Kulp 1

Kaileigh Kulp

Aaron Boyers

WRIT 101-017

21 October 2021

Impacts of Microplastics

Microplastics are defined as any piece of plastic from a product, in raw form, or degraded off of a

larger piece that is smaller than 5mm in size in its largest dimension. Plastics have only been ubiquitous

since the 1960’s, and thus are fairly new to the environment. Plastics can be manufactured from different

compositions of chemicals and are used in a variety of applications. Implications tied to microplastics on Commented [KK1]: Aaron – Nice start, straight to the
point and defines your subject.
the environment as well as human health are possible. Recently more research articles have been released

contemplating the effect of common sources of microplastics including: packaging, self-care products,

and even baby bottles on the health of the environment as well as our bodies. Studying the effects of

microplastics has proven extraordinarily difficult as microplastics exist in many shapes, sizes, and

compositions. Increasing concerns due to changing climate conditions with pollution as well as increased

awareness of public health with the Covid-19 pandemic, have triggered research surrounding potential

impacts (and potential substitutes) of microplastics on people of all ages and the environment; however

there is little consensus within the scientific community about whether or not or what extent microplastics

may be impactful. Commented [KK2]: Aaron – Wow! Excellent job with this
introduction and the subsequent thesis statement
In a recent development researchers have proven that microplastics can be found in the human

body, tissues, and organs; however, much still needs to be done in order to figure out what impacts

microplastics may present to living organisms namely, the human body. A study by Dick Vethaak and

Juliette Legler hypothesized that:

A parallel can be drawn with particulate air pollution: Small particles

(<2.5 µm), such as those from diesel exhaust, are capable of crossing cell

membranes and triggering oxidative stress and inflammation, and have

been linked with increased risk of death from cardiovascular and

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respiratory diseases or lung cancer. This parallel provides ample

incentive to gather more information on the potential risk of microplastic

particles (Vethaak and Legler 672)

Because the size of small microplastics (microplastics even smaller than 5mm) are comparable to

particulate air pollution, it is possible microplastics could potentially have similar effects on the human

body as particulate pollution. Research on particulate air pollution has been conducted for multiple years,

so scientists have a greater depth in understanding of its effects on the human body. Maria Street and

Sergio Bernasconi also have researched possible effects of microplastics by treating them as particulate

pollution:

experimental data have shown that the toxic action occurs by

causing: chronic inflammation, changes in the immune response,

neurotoxic effects and/or serving as a vector for microorganisms

and /or toxic chemicals. It should be mentioned also that these

actions may require a bioaccumulation phase and do not present

in a short frame-time. (Street and Bernasconi 3)

It is still unclear whether or not microplastics can be absorbed through biological barriers such as skin or

intestines. If microplastics are found to be absorbed the severity of potential impacts could increase.

Overall, more research needs to be conducted in order to completely understand the extent and severity of

microplastic implications. Additionally, scientists have confirmed that microplastics may serve as hosts

for the growth of biofilms (Vethaak and Legler). Such biofilms have the potential to carry pathogens or

viruses, and some scientists worry that microplastics could thus serve as vectors of spread. Maria Street

and Sergio Bernasconi concluded their research by mentioning, “it may be useful to remember that even

at this time when the viral pandemic [Covid-19] is rightly attracting the maximum attention a question to

be asked is whether and how the spread of the virus could also be favored by environmental pollution”

(Street and Bernasconi 3). The idea that microplastics may have implications that extend beyond the Commented [KK3]: Aaron - Impressive job correlating
your research and demonstrating a conversation between
your research
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chemical properties of the plastics themselves unfold a new layer of potential impacts they could have on

the world.

