الجسيمات البلاستيكية الدقيقة: الأصول والتأثيرات والحلول التقنية

Did you know that plastic makes up 60% to 80% of marine waste? Shockingly, 90% of floating waste in seas is plastic. This harms our planet’s ecosystems greatly. Tiny particles, known as اللدائن الدقيقة, are less than 5 millimeters. They present a critical environmental crisis. This piece explores the issues, effects, and fixes for *environmental pollution* by *microplastics* and *plastic waste accumulation*.

الوجبات الرئيسية

• Plastic materials constitute between 60% and 80% of marine waste.
• 90% of waste floating in oceans is plastic.
• Microplastics are particles smaller than 5 millimeters.
• People consume an average of 39,000–52,000 microplastic particles per year.
• Microplastics have been detected in human organs and tissues.

Introduction to Microplastics

Microplastics are a big issue in environmental studies because they’re everywhere and can be harmful. To understand them, we need to know what they are, where they come from, and how they’re classified.

Definition of Microplastics

Microplastics are small plastic pieces smaller than 5 millimeters long. They come from all sorts of plastic items and are a big part of pollution from tiny fibers. The term “microplastics” covers a wide range of sources and uses, showing they’re common in our surroundings.

Classification and Sources

Microplastics fall into two groups: primary and secondary. Primary microplastics are made on purpose, like cosmetic beads and manufacturing pellets. For example, using an exfoliant once can send up to 94,500 microbeads into nature. Secondary microplastics break off from bigger plastic things, like bottles and bags, over time.

1. Synthetic textiles
2. Tires
3. City dust
4. Road markings

These sources add a lot to the microplastic pollution seen around the world. Every year, 4 to 14 million tons of plastic pollution might enter the oceans. Shockingly, over 114 aquatic species have been found with microplastics in them.

Microplastics are found in drinking water, food, and even in our blood. Research shows 77% of people studied had plastic in their blood. We might get about five grams of microplastics in our bodies each week, the size of a credit card. This issue is worrying because البلاستيك take a long time to decompose.

The fact that microplastics are found from remote lakes to our bodies highlights the urgent need to find solutions and better manage this issue.

Historical Context of Plastic Usage

The story of plastics started in the mid-19th century. John Wesley Hyatt made the first synthetic polymers in 1869. He used cellulose from cotton fibers. The aim was to mimic substances like tortoiseshell and ivory. This began a revolution in materials.

Development of Synthetic Polymers

In 1862, Alexander Parkes created the first man-made plastic, ‘Parkesine.’ This was a big change. It allowed us to mass-produce items not relying on scarce natural resources. These steps were key for the future of plastics.

Plastic Boom Post-World War II

After World War II, the use of plastics skyrocketed. Plastics were key in many areas because they are strong and last long. During the war, the US saw plastic production jump by 300%. Innovations like Nylon parachutes and Plexiglas windows were important.

After the war, plastics started to replace traditional materials. They were used in making cars, packaging, and furniture. Yet, plastics’ durability soon became a problem. They didn’t break down easily, leading to waste and pollution.

How Microplastics Reach Water Bodies

Microplastics are tiny particles under 5mm. They are everywhere in our environment, especially in water. They come from many places and travel in different ways to get into oceans and lakes. Knowing how this happens is key to stopping the problem of microplastics in water.

Primary Microplastics

Primary microplastics are tiny plastics made on purpose for use in products and industry. They are in things like face scrubs and are used to make plastic items. Even after the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015, they still pose a big risk due to their small size and wide use.

Secondary Microplastics

Secondary microplastics are bits from bigger pieces of plastic that broke down. Sunlight, wind, and water help this happen. A study showed that 91% of these bits in a certain river were secondary, mainly from polyethylene. Sources on land are a big part of the problem, causing up to 80% of the pollution.

Pathways to Oceans and Lakes

Microplastics get to oceans and lakes in many ways. They can travel via rivers, runoff from cities, and wastewater. A study highlights that microfibers, from washing clothes, are a major type of microplastic in water. They make up around 35% of the ocean’s microplastics.

There are ways to remove most of these microfibers, but we need laws, technology, and financial tools. In places like Europe and North America, sewage sludge puts lots of microplastics in soil. Burning this waste can help. Dealing with runoff is vital to tackling the issue of microplastics in our waters.

Dangers of Microplastic Contamination

Microplastics are tiny synthetic particles that pose big environmental threats. They come from various sources like washing clothes, city dust, ships, and cleaning products. Being so small, marine animals can easily swallow them. This starts a chain of contamination in the food chain.

These particles don’t go away. They come from human activities that break down larger plastics into tiny bits. If not caught by sewage treatments, they can end up inside us, risking our health. It’s a fact that microplastics have been found inside human bodies, from the lungs to the stomach.

Microplastics cause physical harm to ocean life. When marine creatures ingest them, they can suffer organ damage and stress. This can lead to poor nutrition, inflammation, lowered breeding ability, and death. Such effects upset the balance of marine ecosystems.

The issue of microplastics is worldwide....

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