Chloe Zhang
The Earth is often described as a plastic planet due to the vast amounts of plastic waste that have accumulated in the environment. Plastic pollution has been found in the oceans, soil, freshwater, and even in tap water. This raises concerns about the potential impact on human health and the environment. While plastic has beneficial properties, such as flexibility and durability, its persistence in the environment and ability to break down into microplastics can lead to toxic effects on organisms. The presence of microplastics in the food chain and their potential to attract microbial pathogens pose risks that need to be addressed. While there are speculations about naturally occurring plastics in space and on exoplanets, the focus on Earth is to understand the consequences of plastic pollution and find ways to mitigate its impact on life.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic is found on planet | Earth, Mars, Saturn's moon Titan |
| Plastic is made up of | Organic molecules, carbon |
| Plastic is | Flexible, indestructible unless burned |
| Plastic waste | Is present in the environment, makes up about half of all human-related waste |
| Plastic in water | Found in tap water, oceans, bottled beer, sugar and honey samples |
| Plastic in soil | Found in sewage sludge, used as fertilizer, ends up in soils |
| Plastic is toxic | Can have toxic effects on organisms, can disrupt the hormone system of vertebrates and invertebrates |
| Plastic is produced by | Humans, possibly alien microbes |
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What You'll Learn
Microplastics in tap water
Plastic is a versatile material that is flexible and, unless burned, indestructible. While it has many benefits, humanity has yet to realize its costs. Plastic waste ends up in landfills, where it can take up to 1,000 years to degrade, leaching potentially toxic substances into the soil and water. This has led to the contamination of tap water around the world with microplastics.
Microplastics are bits of plastic less than 5mm in size, smaller than a popcorn kernel. They are found in every ecosystem on Earth and consist of microbeads, microfibers, and broken-down pieces of plastic. Microbeads are tiny abrasives found in wash-off cosmetics, cleansers, and toothpaste. While they have been banned in some countries, they continue to be used and found in waterways. Microfibers are tiny pieces of threads and fibers that break off clothing. Clothing made from plastic (such as nylon, polyester, rayon, acrylic, and spandex) sheds microfibers with every wash, which go down the drain into sewer systems. Wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove all particles, so these microfibers end up in our water systems.
A study by Sherri Mason, a Penn State researcher, found that an average of 325 plastic particles were present in a liter of bottled water, compared to 5.5 plastic particles per liter of tap water. Another study by the University of Newcastle in Australia found that the average human consumes the equivalent of 5 grams of plastic every week. While scientists are still studying the health effects of microplastics, it is known that microplastics can attract microbial pathogens and that the conditions in animal guts can enhance the release of pollutants from plastics. There is also evidence that particles may cross the gut wall and be translocated to other body tissues, with unknown consequences.
The presence of microplastics in tap water has raised concerns for public health due to the possible toxicity associated with their polymeric composition, additives, and other compounds or microorganisms adsorbed on their surfaces. Plastic particles break down and gain new physical and chemical properties, increasing the risk of toxic effects on organisms. Additives such as phthalates and Bisphenol A (BPA) can leach out of plastic particles and disrupt the hormone systems of vertebrates and invertebrates.
To reduce exposure to microplastics in tap water, individuals can use effective water filters, such as carbon block filters with a rated pore size. It is also recommended to minimize the use of single-use plastics and choose more sustainable and environmentally friendly materials, such as paper tape instead of plastic tape and biodegradable packaging.
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Plastic pollution in soil
Plastic pollution in the soil is a pressing issue that has largely been overlooked in favour of addressing plastic pollution in the ocean. However, it is estimated that one-third of all plastic waste ends up in soils or freshwater.
One of the main sources of plastic pollution in the soil is our clothing. Each time we wash our clothes, minuscule fibres of acrylic, nylon, spandex, and polyester are shed and carried off to wastewater treatment plants or discharged into the open environment. A study cited by Water World in 2016 found that more than 700,000 microscopic plastic fibres could be released into the environment during each cycle of a washing machine. Another study commissioned in the same year by clothing company Patagonia and conducted by researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara, found that washing a single synthetic jacket just once released an average of 1.7 grams of microfibres.