Studying trends in microplastic waste has become increasingly important as researchers

emphasize the importance of understanding climate change especially with respect to the ocean and in

ways that also consider current events such as the Covid-19 pandemic. The Covid-19 pandemic changed a

lot about daily life, but especially introduced a new source of microplastic garbage associated with

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). PPE is no longer only for health care professionals; it is now Commented [KK4]: Aaron – Love that you’ve found this
correlation to current events and the pandemic
necessary for the general public to use masks and gloves on a regular basis. As a result, there has been a

significant increase in the amount of trash on beaches around the globe. Multiple research institutions

such as OceansAsia have been tracing the effects of the increase in plastic waste specifically in relation to

PPE (Dybas). The accumulation of such seemingly small individual masks or gloves can add up quickly,

“If even only 1% of the masks were discarded incorrectly, that would result in 10 million masks per

month dispersed in various ecosystems. With the weight of each mask about 4 grams, more than 40,000

kilograms of plastic would soon accumulate” (Dybas 1048). Microplastics from PPE as well as other

sources are accumulating into garbage patches as described in “Predicting the Movement and Impacts of

Microplastic Pollution,” these patches are caused by “the circular systems of ocean currents, such as the

Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic or the California Current in the Pacific… Unusually large amounts of

marine debris have been found in these zones, such as the North Atlantic or Great Pacific garbage

patches” (Staff Writers). Dybas’s study even confirmed the presence of high concentrations of

microplastics in the air in London, and microplastics have even been found in the Alps and the Arctic.

This increasing trend in concentration of microplastics is predicted to only increase as microplastics

continue to degrade off larger pieces of already existing plastic garbage. Researchers warn that as

microplastic concentrations increase both human and environmental health are likely to be impacted

further if they are not already. Natalie Welden of Open University states:

‘The ability to predict areas of plastic input and deposition would

enable the identification of at risk species, and it would allow for

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efforts to reduce and remove plastic debris at targeted locations.

The current uncertainty as to the effects of global warming on our

oceans is the greatest challenge in predicting the future patterns of

plastic aggregation in relation to global circulation.’ (qtd. Staff

Writers)

If more focus is placed on the subject in the scientific community, researchers would be better able to

predict the impacts that microplastics may have in the environment; however, the environment isn’t the

only concern.

While overall human health for people of all ages is a large focus of microplastic research, more

scientists are becoming curious about potential impacts specifically on developing fetuses, and young

babies. Several studies have been done on microplastics specifically concerning babies and developing

fetuses. Concentrations of microplastics found in baby feces are significantly higher than concentrations

found in adult feces, and scientists are concerned. One researcher, Kurunthachalam Kannan even said, “‘I

strongly believe that these chemicals do affect early life stages … That’s a vulnerable period’” (qtd.

Frishberg). This recent finding is particularly concerning as more scientists agree that microplastics are

potentially endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruptors can decrease or increase natural hormone levels

that are vital for young bodies as they are developing and in vulnerable stages. Microplastics have even be

found inside the placenta of mothers with completely healthy pregnancies, “Microplastics were detected

on both the fetal and maternal sides of the placenta and in the membrane within which the fetus develops”

(Guardian “Microplastics Revealed in the Placentas of Unborn Babies”). This finding confirms that there

are foreign contaminants extremely close to a developing baby. It is hypothesized that microplastics could

also be responsible for immune responses or potentially release toxins; both of which would severely

impact a potential pregnancy (Guardian). For now, researchers advise parents against using plastic milk

bottles or at least not mixing the formula hot in a plastic bottle, it is also recommended to sweep or
 Kulp 5

vacuum floors that the baby crawls or plays on frequently (Frishberg). The microplastics of utmost

concern for young children have been those that come off larger items; however, microplastics are also

sometimes specifically manufactured for use in a product.

Microplastics are valuable in their manufactured form as they are oftentimes components in

cleaning and personal care products; however, with many adverse impacts postulated, engineers have

spent ample time inventing substitutes that will not have the same potential effects. As microplastics for

use in commercial products have been banned, alternatives need to be developed by scientists to exhibit

similar material properties. Extensive research has been done on substitutes for microplastics that are

biodegradable and nontoxic. One such found solution are Chito-beads. These beads are made from a hard

tissue component found in crustation waste. Because it is a natural compound it is safe and biodegradable.

A scientific research article exploring the manufacturing of Chito-beads even stated, “Chitin possesses

great mechanical properties (stiffness of >50 GPa) and solvent resistance… Furthermore, it is

biodegradable as well as biocompatible, and has antibacterial, antifungal, and hemostatic properties” (Ju,

Sungbin, et al. 6954). Chito-beads are also cheap to make and can be colored easily. Coming up with

alternative solutions allows manufacturers to continue producing products with the same properties as

those manufactured before microplastics were banned.

