The term microplastics is used to differentiate from larger, non-microscopic plastic waste. Two classifications of microplastics are currently recognized. Primary microplastics include any plastic fragments or particles that are already 5.0 mm in size or less before entering the environment.

Feb 27, 2024 · Sometimes only about the width of a human hair, microplastics are the insidious byproduct of everyday items like packing materials, car tires, synthetic clothes as they degrade and even some scrubbing face washes.

Feb 5, 2025 · Microplastics – plastic fragments up to 5 millimeters long – are inescapable. An estimated 10 to 40 million metric tons of these particles are released into the environment every year, and if current trends continue, that number could double by 2040.

Feb 4, 2025 · Microplastics are emerging pollutants, posing significant challenges for individuals, communities, and governments. However, there are actionable steps that can be taken to reduce exposure. First, you can opt for reusable products over single-use plastics.

Dec 28, 2015 · Microplastics are small plastic pieces less than five millimeters long which can be harmful to our ocean and aquatic life.

Jun 27, 2024 · Microplastics have been detected in fruits and vegetables, plastic water bottles, the air, cosmetics, and household dust. Now, researchers are finding them in almost every part of the human body, including in breast milk, the placenta, testicles, hearts, livers, and kidneys.

3 days ago · microplastics, small pieces of plastic, less than 5 mm (0.2 inch) in length, that occur in the environment as a consequence of plastic pollution. Microplastics are present in a variety of products, from cosmetics to synthetic clothing to plastic bags and bottles.

Apr 28, 2023 · One of the most damaging and long-lived legacies of the plastic pollution crisis is microplastics, a growing threat to human and planetary health. These tiny plastic particles are present in everyday items, including cigarettes, clothing and cosmetics.

2 days ago · Microplastics are only a small component of this global push, but the urgency has led some researchers to publicly press for policies to reduce plastic pollution. Wagner, ...

Nov 18, 2024 · The threat of microplastics can feel overwhelming in the face of the estimated 242 million metric tons of plastic waste generated every year. But experts say a combination of individual actions and policies can clean up our air and water, reducing risks associated with plastic pollution.