They’re in our water, seafood, beer, human tissue, lakes, rivers, oceans, fresh Antarctic snow and most recently been found drifting in our once pristine alpine air.
Microplastics are pervasive globally including “clean, green New Zealand” which continues to be colonised by these tiny fibres.
In March it was reported for the first time that airborne microplastics have been detected in the foothills of the Southern Alps – likely to have blown from seas more than 100km away.
And what about indoors? It’s been estimated that the presence of a carpet in an indoor space can almost double the number of microplastics fibres in the home. This, coupled with the fact that we spend up to 90% of our lives indoors; in our homes, schools and workplaces, means there is potential for breathing in high concentrations of microplastics.
What can we do about it as individuals? Surprisingly a lot says marine scientist Veronica Rotman (see list of tips at the end of the article).
A doctoral candidate and science communicator, Veronica is dedicating herself to the study of microplastics in the search of solutions.
Research into microplastics in Aotearoa is still in its infancy which presents “a cool opportunity to contribute something to the nation”, and “she doesn’t want to be murdered by her future children or grandchildren for sitting back and allowing the ocean to degrade into a hot empty soup”.
Veronica is currently working on her PhD through University of Auckland in collaboration with the University of Otago and has been working with WAI Wānaka (whose mission is to accelerate community action for freshwater) on the freshwater aspect of her research. This includes a full spatial temporal study of Lake Wānaka looking at microplastics across four seasons and 10 sites, trying to figure out where the sources are, what they are and how we can stop them.
She’ll also be looking at microplastics in snow in commercial ski fields versus remote mountain ranges and atmospheric fallout through precipitation of snow will be part of that.
The fact that microplastics have been found in the air in the Southern Alps ties into her research. “That sort of atmospheric travel and the potential for microplastics now to be able to essentially go up and then down again in the form of precipitation and being driven by wind and things is incredible and something that we’re only just beginning to get our heads around,” she says.
Researching microplastics is a complicated business because they are essentially everywhere. The contamination prevention protocol required to look at microplastics in the environment and even when you’re working in the lab is “insane”. “These things are so tiny and so fiddly and they can be floating around the air in the lab and settle on your sample and contaminate it.”
Previously she was involved with Niwa research that looked at how plastic impacts the physiology of snapper and plastic ingestion of hoki. A three-month trial feeding juvenile snapper microplastics in environmentally relevant concentrations showed changes to the structure and architecture of the gastrointestinal tract and degradation of the villi, not only reducing the fishes’ ability to absorb nutrients but indicating long-term consequences through reduced energy available for reproduction and immunological responses.
In another of her studies, of 60 hoki fished from the ocean, 57 were found to have one or more microplastics in the digestive tract and 90.1 per cent were microfibres.
And it’s not just the plastic that’s the problem. Microplastics can store persistent organic pollutants or industrial chemicals that we know are toxic to humans. They harbour on plastic as a way of a floating home and if drifting plastic touches coral it can increase the likelihood of disease from 4% to 89%. “Plastics have additives that are provided in the process of manufacturing and these are also toxic, sometimes to the point of potentially influencing the endocrine system that regulates hormones. They can also act as a vector to pathogens like viruses and bacteria.”
There have also been news reports of plastics being found in blood and lung tissue and the human brain. A study from the Ryan Institute found that mice with exposure to microplastics (PS-MPS) have less of a protein GFAP, which has also been associated with early stages of some neurodegenerative diseases. Future studies will look at whether plastics may contribute to brain disease.
A recent study by Scion Research found that 88% of microparticles around Auckland beaches and waterways were fibres, and a third were plant-based.
“A lot of these fibres are coming from washing machines and wastewater treatment plants. You’ve also got sewage sludge, ropes, fishing gear and atmospheric fallout,” says Veronica. “In terms of the washing machine it ties into one of our big addictions which is fast fashion. On average around 60 per cent of our clothing is made of plastic fibres like polyester. Fast fashion wears quickly, is low quality and is disposed of as trends change. A 2016 study from the University of Santa Barbara found 250,000 microfibres can shed from a single [polyester] fleece in just one wash.”
Microplastics are defined as under 5mm – one micron to 5mm. Some microplastics you can see but most of the time you can’t. Most wastewater treatment plants are not designed to extract particles that are half the size of a red blood cell. In New Zealand 74% of wastewater from treatment plants is discharged into the marine environment and the rest discharged into fresh water or on land.
In her research Veronica is taking the mountains to sea approach. “Traditionally land, freshwater and marine environments have been siloed and managed separately by our decision makers. This is quite ineffective because this is one whole interconnected environment,” she explains. “Everything we do on land impacts the ocean, including the production of microplastics and the effects can worsen along the way. In my opinion we need to recognise this in the way that we operate at a policy level.” That could be a halt to plastic production and recycle what we already have including microplastics.
“We have this perception that New Zealand is this clean, green, glorious country and it’s just simply untrue. We’re really good at selling the story because our beaches aren’t covered in macro plastics like some areas in Asia, but it doesn’t mean that it’s not a huge issue here.” This was recently shown by a study by University of Waikato looking at lakes in the central North Island which found microplastics concentrations comparable to Europe and the USA.
“I think New Zealand has this amazing opportunity to be a world leader and turn off the tap in plastic, but it requires industry, politicians and consumers to all show up to the party. And there’s a lot at stake. We’ve got to protect and preserve our high value industries like seafood. Oysters are my favourite food in the whole world and the prospect of potentially chomping microplastics through oysters or other shellfish is not good. Sometimes food safety can be the biggest activator in terms of getting policy change.”
What you can do
- Use a front loader washing machine – Front loaders produce less shedding and use less water as well.
- Wash less – Garments like jeans do not have to be washed often. Wait until things are actually dirty before washing them.
- Fill it up – Make sure your washing machine is full so there’s less agitation that can produce fibres, and wash on cold.
- Air dry if you can – Dryers release more microplastics into the atmosphere than washing machines – hundreds of thousands in only 15 minutes of use.
- Choose natural – Purchase clothing, linens and carpets made of natural fibres like cotton, hemp or wool. And say no to fast fashion.
- Invest in a microfibre filter – The new Samsung Less MicrofibreTM Filter prevents up to 98 per cent of microplastics being released into the wastewater system. It works with standard frontload washing machines regardless of make or model. Samsung is donating $50 from every sale of the Less MicroFibre Filter to Sea Cleaners, too.
- Go naked at the supermarket – Choose nude food that isn’t wrapped in plastic.
- Support circular – Choose natural brands such as Dust & Glow, Aleph Beauty and Emma Lewisham with circular systems for reusable packaging.
- Pick it up – If you see plastic on the beach. Pick it up to prevent it from turning into microplastics in the future.
- Secure your rubbish so it’s not blown from the streets to rivers and sea.
- Volunteer – Lend a hand to organisations in your neighbourhood such as Sea Cleaners, Sustainable Coastlines, Keep New Zealand Beautiful, WAI Wānaka and Love Wānaka.