There is a lot of debate between institutions surrounding the extent to which microplastics harm

human health; some argue that microplastics do not pose any risk while others argue that it is only a

matter of time before they will. Recently a study by the World Health Organization (WHO) was released

stating that, “‘no data suggests overt health concerns associated with exposure to microplastic particles

through drinking-water… microplastics greater than 150 μm are not likely to be absorbed in the human

body and uptake of smaller particles is expected to be limited’” (qtd. Brown). Additionally, the study took

a stance against the Microbead Free Waters Act of 2015 rather than presenting experimentally gathered

data. A news article by Elizabeth Nolan Brown about the WHO research paper even said, “here’s another

reminder that they're [politicians are] following the ban-first-ask-questions-later model that's all too

common among governments” (Brown). A different article by XiaoZhi Lim confirmed that humans eat,
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drink, inhale, and come in contact with microplastics on a daily basis, Albert Koelmans reports,

“‘children and adults might ingest anywhere from dozens to more than 100,000 microplastic specks each

day’” (qtd. Lim). The question then revolves around the ever-changing nature of pollutant concentrations:

levels of microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment are [currently] too

low to affect human health, researchers think. But their numbers will rise. Last

September, researchers projected that the amount of plastic added to existing

waste each year — whether carefully disposed of in sealed landfills or strewn

across land and sea — could more than double from 188 million tons in 2016 to

380 million tons in 2040. (Lim) Commented [KK5]: Aaron – Don’t forget to double indent

Microplastics have been discovered everywhere in the environment around us including but not

limited to the food we eat, water we drink, and air we breathe. With such evidence there remains a

concern surrounding the level at which microplastics are present and whether they are harmful or toxic in

some way. Current events have also impacted the ways which this issue has been discussed especially as

the use of PPE has been necessary throughout the pandemic; however, PPE has also unfortunately

contributed significantly to plastic waste in the ocean. Others have looked at the parallels between

microplastics and particulate pollution as well as potential substitutes for microplastics manufactured for

commercial use. Overall, there is a lack of consensus regarding the impacts microplastics at current levels

in the environment and the human body (including all developmental stages). The more scientists know

about microplastics, the better informed the public and policy makers will be to make choices that will

keep the health of the environment and ourselves in perspective.

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Annotated Bibliography

Brown, E. N. (2019, August 22). Banned microplastics pose no risk to human health, says World Health

Organization. Reason.com. Retrieved October 15, 2021,

from https://reason.com/2019/08/22/banned-microplastics-pose-no-risk-to-human-health-says-

world-health-organization/. Accessed 5 Oct. 2021.

Recent trends in legislation and in light of a study by the World Health Organization, more and

more people are questioning the panic in the scientific community that microplastics are possibly a

huge concern for human health. The WHO studied the presence of microplastics in air and drinking

water and concluded that they were not likely to be absorbed by the human body and thus don’t

pose any significant risk. Others worry that it is “common with governments to have a ban first ask

questions later” approach to such issues. This discussion directly opposes many of the other

collected sources and is particularly interesting as it draws conclusions based off of a government

source.

Dybas, Cheryl Lyn. “Silent Scourge: Microplastics in Water, Food, and Air: Scientists Focus on the

Human Health Effects of Ubiquitous Plastics.” BioScience, vol. 70, no. 12, Dec. 2020, pp. 1048–

1055. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1093/biosci/biaa119. Accessed 5 Oct. 2021.

The onset of the pandemic made it such that ordinary people need to wear PPE too, and with that

came a dramatic increase in waste. Discarded masks are littering our beaches and oceans in

astonishing quantities. Among other reputable research institutions, OceansAsia centered

in Discovery Bay tests the boat access only beach on the Soko Islands. The beach is tested for

microplastics twice a month, and was tested as little as six weeks after masks

became widespread. Masks were popping up in large quantities on

these beaches especially in the start. Studies in London also confirm the presence of a high

concentration of microplastics in the air. Microplastics are even found in the Alps and the Arctic
 Kulp 8

as they are pulled out of the air by precipitation. With increasing amounts of these microplastics

present it is important for more research to be done about possible impacts on both the

environment as well as human health.

