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The Problem Of Microplastics

February 15, 2019 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

In recent years, there have been multiple reports of microplastic contamination seemingly everywhere:  in the ocean, in lakes and rivers, in beverages and foods, and in the bodies of birds, fish, and even people.  As the world tries to come to grips with this growing problem, there are many things that we simply don’t know.

Microplastics are usually formed by the breakdown of larger pieces of plastic.  Shopping bags and cups degrade into microplastics.  Microfiber clothing generates microplastics in washing machines.  And some manufacturers still intentionally add microplastics to personal care products like toothpaste and facial scrubs.

Technically, a microplastic is any piece of plastic measuring five millimeters in size down to one micron – which is one thousandth of a millimeter.  But there can be even smaller plastic particles classified as sub-microplastics and even nanoplastics.

A real concern is that it is not actually clear how dangerous microplastics are for living organisms.  We know that aquatic and terrestrial species – including humans – can and do absorb microplastic particles, but whether there is actual toxicity and the nature of any detrimental effects is not yet well understood.

Another real problem is that it is actually not easy to distinguish microplastics from other particles in a given sample.   When you are looking at a particle that is smaller than a millimeter in size, it is not easy to tell whether it is a grain of sand, a bit of cellulose from a plant, or a microplastic.  There are reliable and definitive ways to analyze samples for microplastics, but they are not as simple and commonplace as just looking through a microscope.

Microplastics are a rapidly growing problem and we don’t even really know how big and how bad the problem is.

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Photo, posted January 10, 2015, courtesy of Daria Nepriakhina via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Trouble With China And Climate Progress

July 12, 2018 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

https://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/EW-07-12-18-Trouble-with-China-and-Climate-Progress.mp3

With the United States backing away from the Paris climate agreement and with Europe taking a less active role in climate negotiations, China has become the bellwether on global climate change.  Recent climate negotiations in Bonn, Germany were rather acrimonious as countries accused other countries of not doing their part or keeping their promises.

[Read more…] about Trouble With China And Climate Progress

New Year’s Resolutions

December 29, 2017 By EarthWise 1 Comment

https://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/EW-12-29-17-New-Years-Resolutions.mp3

2018 is just around the corner.  Popular resolutions for the New Year always seem to include things like improving health, traveling more, spending less money, and so on.  But one resolution that isn’t as popular but could collectively have a major impact is committing to living a cleaner and greener life. 

[Read more…] about New Year’s Resolutions

Climate Change And Reindeer

December 23, 2016 By EarthWise

https://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/EW-12-23-16-Climate-Change-and-Reindeer.mp3

Hundreds of thousands of reindeer roam Russia’s Yamal Peninsula, which is located in northwestern Siberia, and are herded by the indigenous Nenets people, reportedly among the Arctic’s last truly nomadic reindeer herders.  Reindeer provide these indigenous people with transportation, food, clothes, and even tools made from their bones.  Reindeer are well suited for the freezing temperatures and thick snow of this climate.  But they are not well suited for climate change. 

[Read more…] about Climate Change And Reindeer

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