Microplastics in sand. The particles, some as small as a few billionths of a meter, have a range of harmful effects on human health and the environment. (iStock photo)
The movie industry is abuzz over the seven Oscars won by the film “Oppenheimer.” Fifty years ago, a Dustin Hoffman classic, “The Graduate,” also snared seven Oscars. Both movies featured developing science that had a staggering impact on our world; in the case of Oppenheimer, it was a retrospective on the development of atomic bombs that ended World War II. In “The Graduate,” Mr. McGuire had one word of career advice for young Benjamin Braddock: “Plastics!” While Benjamin failed to take that advice, the rest of the world raced to embrace plastics in every walk of life. Now we are paying the piper for that unbridled optimism.
You have heard about the threat of microplastics in the environment, tiny fragments that litter the ground and the waters around us. In some cases, those fragments are so small they are measured in nanometers, a unit of measure one-billionth of a meter. There is concern about the impact of those particles once they are ingested by animals, entering the food chain, and thus our bodies. As the plastics degrade, they release harmful chemicals that may be toxic. New research shows the plastics provide unique surfaces that support microorganisms, including disease-causing pathogens.
Scientists have been perplexed as to how microplastics have appeared in remote places like the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, far from the primary sources of plastic waste. A January report in Chemical & Engineering News states that fragments in the shape of fibers may be carried high into the atmosphere, allowing them to be dispersed over vast distances. As those fibers are degraded by light, they may release chlorine, contributing to ozone depletion.
Many plastics are highly hydrophilic, meaning they attract water. Their presence aloft may contribute to changes in cloud formation and the distribution of rain, potentially altering weather patterns. When the particles fall to the ground, they pollute waterways and build up in the soil. Scientists studying peat have documented accumulations of plastic particles dating back to the 1960s, and we are adding to them constantly.
While research advances, we can consider preliminary indications about the human health risks of these airborne particles. Humans can inhale particulates in the micrometer range, which may trigger respiratory problems, such as the surge in asthma cases. If the plastics then enter the bloodstream, traveling to our organs, they may trigger issues with toxicity and cellular growth. Scientists have estimated that there are at least hundreds of microplastic particles in every cubic meter of air in urban environments.
This begs the question: What can we do about these plastics and their chemical components? Clearly, trying to collect particulates sized in nanometers is impossible. There has been halting progress in recycling plastics, and in preventing their accumulation in our oceans. But the use of plastics is growing, and in the developing world, standards for waste handling and recycling are in their infancy.
In response to military and consumer demands for product improvements, in the last century, the chemical industry pioneered a new category of compounds called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Valued for their versatility and particularly their durability in use, they are now known by the acronym PFAS, or as “forever chemicals.” There are more than 15,000 synthetically produced chemicals in this class, used in a vast array of products, from food packaging to clothing, furniture to cosmetics, and more. Historically, the chemicals have been lightly regulated, and few long-term environmental studies were done until recently.
A recent report by the National Wildlife Federation states that PFAS studies have begun to show effects on human and animal health, such as increased immunosuppression and reduced vaccine efficacy. There are indications of increased risk of organ dysfunction, some cancers, and other diseases. As far back as 2008, one study found PFAS in 95% of human blood samples tested. In response, the European Union passed legislation mandating the phaseout of PFAS products by 2030. Maine has a similar timeline, with exceptions for essential chemicals for which there is no alternative.
The U.S. Department of Defense is evaluating more than 700 military bases for potential PFAS contamination. Chemical & Engineering News reported in March that there are roughly 15,000 landfills in the U.S. currently leaching PFAS into groundwater. There has now been a surge in technology developments aimed at collecting and destroying PFAS in the environment. The technical and economic hurdles to success are massive, but the clear imperative is to both ban and clean up these chemicals.
Ed Robinson’s latest book, “Nature Notes from Maine Vol. II: Puffins, Black Bears, Raccoons & More,” is available from the Harpswell Heritage Land Trust. All profits support HHLT’s conservation and education efforts.
