What are microplastics and why are they a problem?
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From the deepest parts of our ocean to the summit of Mount Everest, microplastics have spread to nearly every crevice on the planet.
By Charlotte Cameron
Many are aware of the wider impacts of plastic pollution on our environment and there have been significant behavioural changes towards phasing out single-use plastics. The recent introduction of the Plastic Packaging Tax (April 2022) in the UK has offered greater financial incentives for businesses to move towards recycled plastics, while at an individual level we are more aware of recycling and are opting for plastic-free alternatives. Global campaigns have helped with this, illustrating the impacts that discarded plastics have on wildlife, from images of sea turtles ingesting plastic bags to birds caught up in plastic packaging.
But studies into the impacts of microplastics in humans and in food are only just emerging.
What we do know is that we come across and ingest microplastics every day – in our drinking water, in the me...
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