Microplastics are becoming a substantial problem in our environment. Although a definition for microplastics has not yet been formalized, the scientific community agrees that plastic particles within the size range of millimeter to sub-millimeter are considered microplastics. As plastic production has expanded greatly in recent years, more and more microplastics have begun to take over the oceans, thus increasing the concern for the environment, and the health of humans and marine organisms. Microplastics that are consumed by marine life, not only affect the health of the marine organism that directly ingests the plastic, but also humans that then ingest these organisms, therefore impacting the whole food chain. In addition to the spread of toxins that are on the surface of the microplastics, microplastics can also carry invasive species to different parts of the ocean, affecting the environment significantly. As of now, many different solutions have been posed to solve the “plastic problem.” One of these is an enzyme, produced by certain strains of bacteria, that has the ability to break down the microplastics biochemically. Additionally, changes in consumer behavior, as well as more government intervention in regard to plastic use are possible solutions to the growing problem of microplastics. Biodegradable plastics have been a recent attempt at fixing the problem, however these plastics have been shown in several studies to release harmful chemicals when broken down, which is counterproductive to the overall goal of helping the environment. Overall, microplastics are a severe problem that will require a significant amount of time and money to help solve.
Authors: Sydney Carnes, Niusha Daneshdoost, Zachary Dundek, Erika Faye Flores, and April Johnson
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Michael Kennedy, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
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