Nows the Time For Lawmakers to Care About Microplastics
Microplastics from the Patapsco River, photographed by the lab of Lance Yonkos at the University of Maryland. Photo: Chesapeake Bay Program
If the word microplastics conjures up thoughts of straws, sea turtles, and ideas that the world has bigger issues, youre definitely not alone. Its in the name: although they are strictly defined as plastic particles determining 5 millimeters or less, the majority of microplastics are tiny in size, and appear to have a matching level of significance.
The lifecycle of a microplastic starts with petroleum, drawn out from deep below the Earths surface area, being chemically refined and spun into fibers for textiles, or molded into single-use non reusable products. Over time, these products break down into tiny little bits of plastic that can now be found in our waterways, on mountaintops, and even in the most remote put on Earth.
Microplastics are simply completion of life for oil and gas, and stopping them requires stopping plastic production at the source: the oil well. And according to the International Energy Agency, plastics and other petrochemicals are forecasted to represent almost half of total need for oil by 2050.
But while nonrenewable fuel source reliance is a major factor we require detailed federal microplastics legislation, it isnt the only one. Microplastics likewise present a special public health hazard.
The human health effects of microplastics are extremely well recorded. We now comprehend that microplastics can trigger decreased fertility, reduced significant organ function, chronic inflammation, neurotoxicity, digestive barrier dysfunction, cell death, impaired hormonal function, potential harm to fetal development, and more. And their little size indicates that reducing their effects should originate from prevention, not clean up.
This evidence must be engaging enough for nations to control microplastic pollution. And lots of have made baby steps, in the kind of anti-microbead guideline and larger plastics restrictions and taxes. Here in the U.S., Congress passed the Microbead Free Waters Act of 2015, which prohibits the sale of rinse-off cosmetic items including plastic microbeads. And there is currently an expense in circulation called the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act, which, if passed, would take on plastic contamination by increasing plastic-producing business accountability for their waste.
While the passage of the latter would mark a substantial advance in the battle versus plastic pollution, its impacts would be far from sufficient. The bill does not resolve the distinct unfavorable impacts of microplastics specifically. The reality of the matter is that the U.S. has a criminal lack of effective mainstream federal legislative structure resolving microplastics.
Why isnt there comprehensive national legislation? Due to the fact that the most powerful oil and gas interests in the world preserve the status quo.
We should immediately believe of climate ramifications– fossil fuel extraction and a crisis that is really much upon us when we believe of microplastics. Our views of and actions against microplastics play a vital function in the battle toward a liveable future.
There is considerable international grassroots momentum for addressing our fossil fuel reliance. Its time to take benefit of this newly found global awareness and push for plastics legislation along with the phasing out of fossil fuels.
With one foot in the science world and one foot in the environmental advocacy world, I consult with the care of a researcher and the urgency of an advocate. I argue that we dont require more proof that microplastics cause damage.
The source of all ecological legislation eventually comes down to the security of human health– after all, were conserving ourselves, not simply the Earth– and it has been decades because domestic federal environmental policy was enacted.
We should comprehend that in dealing with microplastics, we are facing the behemoth international nonrenewable fuel source industry. Eventually, microplastics legislation is anti-fossil fuel legislation, but unlike previous stopped working efforts, this legislation may stand a possibility. Lets use the distinct truth that this is a public health hazard to develop need for detailed federal legislation that tackles microplastics and assists to stop the environment crisis.
Madeleine MacGillivray is a trainee in Columbia Universitys MS in Sustainability Management program. She completed her undergraduate thesis on microplastics contamination at Columbias Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
We now understand that microplastics can cause reduced fertility, reduced significant organ function, persistent swelling, neurotoxicity, intestinal barrier dysfunction, cell death, impaired hormonal function, possible damage to fetal development, and more. The reality of the matter is that the U.S. has a criminal absence of efficient mainstream federal legislative framework attending to microplastics.
We must comprehend that in dealing with microplastics, we are dealing with the leviathan global fossil fuel market. Eventually, microplastics legislation is anti-fossil fuel legislation, however unlike previous stopped working efforts, this legislation might stand a chance. Lets utilize the unique fact that this is a public health hazard to build need for thorough federal legislation that helps and deals with microplastics to stop the climate crisis.
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Madeleine MacGillivray|December 23, 2021