Understanding Microplastics
Start
What Are Microplastics?
Microplastics are per definition solid and insoluble plastic particles that are smaller than 5 millimeters.It is distinguished between primary and secondary microplastics. Primary microplastics are intentionally manufactured and their small particular nature is providing them with a part of their function. Typical applications include for example cosmetics like peeling products or tooth paste, or industrial applications like abrasives or fillers. Secondary microplastics result from the breakdown of larger plastic pieces by external influences like mechanical stress or weathering.
INTRODUCTION
To date, microplastics can be found in many environmental areas, including oceans, rivers, and soils. They are entering the environment as primary or secondary microplastics. Two of the largest sources of secondary microplastics are tire abrasion and synthetic textile wear.The majority of widely used plastic materials are non-biodegradable and engineered for high durability, which leads to their persistence in the environment. While microplastics released from these materials tend to further fragment by mechanical abrasion, leading to the formation of even smaller particles, they will remain in the environment for decades or even centuries.
- This leads to an accumulation of persistent plastic particles in the environment
- Such particles are abundant and can be found in virtually any environment
- Very small particles can even enter the bodies of animals and plants and, with the food chain, can end up and accumulate in the bodies of humans, too.
Where Do Microplastics Go?
Microplastics in the Env6ironment
Why Are Microplastics a Problem?
Potential impacts on the environment can be, for example, the disruption of natural habitats by altering the structure of soils and aquatic habitats, negatively impacting the organisms living there.
It is assumed that microplastics can have harmful effects on the environment and the health of living organisms. (Source: World Health Organization)
Environmental and Biological Impacts
Potential impacts on living organisms can stem from physical damages by e.g. blocking digestive systems of animals, from chemical contamination by intentionally and/or non-intentionally added substances in microplastics entering the food chain and from bioaccumulation in bodies impairing the function and development of plants and animals.
CLICK HERE
Persistent vs. Non-Persistent
External factors can lead to their fragmentation (by mechanical abrasion) or transformation (changes in their chemical and physical properties) but not to their biodegradation within a reasonable timeframe.
Standard plastic materials, which are used in many long-term but also even short-term applications, are persistent
Persistent vs. Non-Persistent Microplastics
+ info
During the biodegradation of such materials fragmentation is a necessary natural process – similarly to the biodegradation of natural materials like wood or leaves – to enable the polymer uptake by microbes.
In contrast to that, biodegradable plastic materials are consumed by microorganisms occurring in the environment.
+ info
SOLUTION
How Are Microplastics Measured?
• To monitor and assess the hazard, fate and exposure of microplastics in the environment, appropriate methods and analytical techniques are essential.
• Several analytical techniques for the quantification of microplastics in environmental samples are nowadays available
• Sample preparation steps are essential for microscopy analysis
o Microplastic particles are separated from the environmental matrix by chemical and physical treatments ensuring the polymer and particle stability
o The number, size and chemical composition of the extracted microplastic particles is determined for example by Raman or IR microscopy
Measuring Microplastics
How Can We Reduce Microplastics?
• Several measures are in force or are currently discussed that could reduce the release of microplastics into the environment
o Stricter regulations, e.g. forbidding the use of primary microplastics
o Closing the loop with recycling to avoid persistent plastics ending up in the environment
o Using non-persistent (= certified biodegradable) plastic materials in applications where collection for recycling is not possible or where their release into the environment cannot be avoided (e.g., mulch films, compostable bags and packaging)
Measures for Reduction
FOLLOW US!
Within a reasonable amount of time, means within weeks to months, such biodegradable materials are completely eliminated from the environmental system.
Fragment release from biodegradable polymers and their further transformation into biomass, water and CO2, highlighting the difference from persistent microplastics.
How persistent plastic materials release secondary microplastics by external factors.
What sets these fragments apart from conventional microplastic particles is, however, their non-persistent nature: the microbial degradation of such fragments continues with complete molecular breakdown and metabolization to CO₂ , biomass, energy and water within short periods of time.