Frishberg, Hannah. (2021, September 24). Alarming new study finds tons of microplastics in baby poop.

New York Post. Accessed October 12, 2021, from https://nypost.com/2021/09/24/alarming-new-

study-finds-tons-of-microplastics-in-baby-poop/.

As scientists are doing research on the effects of microplastics on humans the effects on babies and

developing children is a topic of extreme concern. This study looked at the meconium (a baby’s

first bowel movement) and compared levels of microplastics to samples of adult feces. To the

shock of the researchers, the baby excrement had much higher levels of microplastics than the

adults did. This is particularly alarming as researcher Kannan strongly believes that microplastics

effect early stages of development as children and babies are so vulnerable in these stages.

Researchers also hypothesize that microplastics contain endocrine disrupting chemicals that may be

especially harmful to young children. The best advice for parents currently is to minimize exposure

by using glass bottles and containers as well as sweeping or vacuuming floors that the baby crawls

and plays on frequently. This study did some research directly relating to the effects of

microplastics on young people, and has quickly determined that microplastics have some adverse

effects but there is still no consensus on to what extent they are harmful.

Ju, Sungbin, et al. "Biodegradable chito-beads replacing non-biodegradable microplastics

for cosmetics." Green Chemistry (2021). Accessed 5 Oct. 2021.

Recognizing both a lack of options on the market and the necessity for alternative forms of

microplastics that have the same properties, researchers set out to find an eco-friendlier

alternative to microplastic particles in cosmetics, self-care, and cleaning products. Through

experiments with several different materials, it was found that chitin, a hard tissue component
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found in crustation waste, provides a safe, biodegradable, strong alternative to microplastics.

Testing and experimentation was completed to prove the validity of this alternative, and the

results are promising. Chito-beads prove to be affordable, strong without being too abrasive for

human skin, can even be colored, hold up, are biodegradable, and potentially absorb toxic

elements such as heavy metals. This is one of the first truly promising alternatives and is

something that can be used to achieve the same purpose without having unforeseen

environmental or bodily consequences.

Lim, X. Z. (2021, May 4). Microplastics are everywhere - but are they harmful? Nature News. Retrieved

October 15, 2021, from https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01143-3. Accessed 5 Oct.

2021.

Microplastics are a somewhat recent topic of conversation in the scientific community but scientists

have mounting concerns about their effects on the human body. Some research has already been

done on the effect of microplastics on marine life; however, the human risk is still largely

unknown. It has been confirmed that humans inhale, eat, drink, and come in contact

with microplastics on a daily basis, the difficulty lies in determining what effect these plastics have

once inside the body. Studies are difficult to carry out in the lab as researchers oftentimes need to

make microplastics to use which may not be accurate representations of those found in the

environment. Of particular concern are the especially small microplastics as they are very difficult

to see and study. Overall scientists have thus far concluded that the predicted abundance of

microplastics in the environment currently is not such that humans will be harmed but scientists do

fear what levels of microplastics in the environment might look like in the coming decades. This

source goes against a lot of the other sources I had found this far as this one predicted that there is

not a great reason for concern of human health at this time.

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Street, Maria Elisabeth, and Sergio Bernasconi. “Microplastics, Environment and

Child Health.” Italian Journal of Pediatrics, vol. 47, no. 1, Mar. 2021, pp. 1–

3. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1186/s13052-021-01034-3. Accessed 5 Oct. 2021.

With what is known about microplastics as of right now there is not a well-defined understanding

of the effect that microplastics have on the human body. Scientists have found evidence that

microplastics are present in many of the foods we eat as well as tons of cosmetic and

cleaning products. A wide range of items were tested for the presence of microplastics including

but not limited to food, air, soil, water, and even human feces. Microplastics were found in

varying quantities in all of these sources. Finding evidence of microplastics in feces supports the

concept that they can be ingested by humans and other animals although it is still unclear if they

can be absorbed through biological barriers such as skin or intestines. These findings beg the

question of their possible health implications especially in children, adolescents, and even as

early in development as fetuses.

