Morrison, P. D.,
& Clark, B. O. (2014, June 2). Assimilation of Polybrominated Diphenyl
Ethers from Microplastics by the Marine Amphipod, Allorchestes Compressa.
Retrieved October 06, 2016, from http://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/es405717z
Eriksen, M., Lebreton, L. C., Carson, H. S., Thiel, M.,
Moore, C. R., Borerro, J. C., . . . Reisser, J. (2014, December 10). Plastic
Pollution in the World's Oceans: More than 5 Trillion Plastic Pieces Weighing
over 250,000 Tons Afloat at Sea. Retrieved October 06, 2016, from http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0111913
H.R.1321 - 114th Congress (2015-2016): Microbead-Free Waters
Act of 2015. (2015, December 7). Retrieved October 06, 2016, from https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/1321
OR&R's Marine Debris Program. (n.d.). Retrieved October
06, 2016, from https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/about-our-program/marine-debris-act
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs). (2009, February).
Retrieved October 06, 2016, from http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/factsheets/polychlorinatedbiphenyls.htm
Titus Seilheimer: http://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/home/Default.aspx?tabid=609
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