I Just Want to Say One Word to You … Plastics

Susanne Brander, Oregon State University

There are now more microplastics in the ocean than there are stars in the sky. That mind-blowing statistic is just the latest from what seems like a daily rollcall of studies on plastics and their microscopic and nanoscopic counterparts 5 mm and below. The more we look, the more we find, and the deeper scientists delve into the details, the more evident it becomes that these nearly invisible particles fragmenting from items we use every day are potentially capable of disrupting everything from photosynthesis to the functioning of our cardiovascular system. And over the past few years, it has become more evident that it’s about far more than plastic pollution or the particles created from the phases of plastic production and use. Across their life cycle, from their creation through to the small percentage (5% in the U.S.) that are recycled, unintended impacts on us and the environment are numerous and not easily remedied. For example, plastics contribute substantially to climate change via the extraction of fossil fuels for their production and the release of methane after disposal.

There are now more microplastics in the ocean than there are stars in the sky.

What is to become of this carefree “miracle material” that gained popularity in the 1960s, when the appeal of a simpler throw-it-away lifestyle with less manual labor far outweighed considerations for the build-up of waste? Six decades later it is safe to say that there is no “away” as landfills are capped and beaches, coveted by nesting seabirds and hundreds of miles away from urban centers, are now covered with plastic bottles, cigarette lighters and remnants of toys and food packaging, only to end up in the bellies of albatross chicks. More insidious are the many small fibers generated from our laundry, which are largely invisible but take up residence in our seafood, the soil we grow our crops in, and even our lungs.

We now know that this is far beyond an “ocean problem” and spans from waterways to our own living rooms. We are born pre-polluted with plastic particles that can move around inside our bodies, and although direct evidence that microplastics are toxic to humans is still accumulating, studies in other organisms speak to a host of effects, including cellular stress, alterations to the microbiome and reduced fertility. Everyone owns a “BPA-free” bottle, and we’ve known for decades that the thousands of chemicals used in the production of plastics can hoodwink our endocrine systems, causing messages to misfire and crossing the signals that allow us to develop, grow and reproduce. Even the recycling of plastic has backfired in terms of furthering hormone disruption, with a report out this year that black plastics, such as the take-away containers we put our sushi leftovers into, contain phased-out brominated flame retardants from plastic electronics, which can cause cancer and disrupt the nervous system amongst other essential functions. Plastics contaminate unexpected items too, even beverages served in glass bottles, because the caps are painted with polyester resins.

So what can we do? We’ve reached a tipping point with this transboundary challenge where the average person can probably recite a factoid or three about plastic pollution – even the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live featured a hilarious skit with Debbie Downer, lecturing Robert DeNiro on the drawbacks of using plastic straws (he was not pleased). In better news, only two decades after the term “microplastics” was coined by Professor Richard Thompson, hope for a global plastics treaty is on the horizon, with ongoing negotiations scheduled for August in Geneva, Switzerland. Nearly 100 countries (a majority) have already signed on to an ambitious list of goals, including reducing plastic production and regulating the thousands of chemicals used throughout the life cycle of plastics. As such, the push to put an end to our reliance on plastic is palpable, but the desire for massive profits from continued extraction of fossil fuels and the appetite for instant gratification are forces to be reckoned with and will determine the ultimate outcome from these historic negotiations. All told, the evidence for the harms of plastic outweigh their benefits for a large majority of uses. Supporting a strong treaty with binding obligations will point us toward a future where planetary health and future generations are prioritized.

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