Staff Writers. "Predicting the Movement and Impacts of Microplastic Pollution." UPI Space

Daily [Washington] 2017: UPI Space Daily, 2017-05-01. Web. Accessed 5 Oct. 2021.

Microplastics in the ocean are becoming more of a prominent issue especially with changing

current and temperature conditions due to climate change. Looking at data and recent

developments concerning currents and the locations of garbage patches, trends will be

particularly helpful in determining the true impacts of microplastics and being able to track what

marine species are put at risk in different geographical zones. Research was completed by first

considering the three main contributing sources to microplastics in the ocean which are, littering,

landfill runoffs, and losses at sea. Trends of changing currents, salinity, and temperature were

considered to predict the effects of microplastics as each of these factors change with global

warming. It is estimated that the amount of plastic waste from costal countries will increase 20

fold by 2025. Such findings point to the difficulty in determining the true effects of microplastics
 Kulp 11

in the environment as the environment itself is changing so rapidly alongside the amount of

plastic waste.

The Guardian (London). "Microplastics Revealed in the Placentas of Unborn Babies; Health Impact Is

Unknown but Scientists Say Particles May Cause Long-term Damage to Foetuses." The

Guardian (London) 2020: The Guardian (London), 2020-12-22. Web. Accessed 11 Oct. 2021.

Microplastics have already been discovered in an array of different places within the human

body; however, the most concerning recent development is that microplastics are now being

found in the placentas of babies. Tests were conducted on placentas shortly after birth in order to

determine the extent of presence of microplastics in the placenta. Mothers were also subject to

plastic free birthing environments where only cotton products were used such that there would be

no contamination. It was found that not only were microplastics found on the outside of

the placenta but they were also found on the inside and some were even as small as 10 microns.

This means that these microplastics are small enough to be carried in the bloodstream of both the

mother and the baby and could potentially trigger an immune response or release toxins.

Researchers hypothesize that these microplastics were from packaging, paint, and cosmetics and

that they might be responsible for reduced fetal growth. While it is difficult to pinpoint effects of

microplastics on the human body it is extremely concerning that researchers have found such

foreign objects so close to a developing baby; however, it offers important insight to possible

effects as well as the extent of the issue.

Thiele, Christina J., et al. “Microplastics in Fish and Fishmeal: An Emerging

Environmental Challenge?” Scientific Reports, vol. 11, no. 1, Jan. 2021, pp. 1–

12. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1038/s41598-021-81499-8. Accessed 5 Oct. 2021.

Microplastics are increasingly being recorded in the ocean, and with this comes the concern that

these microplastics will be present in fishmeal as well as fish both meant for human consumption
 Kulp 12

and wild fish. This research specifically noted the little research done with regard to ‘small

microplastics’ specifically, and thus conducted a much more strenuous experiment utilizing a

clean room and laminar flow cabinets to detect the smallest microplastics possible. An

experiment such as this had not been completed yet before, so it is scientifically important that

this experiment was conducted as it will help other scientists fully grasp the potential

environmental and human health impacts of microplastics. As scientists continue to observe an

increase in microplastic presence in natural habitats it will be paramount to grasp their effects on

the environment and the human body.

Vethaak, A.Dick, and Juliette Legler. “Microplastics and Human Health: Knowledge Gaps

Should Be Addressed to Ascertain the Health Risks of Microplastics.” Science Advances, vol.

7, no. 7, Feb. 2021, pp. 672–674. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1126/science.abe5041. Accessed 5 Oct.

2021.