Sewage is another important factor in the distribution of microplastics in the soil. Between 80% and 90% of the plastic particles contained in sewage, such as from garment fibres, persist in the sludge, and sewage sludge is often applied to fields as fertiliser. This means that several thousand tons of microplastics end up in our soils each year. A study from the Nordic countries suggests that a large fraction of all the microplastics generated in Western societies end up in the sludge in wastewater treatment plants, and that between 110,000 and 730,000 tons of microplastics are transferred every year to agricultural soils in Europe and North America.
The problem with plastic pollution in the soil is that these particles are entering the food chain. Studies have found that microplastics have been shown to attract microbial pathogens, and that the conditions in animal guts enhance the release of pollutants from plastics. There is also evidence that particles may even cross the gut wall and be translocated to other body tissues, with unknown consequences.
The impact of microplastics in soils is a cause for concern, and researchers are warning that it could have long-term negative effects on ecosystems. While the full extent of the impact of microplastics in soils is still unknown, it is clear that this is an important issue that requires further research and attention.
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Plastic's toxic effects on organisms
Plastic is a versatile material that is flexible and, unless burned, essentially indestructible. However, the benefits of plastic come at a cost: plastic pollution. The majority of plastic ever produced still exists in the environment in some form, with millions of tons swirling in the world's oceans and landfills. This plastic pollution has toxic effects on organisms, including humans.
When plastic particles break down, they can gain new physical and chemical properties, increasing the risk of toxic effects on organisms. Chemical effects are particularly problematic during the degradation stage, as additives such as phthalates and Bisphenol A (BPA) can leach out of plastic particles. These additives are known to have hormonal effects and can disrupt the hormone systems of both vertebrates and invertebrates. For example, endocrine disruptors like BPA have been linked to low birth weights, preterm births, impaired fertility, and an increased risk of maternal breast cancer.
Microplastics, plastic particles smaller than five millimetres, are another source of concern. They have been found in tap water, bottled beer, sugar, and honey, and even human blood, lungs, and placenta. Microplastics can attract microbial pathogens, and the conditions in animal guts can enhance the release of pollutants from plastics. While the health impacts of microplastics are still being studied, initial results indicate that they can cause diseases, disabilities, and premature death.
The sources of microplastics are diverse, with clothing being a major contributor. Minuscule fibres of synthetic materials are released into the environment during washing, and tyre dust from roads also contributes significantly. Sewage is another important factor, as plastic particles from sewage sludge can end up in soils as fertiliser. The widespread presence of microplastics in the environment means that they are entering the food chain, with potential unknown consequences for various species, including humans.
The toxic effects of plastic on organisms are evident, and the need to address plastic pollution is urgent. While dealing with waste plastic and preventing the unintentional release of microplastics are challenging tasks, it is crucial to mitigate the toxic impacts on the health of various organisms, including humans, that share this plastic planet.
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Plastic in space
Plastic is pervasive on Earth, with the majority of plastic ever made still present in the environment in some form. This has led to concerns about the impact of plastic on human health and the possibility of finding life on a plastic planet. While launching plastic into space to reduce pollution on Earth has been considered, it is important to understand the role of plastic in space exploration and the potential ethical implications of contaminating space with our waste.
Plastic has become integral to space missions and spacecraft design due to its unique properties and advantages. Plastics offer significant weight savings compared to other materials, which is crucial for space exploration where every kilogram counts. Additionally, plastics provide excellent electrical insulation, resistance to atomic oxygen and radiation, and low outgassing behavior in vacuum conditions. These characteristics make plastics suitable for a wide range of applications, including bearings, optical lens centering rings, valve components, and radomes.
The selection of plastics for spacecraft applications requires careful consideration of the space environment. Plastics must be able to withstand extreme temperatures, from cryogenic conditions to the high temperatures experienced during launch and operation in space. They also need to have specific friction and wear characteristics, flammability properties, and compatibility with liquid and gaseous oxygen.
