Contributors of Microplastics
Primary Microplastics (Intentionally Produced)
These are manufactured small plastic particles used in products or industrial processes.
Microbeads – Found in personal care products like exfoliating scrubs, toothpaste, and facial cleansers.
Industrial Abrasives – Used in sandblasting and industrial cleaning processes.
Plastic Pellets (Nurdles) – Small raw plastic beads used in plastic manufacturing that often spill into the environment during transport.
Secondary Microplastics (Breakdown of Larger Plastics)
These result from the fragmentation and degradation of larger plastic items due to environmental exposure.
4. Synthetic Fibers – Released from washing clothes made of polyester, nylon, and acrylic. These fibers enter waterways through wastewater.
5. Plastic Waste Degradation – Plastic bags, bottles, and packaging break down over time due to UV radiation, weathering, and mechanical forces.
6. Car Tire Wear – Tiny plastic particles are shed from tires due to friction with roads and get washed into waterways by rain.
7. Paints and Coatings – Marine, industrial, and household paints release microplastic particles as they degrade.
8. Road Markings – Traffic lines and markings wear down over time, contributing to microplastic pollution.
9. Fishing Gear – Lost or discarded fishing nets and ropes made of plastic degrade and release microplastics into marine environments.
10. Sanitary products and diapers
Single-use utensils
Citations:
A. Meeker John D., Sathyanarayaba Sheela and Swan Shanna H. 2009 Phthalates and other additives in plastics: human exposure and associated health outcomes. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B3642097–2113. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2008.0268