Microplastics are defined as plastic particles less than 5mm in size and can either be produced

through degradation of plastic products or they are directly included in products as abrasives and

such. This research article compiled the results of several other studies and drew parallels

between microplastics and particulate air pollution. Thus, it is possible that microplastics could

have similar adverse effects to particulate pollution such as, cross cell membranes, cause

inflammation, oxidative stress, cell and DNA damage, neurotoxic effects, metabolic effects, and

increased risk of cancer. Furthermore, it was found that bio films are able to grow on

microplastics which could have huge implications for microorganisms as well as the potential that

microplastics could carry pathogens or viruses. Scientists are becoming increasingly aware of the

presence of microplastics and this study drew several conclusions about possible health effects as

well as predicted that microplastics might serve as vectors for the spread of pathogens and

viruses.
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Because microplastics have not been around for an extended amount of time, their impacts on
the human body are still very much debated within the scientific community. Some
sources site studies that compare the pollution that microplastics cause to particulate
pollution similar to that call by vehicles and the burning of fossil fuels. Others say that
microplastics as they are in the environment now are not present in levels high enough to
be harmful to the human body.

Some studies have attempted to obtain microplastics from the environment to use to test on
small rodents or human tissue cells well other studies create their own microplastics in the
lab. Such differences in testing and debate surrounding the toxicity of plastics create a
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confusing dynamic for the general public to understand the issues surrounding the effects
of microplastics.
The consensus within the scientific community is still muddled as researchers continue to track
microplastic presence in the world and our bodies and hypothesize about the extent to
which it will be impactful.

Microplastics in the ocean were studied before the effects of microplastics on the human body.
Microplastics have been confirmed to be present in both fish meal and fish meant for human
consumption. However researchers worry about the lack of information around small micro
plastics is there even harder to see since there even smaller and require more expensive
equipment to observe.

Microplastics in the ocean are also becoming a prominent issue and it will be important to look
at trends in data in order to predict and track the presence of microplastics in the environment,
as well as impacts on species in different places throughout the ocean. There are three main
contributing sources to microplastics in the ocean, and they are littering, landfill runoffs, and
losses at sea. As levels of microplastics in the ocean fluctuate, currents, salinity, and
temperature should be considered to track the impacts of the pollutants. It is estimated that the
amount of plastic waste from costal countries will increase 20 fold by 2025.

TOPICS TO HIT
- The opposing view
- Babies specifically
- The ocean
- People in general
- Solutions

Brown, E. N. (2019, August 22). Banned microplastics pose no risk to human health, says World Health
Organization. Reason.com. Retrieved October 15, 2021,
from https://reason.com/2019/08/22/banned-microplastics-pose-no-risk-to-human-health-says-
world-health-organization/.
(Opposing View) Recent trends in legislation and in light of a study by the World Health
Organization, more and more people are questioning the panic in the scientific community that
microplastics are possibly a huge concern for human health. The WHO studied the presence of
microplastics in air and drinking water and concluded that they were not likely to be absorbed by
the human body and thus don’t pose any significant risk. Others worry that it is “common with
governments to have a ban first ask questions later” approach to such issues. This discussion
 Kulp 15

directly opposes many of the other collected sources and is particularly interesting as it draws
conclusions based off of a government source.

Lim, X. Z. (2021, May 4). Microplastics are everywhere - but are they harmful? Nature News. Retrieved
October 15, 2021, from https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01143-3.
(Opposing View) Microplastics are a somewhat recent topic of conversation in the
scientific community but scientists have mounting concerns about their effects on the human
body. Some research has already been done on the effect of microplastics on marine life;
however, the human risk is still largely unknown. It has been confirmed that humans inhale, eat,
drink, and come in contact with microplastics on a daily basis, the difficulty lies in determining
what effect these plastics have once inside the body. Studies are difficult to carry out in the lab as
researchers oftentimes need to make microplastics to use which may not be accurate
representations of those found in the environment. Of particular concern are the especially small
microplastics as they are very difficult to see and study. Overall scientists have thus far concluded
that the predicted abundance of microplastics in the environment currently is not such that
humans will be harmed but scientists do fear what levels of microplastics in the environment
might look like in the coming decades. This source goes against a lot of the other sources I had
found this far as this one predicted that there is not a great reason for concern of human health at
this time.

