Activity 3.3.3 – My Plastic Use.

 Definition of Microplastics

When I first heard about microplastics, I was honestly shocked. These are tiny pieces of plastic, usually smaller than a grain of rice, that end up in our environment and even inside our bodies (Plastic Soup Foundation, 2019). They can come from larger plastic items that break down over time, synthetic clothing fibers, or even tiny microbeads in personal care products. What’s really scary is how invisible they are—some are so small that we can breathe them in or eat them without noticing it (Haab & Haab, n.d.).

Where They Are Found

Microplastics are literally everywhere. They float in the oceans, rivers, and lakes. They’re in the air, in the seafood we eat, and even in our drinking water (Watson, 2024). When I looked around my own home, I realized how many everyday items contain plastic: drink bottles, packaging, wrappers, electronics, and even my clothes made with synthetic fibers (Dudas, 2018). It’s crazy to think that so many things I touch every day could eventually turn into microplastics.

How They Get There

Plastic gets into the environment in many ways. Large plastic items like bottles or food packaging slowly break down due to sunlight, waves, and general wear. Tiny microbeads from soaps and toothpaste go straight into the water because wastewater systems usually can’t filter them all out (Haab & Haab, n.d.). Even washing clothes with synthetic fibers releases plastic fibers into the water. These tiny plastics then travel through rivers and oceans, carried by currents and wind, and eventually end up in all sorts of places, including places we might never expect (Maximenko, Chao, & Moller, 2016).

Why They Are Problematic to Humans and the Environment

Microplastics aren’t just ugly—they’re harmful. Sea animals often eat them by mistake, which pushes these plastics up the food chain, reaching humans in seafood (Haab & Haab, n.d.). Microplastics can carry dangerous chemicals and cause damage to organs, tissues, and even the immune system (Watson, 2024). On top of that, plastics don’t really disappear—they just break into smaller pieces, sticking around for decades or even centuries. Thinking about this makes me reflect on my own habits and how much plastic I use daily. It’s eye-opening and honestly a little scary.

My Personal Reflection

Making a photo-collage of all the plastics I use in one day was an eye-opener. I realized how heavily I rely on single-use plastics, from water bottles to snack wrappers. Seeing all of it together made me think: if I want to reduce my impact, I need to be more intentional about my choices. Simple changes, like using reusable containers, and avoiding unnecessary plastic, can really make a difference. This exercise taught me that even small actions matter, because microplastics affect not just the environment but also me and the people around me.

My Photo-Collage

This collage shows all the plastics I used in one day, including food packaging, drinks and personal care items. Seeing them all together makes it clear how much plastic I interact with daily and how easily these items could turn into microplastics that affect both the environment and humans.

References

Dudas, S. (2018). Microplastics are everywhere [Video]. TEDx Binghampton University. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/sarah_dudas_microplastics_are_everywhere

Haab, S., & Haab, K. (n.d.). The environmental impacts of microplastics: An investigation of microplastic pollution in North Country waterbodies. Adventure Scientists.  

Maximenko, N., Chao, Y., & Moller, D. (2016). Developing a remote sensing system to track marine debris. Earth and Space Science News. https://eos.org/meeting-reports/developing-a-remote-sensing-system-to-track-marine-debris

Plastic Soup Foundation. (2019). Beat the microbead. https://www.beatthemicrobead.org

Watson, C. (2024, March 7). Plastic found inside more than 50% of plaques from clogged arteries. Science Alert. https://www.sciencealert.com/plastic-found-inside-more-than-50-of-plaques-from-clogged-arteries

I used Grammarly AI to help me with spelling, punctuation, and grammar in this assignment. 

My Photo-Collage:




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