We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Planetary health digest
Summary
This editorial digest summarizes recent findings on microplastic pollution across various environments, noting that microplastics have been found widely but their health effects are still being studied. It reviews issues around microplastic monitoring, regulation, and potential routes of human exposure.
Plastics are designed to be durable and the ubiquitous and wasteful way they are typically utilised, along with poor waste management practices, is leading to an abundance of plastics in the environment. Large pieces of plastic are an eyesore and represent physical risks to wildlife but as plastics break down into small pieces, microplastics, they are more readily transported and more easily inhaled or ingested. Microplastics have been found very widely spread but the relative role of different transport mechanisms remains unclear.