Microplastics - The Silent Plastic Killer
You may not have ever heard the term ‘microplastics‘ before, but for the last 50 years, tiny particles of plastic are used in many cosmetic products like scrubs, shower gel, shaving creams, toothpaste, hair spray, and eyeshadows. Microplastics are replacing natural options as it is more cost effective to Multi-Million Companies. They are even used as bulking agents (Makes you think there is more in the bottle than there actually is) The exfoliating type shower gels can typically contain an amount of plastic in microbeads equivalent to the packaging in comes in.
They land up in the global oceans where they cause serious harm to marine life, and then in turn humans who then consume seafood. Microplastics are tiny pieces or particles of plastic many are invisible to the naked eye. Microplastics pollute the ocean and can have toxic effects on biological organisms that ingest or absorb them such as dolphins, whales, and fish.
Washed down the drain, those particles cannot be collected for recycling, nor do they decompose in wastewater treatment facilities, inevitably ending up in the global ocean, where it fragments and remains. The microbeads, together with the other plastic that over time degrades into ever smaller pieces, form a serious global environmental issue that specifically affects the marine environment. Microbeads can even be harmful to human health through bio-accumulation, entering the food chain through plankton and ultimately polluting the fish and shellfish we eat.
An additional problem is that the surface of these microscopic plastic particles attracts and absorbs persistent organic pollutants found in the marine environment, such as PCBs and DDT, which can then transfer into animal tissue.
In one of the cleanup efforts The Knysna Wildlife Project in conjunction with The Knysna Basin Project arranged, we were devasted by the number of Microplastics found on the beach in Brenton on Sea, it was absolutely shocking! The Microplastics found on the beach were from bigger plastics worn down to pinhead sizes, just big enough to be caught in a sif.
The reality is, we keep on turning a blind eye, and everyone is playing the "blame game". "The plastic on the beach must be from shipping vessels passing by" one volunteer said. It remains a possibility but the truth is if you want someone to blame you only need look in the mirror. It all starts at home. Teach your children now, so that they may one day be healthy enough to have children of their own, and maybe even an ocean that still conatins marine life.
What can you do to help?
1. Look for these names on your product bottles and avoid buying them:
polyethylene (PE),
polypropylene (PP) ,
polyethylene terephthalate (PET),
polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA),
and nylon.
2. Recycle! Recycle! Recycle!
3. Support the Knysna Wildlife Project and other legitimate environmental organizations.
If you have any questions or would like to contact us you can email us on:
KnysnaWildlifeProject@gmail.com
Remember to follow us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/KnysnaWP/
Or stay up to date by signing up for our Newsletter:
Knysna Wildlife Project Newsletter Sign up
They land up in the global oceans where they cause serious harm to marine life, and then in turn humans who then consume seafood. Microplastics are tiny pieces or particles of plastic many are invisible to the naked eye. Microplastics pollute the ocean and can have toxic effects on biological organisms that ingest or absorb them such as dolphins, whales, and fish.
Washed down the drain, those particles cannot be collected for recycling, nor do they decompose in wastewater treatment facilities, inevitably ending up in the global ocean, where it fragments and remains. The microbeads, together with the other plastic that over time degrades into ever smaller pieces, form a serious global environmental issue that specifically affects the marine environment. Microbeads can even be harmful to human health through bio-accumulation, entering the food chain through plankton and ultimately polluting the fish and shellfish we eat.
An additional problem is that the surface of these microscopic plastic particles attracts and absorbs persistent organic pollutants found in the marine environment, such as PCBs and DDT, which can then transfer into animal tissue.
In one of the cleanup efforts The Knysna Wildlife Project in conjunction with The Knysna Basin Project arranged, we were devasted by the number of Microplastics found on the beach in Brenton on Sea, it was absolutely shocking! The Microplastics found on the beach were from bigger plastics worn down to pinhead sizes, just big enough to be caught in a sif.
The reality is, we keep on turning a blind eye, and everyone is playing the "blame game". "The plastic on the beach must be from shipping vessels passing by" one volunteer said. It remains a possibility but the truth is if you want someone to blame you only need look in the mirror. It all starts at home. Teach your children now, so that they may one day be healthy enough to have children of their own, and maybe even an ocean that still conatins marine life.
What can you do to help?
1. Look for these names on your product bottles and avoid buying them:
polyethylene (PE),
polypropylene (PP) ,
polyethylene terephthalate (PET),
polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA),
and nylon.
2. Recycle! Recycle! Recycle!
3. Support the Knysna Wildlife Project and other legitimate environmental organizations.
If you have any questions or would like to contact us you can email us on:
KnysnaWildlifeProject@gmail.com
Remember to follow us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/KnysnaWP/
Or stay up to date by signing up for our Newsletter:
Knysna Wildlife Project Newsletter Sign up
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