It’s time for legislators to care about microplastics
Microplastics from the Patapsco River, photographed by the Lance Yonkos Laboratory at the University of Maryland. Photo: Chesapeake Bay Project
If the word “microplastics” is reminiscent of straws, turtles, and the idea that the world has bigger problems, then you are certainly not alone. As the name suggests: Although they are strictly defined as plastic particles no more than 5 mm in size, most microplastics are microscopic in size and seem to be of corresponding importance.
The life cycle of microplastics begins with crude oil extracted from deep on the earth’s surface, chemically refined and spun into textile fibers, or molded into disposable products.Over time, these items will break down into tiny plastic fragments, which can now be in our waterway, at the hilltop, Even in The most distant Places on earth.
Microplastics are only the end of the life of oil and natural gas. To stop them requires stopping plastic production from the source: oil wells. According to the International Energy Agency, by 2050, plastics and other petrochemical products are expected to account for nearly half of total oil demand.
However, while dependence on fossil fuels is one of the main reasons we need comprehensive federal microplastics legislation, it is not the only reason. Microplastics also pose a unique public health threat.
The impact of microplastics on human health is well documented.We now understand that microplastics can cause Decline in fertility, Decreased function of major organs, chronic inflammation, Neurotoxicity, Intestinal barrier dysfunction, Cell death, Damaged Hormonal function, Potential harm to fetal development, And more. Their small size means that reducing their impact must come from prevention, not cleanup.
This evidence should be sufficient for countries to monitor microplastic pollution. Many have taken the form of anti-bead regulation and larger plastic bans and taxes. In the United States, Congress passed the “Bead-Free Water Act” in 2015, which prohibits the sale of rinse-off cosmetics containing plastic microbeads. A bill currently in circulation is called the “Free from Plastic Pollution Act.” If the bill is passed, it will solve the problem of plastic pollution by increasing the responsibility of plastic production companies for their waste.
Although the passage of the latter marks an important step forward in combating plastic pollution, its impact is far from enough. In addition, the bill does not specifically address the unique negative effects of microplastics. The fact is that the United States lacks an effective mainstream federal legislative framework to solve the microplastics problem.
So why is there no comprehensive national legislation? Because the most powerful oil and gas interests on the planet remain the status quo.
When we think of microplastics, we must immediately think of the climate impact-fossil fuel mining and our imminent crisis. Our views and actions on microplastics play a key role in the struggle for a livable future.
So, how do we solve this problem? In terms of resolving our dependence on fossil fuels, the global grassroots development momentum is strong. It’s time to use this newly discovered global awareness to promote plastic legislation while phasing out fossil fuels. Although COP26 has failed to produce an international climate agreement that many believe is a sufficient baseline, the urgency of action has never been more extensive.
One foot is in the scientific community and the other is in the environmental advocacy community. I speak with the caution of scientists and the urgency of advocates. I don’t think we need more evidence that microplastics can cause harm.
The source of all environmental legislation ultimately comes down to protecting human health-after all, we are saving ourselves, not just the planet-and it has been decades since the domestic federal environmental policy was promulgated.
We must understand that in the face of “microplastics”, we are facing a huge global fossil fuel industry. In the final analysis, the microplastics legislation is anti-fossil fuel legislation, but unlike previous failed efforts, this legislation may have an opportunity. Let us take advantage of the unique fact that this is a public health threat to establish the need for comprehensive federal legislation to deal with microplastics and help stop the climate crisis.
Madeleine MacGillivray is a student at Columbia University Master of Sustainability Management program. She completed her undergraduate thesis on microplastic pollution at the Lamont-Dougherty Earth Observatory in Colombia.
