Microplastic waste has become a serious threat to the ecosystem-especially in the past decade, plastic pollution in Virginia has increased exponentially, causing damage to the Chesapeake Bay and other large waters. University researchers explained the major environmental hazards of microplastics, especially in the Chesapeake Bay, and discussed plans of action to deal with such adverse effects.
Microplastics are classified as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm in size. They usually enter the ocean through the sewage system and penetrate into the soil and air we breathe. Initially, researchers only knew that microplastics were microscopic particles formed from larger plastic waste that was broken down by the sun. However, new research results confirm that microplastics come from synthetic fibers in clothes and microbeads in cosmetics, such as facial exfoliants.
There is very little research on microplastics, so researchers do not know the specific impact of microplastics on the environment. For other environmental issues such as landfill waste, pollution and lack of fossil fuels, the researchers have proposed a timetable and proposed action plan-however, this has not yet been formulated for microplastics.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the US Department of Commerce expressed concern about the lack of a large-scale, long-term collective database that contains visual survey information of coastal and high seas microplastics to support microplastics research. As a solution, NOAA's National Environmental Information Center created the Marine Microplastics Database this year, which is a publicly accessible and regularly updated global collection of microplastics data from researchers around the world.
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed Executive Order 77 in March, which outlines plans to phase out single-use plastics and reduce solid waste from state agencies. In response to the order, the university formulated a single-use plastic reduction policy. The first is to eliminate plastic waste in canteens and replace single-use plastics with sustainable and reusable take-out containers and compostable silverware. Universities are also considering expanding their composting facilities and minimizing the use of plastic bags under this initiative.
Similar measures have been implemented nationwide, and environmental issues based on plastic pollution have prompted retailers to provide more sustainable bag options, pilot the trend of reusable containers, and make plastic straws rare. Environmentally conscious consumers even boycott stores that use single-use plastics.
Compared with microplastics, large plastics often enter the ocean and are easier to remove from the water. Microplastics must be filtered out of the ocean or completely prevented from entering the ocean.
The presence of plastic in a large amount of water has caused many problems-especially when animals ingest plastic and release toxic gases and food containing tiny plastics, the ecosystem will be destroyed.
assistant. Engineering professor Lindsay Ivey-Burden has conducted environmental engineering research—especially engineering designed for a more sustainable future. Ivey-Burden further explained how these unsustainable materials eventually enter our environment.
Ivey-Burden said: "When anything containing synthetic fibers and polyester enters the washing machine, the fibers will come out, and they will form very small micro [and] nanoplastics." "Then it enters the wastewater system and returns to the environment. ."
Another way for microplastics to enter the ocean is through cosmetics, especially those products labeled with exfoliants. Exfoliants contain microbeads, which can abrade the skin and remove dead skin cells on the surface of the face. These microbeads can easily pass through household water filtration systems and enter large areas of water.
Especially in Virginia, this affects the coast and its marine life. One of the most common ways that microplastics damage coastal systems is through oysters in the Chesapeake Bay.
"The microplastics in the water make it harder for [oysters] to filter the water-they should do it because they try to eat all the algae-they end up eating a bunch of plastic instead of algae," Ivey Burden said.
This causes the oysters to be under tremendous pressure. In order to meet their nutritional needs, due to the amazing algae-plastic ratio in the bay, they must filter more water to consume enough algae.
Certain areas of the Chesapeake Bay are also hot spots for microplastics, breeding grounds for chemicals and diseases that microplastics absorb and transport to the bay. Coastlines and underwater grass beds are the most common hot spots because microplastics can easily settle in these areas. Black bass-a local fish often served in Virginia coastal restaurants-is just one of the marine animals that forage and ingest microplastics near these hotspots.
Although studies have shown that most microplastics do not move to the muscle tissue of fish-the part consumed by humans-scientists are still concerned about the impact of microplastics on human health. It is difficult to determine the personal impact of these plastics on consumers, because we are often exposed to microplastics, from bottled water and tap water to clothes. In addition, researchers know little about the level of toxicity that can harm humans and how food chain processes affect the toxicity of plastics.
Environmental and materials scientists have been studying the toxicity of plastic materials and the solutions needed to reduce this toxicity to humans and the environment.
Researchers have explored solutions for microplastic waste, but some of these solutions are costly and may cause further damage to the environment. For example, the water filtration system is one of the most discussed solutions. Filtration systems using magnets, small nets, and vacuum have all been tested by different researchers, but it is almost impossible to filter out such small plastic fragments without filtering out the very important marine life.
Robert Hale, a microplastics expert and lead researcher at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, explained that implementing a filtration system is unrealistic.
"Not only are there microplastics in the ocean, but other organisms—especially floating organisms—will also be eliminated," Hale said. "These filters cannot be sorted efficiently."
Other solutions, such as making more sustainable clothing, eliminating single-use plastics, and establishing filtration systems in washing machines are all feasible and will have a significant impact on microplastic waste. However, from a cost point of view, it is very unlikely that the public will react positively to tax increases to fund measures to stop plastic waste.
Hale said: "The cost-effectiveness of plastics will eventually feed the monsters, making it difficult for large companies to increase production costs to be more environmentally friendly."
In order to eliminate microplastics, scientists agree that toxic additives in plastic waste must be removed first. Associate. Engineering Professor David Green has been studying plastic waste for most of his career, especially plastic as a material and its related microscopic properties.
"By trying to remove certain additives that have been proven to be toxic-such as car plasticizers, stabilizers, and pigments-and making this plastic pellet, but trying to design it, when it gets wet and enters the landfill, It will not degenerate," Green said.
Green also agreed that a general reduction in plastic products will help eliminate microplastics. The university’s plan to eliminate single-use plastics may have a major impact if it is modeled on other universities across the country.
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