HARMS FROM PLASTIC POLLUTION
- Stopping invisible nano-sized particles is critical. Mounting research on the adverse effects of nanoplastics suggests an increased impact on animals and plants. Of particular concern is that nanoplastics are distributed worldwide by the atmosphere, spreading the problem far and wide. Human health may be affected, too. A mouse study raises concerns about the potential health risks of nanoplastics on the human brain.
- Nano-Plastic Crosses Blood-Brain Barrier in Mice: A recent study finds evidence for potential neurological effects of plastic pollution. Researchers exposed mice to polystyrene nanoplastics and found evidence that these particles crossed the blood-brain barrier, potentially triggering brain inflammation (Wang, J., et al., 2022).
- Harms to Plants and Animals: Plastic permeates ecosystems, with impact to animals through follicle contact and ingestion (Wang et al., 2021), and recent findings indicate plants may uptake nanoplastics via their roots, posing risks to the food chain (Meijer et al., 2021). This issue is compounded by atmospheric transport, which disperses plastics worldwide, leading to the next concern: greenhouse effect.
- Airborne Micro and Nano-Sized Plastics and the Greenhouse Effect: Micro and nanoplastics become airborne, scatter sunlight, and absorb radiation emitted by the Earth. Currently, microplastics have a minimal influence on global climate. However, with projections to double plastic waste in the coming decades, atmospheric micro and nano plastics could increase the greenhouse effect unless plastic pollution can be reduced (Ravelle, et al., 2021).