Frishberg, Hannah. (2021, September 24). Alarming new study finds tons of microplastics in baby poop.
New York Post. Retrieved October 12, 2021, from https://nypost.com/2021/09/24/alarming-new-
study-finds-tons-of-microplastics-in-baby-poop/.
(My Own Source) As scientists are doing research on the effects of microplastics on humans the
effects on babies and developing children is a topic of extreme concern. This study looked at the
meconium (a baby’s first bowel movement) and compared levels of microplastics to samples of
adult feces. To the shock of the researchers, the baby excrement had much higher levels of
microplastics than the adults did. This is particularly alarming as researcher Kannan strongly
believes that microplastics effect early stages of development as children and babies are so
vulnerable in these stages. Researchers also hypothesize that microplastics contain endocrine
disrupting chemicals that may be especially harmful to young children. The best advice for parents
currently is to minimize exposure by using glass bottles and containers as well as sweeping or
vacuuming floors that the baby crawls and plays on frequently. This study did some research
directly relating to the effects of microplastics on young people, and has quickly determined that
microplastics have some adverse effects but there is still no consensus on to what extent they are
harmful.

The Guardian (London). "Microplastics Revealed in the Placentas of Unborn Babies; Health Impact Is
Unknown but Scientists Say Particles May Cause Long-term Damage to Foetuses." The Guardian
(London) 2020: The Guardian (London), 2020-12-22. Web. Accessed 11 Oct. 2021.
(Newspaper) Microplastics have already been discovered in an array of different places within
the human body; however, the most concerning recent development is that microplastics are
now being found in the placentas of babies. Tests were conducted on placentas shortly after
birth in order to determine the extent of presence of microplastics in the placenta. Mothers
were also subject to plastic free birthing environments where only cotton products were used
such that there would be no contamination. It was found that not only were microplastics found
on the outside of the placenta but they were also found on the inside and some were even as
small as 10 microns. This means that these microplastics are small enough to be carried in the
 Kulp 16

bloodstream of both the mother and the baby and could potentially trigger an immune response
or release toxins. Researchers hypothesize that these microplastics were from packaging, paint,
and cosmetics and that they might be responsible for reduced fetal growth. While it is difficult
to pinpoint effects of microplastics on the human body it is extremely concerning that
researchers have found such foreign objects so close to a developing baby; however, it offers
important insight to possible effects as well as the extent of the issue.

Dybas, Cheryl Lyn. “Silent Scourge: Microplastics in Water, Food, and Air: Scientists Focus on the Human
Health Effects of Ubiquitous Plastics.” BioScience, vol. 70, no. 12, Dec. 2020, pp. 1048–
1055. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1093/biosci/biaa119. Accessed 5 Oct. 2021.
(Peer-Reviewed Journal) The onset of the pandemic made it such that ordinary people need to
wear PPE too, and with that came a dramatic increase in waste. Discarded masks are littering
our beaches and oceans in astonishing quantities.
Among other reputable research institutions, OceansAsia centered in Discovery Bay tests the
boat access only beach on the Soko Islands. The beach is tested for microplastics twice a month,
and was tested as little as six weeks after masks became widespread. Masks were popping up in
large quantities on these beaches especially in the start. Studies in London also confirm the
presence of a high concentration of microplastics in the air. Microplastics are even found in the
Alps and the Arctic as they are pulled out of the air by precipitation. With increasing amounts of
these microplastics present it is important for more research to be done about possible impacts
on both the environment as well as human health.

Thiele, Christina J., et al. “Microplastics in Fish and Fishmeal: An Emerging

Environmental Challenge?” Scientific Reports, vol. 11, no. 1, Jan. 2021, pp. 1–
12. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1038/s41598-021-81499-8. Accessed 5 Oct. 2021.
(Peer-Reviewed Journal) Microplastics are increasingly being recorded in the ocean, and with
this comes the concern that these microplastics will be present in fishmeal as well as fish both
meant for human consumption and wild fish. This research specifically noted the little research
done with regard to ‘small microplastics’ specifically, and thus conducted a much more
strenuous experiment utilizing a clean room and laminar flow cabinets to detect the smallest
microplastics possible. An experiment such as this had not been completed yet before, so it is
scientifically important that this experiment was conducted as it will help other scientists fully
grasp the potential environmental and human health impacts of microplastics. As scientists
continue to observe an increase in microplastic presence in natural habitats it will be paramount
to grasp their effects on the environment and the human body.