The same processes apply to microplastics released from these materials into the environment, which is why they persist for decades or even centuries.
Microplasticos
Estibaliz Garmendia
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Transcript
Understanding Microplastics
Start
What Are Microplastics?
Microplastics are per definition solid and insoluble plastic particles that are smaller than 5 millimeters.It is distinguished between primary and secondary microplastics. Primary microplastics are intentionally manufactured and their small particular nature is providing them with a part of their function. Typical applications include for example cosmetics like peeling products or tooth paste, or industrial applications like abrasives or fillers. Secondary microplastics result from the breakdown of larger plastic pieces by external influences like mechanical stress or weathering.
INTRODUCTION
To date, microplastics can be found in many environmental areas, including oceans, rivers, and soils. They are entering the environment as primary or secondary microplastics. Two of the largest sources of secondary microplastics are tire abrasion and synthetic textile wear.The majority of widely used plastic materials are non-biodegradable and engineered for high durability, which leads to their persistence in the environment. While microplastics released from these materials tend to further fragment by mechanical abrasion, leading to the formation of even smaller particles, they will remain in the environment for decades or even centuries.
Where Do Microplastics Go?
Microplastics in the Env6ironment
Why Are Microplastics a Problem?
Potential impacts on the environment can be, for example, the disruption of natural habitats by altering the structure of soils and aquatic habitats, negatively impacting the organisms living there.
It is assumed that microplastics can have harmful effects on the environment and the health of living organisms. (Source: World Health Organization)
Environmental and Biological Impacts
Potential impacts on living organisms can stem from physical damages by e.g. blocking digestive systems of animals, from chemical contamination by intentionally and/or non-intentionally added substances in microplastics entering the food chain and from bioaccumulation in bodies impairing the function and development of plants and animals.
CLICK HERE
Persistent vs. Non-Persistent
External factors can lead to their fragmentation (by mechanical abrasion) or transformation (changes in their chemical and physical properties) but not to their biodegradation within a reasonable timeframe.
Standard plastic materials, which are used in many long-term but also even short-term applications, are persistent
Persistent vs. Non-Persistent Microplastics
+ info
During the biodegradation of such materials fragmentation is a necessary natural process – similarly to the biodegradation of natural materials like wood or leaves – to enable the polymer uptake by microbes.
In contrast to that, biodegradable plastic materials are consumed by microorganisms occurring in the environment.
+ info
SOLUTION
How Are Microplastics Measured?
• To monitor and assess the hazard, fate and exposure of microplastics in the environment, appropriate methods and analytical techniques are essential. • Several analytical techniques for the quantification of microplastics in environmental samples are nowadays available • Sample preparation steps are essential for microscopy analysis o Microplastic particles are separated from the environmental matrix by chemical and physical treatments ensuring the polymer and particle stability o The number, size and chemical composition of the extracted microplastic particles is determined for example by Raman or IR microscopy
Measuring Microplastics
How Can We Reduce Microplastics?
• Several measures are in force or are currently discussed that could reduce the release of microplastics into the environment o Stricter regulations, e.g. forbidding the use of primary microplastics o Closing the loop with recycling to avoid persistent plastics ending up in the environment o Using non-persistent (= certified biodegradable) plastic materials in applications where collection for recycling is not possible or where their release into the environment cannot be avoided (e.g., mulch films, compostable bags and packaging)
Measures for Reduction
FOLLOW US!
Within a reasonable amount of time, means within weeks to months, such biodegradable materials are completely eliminated from the environmental system.
Fragment release from biodegradable polymers and their further transformation into biomass, water and CO2, highlighting the difference from persistent microplastics.
How persistent plastic materials release secondary microplastics by external factors.
What sets these fragments apart from conventional microplastic particles is, however, their non-persistent nature: the microbial degradation of such fragments continues with complete molecular breakdown and metabolization to CO₂ , biomass, energy and water within short periods of time.
The same processes apply to microplastics released from these materials into the environment, which is why they persist for decades or even centuries.