While plastic has enabled significant advancements in space exploration, it is important to recognize the potential impact of plastic pollution on Earth. The cost of launching plastic waste into space is prohibitively high, estimated at £6,000 trillion per year for global plastic waste. Additionally, Article IX of the UN Outer Space Treaty emphasizes the responsibility of nations to avoid the harmful contamination of space, further complicating the idea of using space as a dumping ground for our plastic waste.
In conclusion, plastic plays a critical role in space exploration, but the challenges of plastic pollution on Earth must be addressed through sustainable practices and recycling initiatives rather than by exporting our waste into space. As humans continue to explore the cosmos, the relationship between plastic and space technologies will likely evolve, shaping the future of space exploration in new and innovative ways.
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Plastic in the food chain
Plastic has entered the food chain, with animals carrying microplastics in their bodies. When these animals are eaten, the microplastics are also ingested, in a process called 'trophic transfer'. As one animal is eaten by another, microplastics can move up the food chain.
Microplastics have been shown to attract microbial pathogens, and the conditions in animal guts are known to enhance the release of pollutants from plastics. There is evidence that particles may even cross the gut wall and move to other body tissues, with unknown consequences.
The impact of microplastics on the food chain has been particularly studied in marine organisms. In 2015, Dutch researchers found that the number of marine species that swallow or get caught in plastic had doubled since 1997, from 267 to 557. This number is now believed to be above 2000, although only a limited number of species have been investigated.
Arrow worms, which live in the sea and hunt for zooplankton, have been recorded consuming plastic microfibres. As arrow worms are eaten by animals higher up the food chain, this shows how plastic enters the food chain. Amphipods that live at the deepest point of the ocean, the eleven-kilometer-deep Mariana Trench, were also found to have plastic in their bodies, almost always microfibers from synthetic clothing.
Swedish scientists have shown that nanoplastics can enter the brains of fish through the food chain and lead to abnormal behaviour. In a laboratory study, fish that ate nanoplastics showed slower eating and hyperactive behaviour.
One of the main sources of plastic in the food chain is our clothing. Minuscule fibres of acrylic, nylon, spandex, and polyester are shed each time we wash our clothes and are carried off to wastewater treatment plants or discharged into the environment. A 2016 study found that more than 700,000 microscopic plastic fibres could be released into the environment during each cycle of a washing machine. Sewage sludge is often applied to fields as fertilizer, meaning that several thousand tons of microplastics end up in our soils each year.
Microplastics can also enter the food chain through tap water, which is gathered from hills, rivers, lakes, and wells. A report from the UK’s Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management says the biggest proportion of microplastics in water come from fibres shed by synthetic textiles and tyre dust from roads.
When plastic ends up in the environment, it tends to bind with environmental pollutants. As plastic moves through the food chain, the attached toxins can also move and accumulate in animal fat and tissue through a process called bio-accumulation. In addition, chemicals are often added to plastic during the production process, which can leak from the plastic, even when it is inside the body of an animal.
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Frequently asked questions
A plastic planet is a metaphor for a planet that is pervasively polluted with plastic.
Yes, Earth is a plastic planet. Plastic has been found in tap water, bottled beer, sugar, honey, soil, oceans, and even in space.
The impact of microplastics in soils, sediments, and freshwater could have long-term negative effects on ecosystems. Microplastics can attract microbial pathogens and may even cross the gut wall and be translocated to other body tissues. They can also carry disease-causing organisms and act as a vector for diseases in the environment.
Properly dealing with waste plastic and stopping the unintentional loss of microplastics from clothes and roads are crucial steps in reducing plastic pollution. Recycling and incinerating waste plastic in waste-to-energy facilities can also help reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills.
Yes, there are some naturally occurring plastics, such as animal horns and tortoiseshell. Additionally, molecules of plastic have been discovered in space, specifically in the lower atmosphere of Saturn's moon Titan.