Vethaak, A.Dick, and Juliette Legler. “Microplastics and Human Health: Knowledge Gaps
Should Be Addressed to Ascertain the Health Risks of Microplastics.” Science Advances, vol. 7, no. 7,
Feb. 2021, pp. 672–674. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1126/science.abe5041. Accessed 5 Oct. 2021.
(Peer-Reviewed Journal) Microplastics are defined as plastic particles less than 5mm in size and
can either be produced through degradation of plastic products or they are directly included in
products as abrasives and such. This research article compiled the results of several other
studies and drew parallels between microplastics and particulate air pollution. Thus, it is
possible that microplastics could have similar adverse effects to particulate pollution such
as, cross cell membranes, cause inflammation, oxidative stress, cell and DNA damage,
neurotoxic effects, metabolic effects, and increased risk of cancer. Furthermore, it was found
that bio films are able to grow on microplastics which could have huge implications for
microorganisms as well as the potential that microplastics could carry pathogens or viruses.
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Scientists are becoming increasingly aware of the presence of microplastics and this study drew
several conclusions about possible health effects as well as predicted that microplastics might
serve as vectors for the spread of pathogens and viruses.

Street, Maria Elisabeth, and Sergio Bernasconi. “Microplastics, Environment and

Child Health.” Italian Journal of Pediatrics, vol. 47, no. 1, Mar. 2021, pp. 1– 3. EBSCOhost,
doi:10.1186/s13052-021- 01034-3. Accessed 5 Oct. 2021.
(Peer-Reviewed Journal) With what is known about microplastics as of right now there is not a
well-defined understanding of the effect that microplastics have on the human body. Scientists
have found evidence that microplastics are present in many of the foods we eat as well as tons
of cosmetic and cleaning products. A wide range of items were tested for the presence of
microplastics including but not limited to food, air, soil, water, and even human feces.
Microplastics were found in varying quantities in all of these sources. Finding evidence of
microplastics in feces supports the concept that they can be ingested by humans and other
animals although it is still unclear if they can be absorbed through biological barriers such as skin
or intestines. These findings beg the question of their possible health implications especially in
children, adolescents, and even as early in development as fetuses.

Ju, Sungbin, et al. "Biodegradable chito-beads replacing non-biodegradable microplastics

for cosmetics." Green Chemistry (2021).
(My Own Source) Recognizing both a lack of options on the market and the necessity for
alternative forms of microplastics that have the same properties, researchers set out to find an
eco-friendlier alternative to microplastic particles in cosmetics, self-care, and cleaning products.
Through experiments with several different materials, it was found that chitin, a hard tissue
component found in crustation waste, provides a safe, biodegradable, strong alternative to
microplastics. Testing and experimentation was completed to prove the validity of this
alternative, and the results are promising. Chito-beads prove to be affordable, strong without
being too abrasive for human skin, can even be colored, hold up, are biodegradable, and
potentially absorb toxic elements such as heavy metals. This is one of the first truly promising
alternatives and is something that can be used to achieve the same purpose without having
unforeseen environmental or bodily consequences.

Staff Writers. "Predicting the Movement and Impacts of Microplastic Pollution." UPI Space
Daily [Washington] 2017: UPI Space Daily, 2017-05-01. Web.
(Newspaper) Microplastics in the ocean are becoming more of a prominent issue especially with
changing current and temperature conditions due to climate change. Looking at data and recent
developments concerning currents and the locations of garbage patches, trends will be
particularly helpful in determining the true impacts of microplastics and being able to track what
marine species are put at risk in different geographical zones. Research was completed by first
considering the three main contributing sources to microplastics in the ocean
which are, littering, landfill runoffs, and losses at sea. Trends of changing currents, salinity, and
temperature were considered to predict the effects of microplastics as each of these
factors change with global warming. It is estimated that the amount of plastic waste from costal
countries will increase 20 fold by 2025. Such findings point to the difficulty in determining the
true effects of microplastics in the environment as the environment itself is changing so rapidly
alongside the amount of plastic waste.
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