This week Galway Bay FM looked at the importance of limiting microplastic pollution.
Did you know…
- Microplastics are fragments of any type of plastic less than 5 mm (0.20 in) in length
- Primary microplastics include any plastic fragments or particles that are already 5.0 mm in size or less before entering the environment; including microfibers from clothing, microbeads, and plastic pellets.
- Secondary microplastics arise from the breakdown of larger plastic products through natural weathering processes after entering the environment.
Why is tackling microplastic pollution so important?
- Microplastics have a high probability of ingestion, incorporation into, and accumulation in the bodies and tissues of many organisms.
- The toxic chemicals that come from both the ocean and runoff can biomagnify up the food chain.
- In 2023, plasticosis, a new disease caused solely by plastics, was discovered in seabirds.
What can I do to help reduce microplastic pollution?
- Buy organic clothes (or those made from organic materials)
- Change how you do laundry
- Avoid single-use plastics
- Buy plastic-free cosmetics
Here’s a few websites if you want to know more !
- Galway Atlantaquaria https://nationalaquarium.ie/
- European Chemicals Agency https://echa.europa.eu/
- Microbeads – A Science Summary https://www.ec.gc.ca/ese-ees/ADDA4C5F-F397-48D5-AD17-63F989EBD0E5/Microbeads_Science%20Summary_EN.pdf
