Microplastics are also contaminating soils

The millions of tonnes of plastic swirling around the oceans have captured the public's attention in recent years, but the effects of plastic pollution on the living things that inhabit the earth's surface could be a worse threat than previously thought.

Very little of the plastic discarded daily is recycled or converted into energy through incineration. Much of this material ends up in landfills, where it can decompose for up to 1,000 years while releasing potentially toxic substances into soil and water.

Land-based microplastic pollution is estimated to be between 4 and 23 times higher than oceanic pollution, depending on where you compare it, so plastic fragments are present virtually everywhere in the world.

Scientists agree that one-third of all plastic waste ends up in soil or freshwater. Most of this plastic disintegrates into microplastics (particles smaller than five millimetres), which in turn break down into nanoparticles (0.1 micrometres in size). The main problem is that these microscopic pieces are entering the food chain.

On the other hand, wastewater is an important factor in the distribution of microplastics. 80-90% of plastic particles contained in wastewater, such as fibres from clothing made of acrylic, nylon, spandex or polyester material, persist in sewage sludge. This material is often applied as fertiliser, which means that several thousand tonnes of microplastics end up on crops every year or even in tap water.

In addition, the surfaces of small plastic fragments can carry disease-causing organisms and act as vehicles (vectors) for these diseases. They can also interact with soil-dwelling creatures, affecting their health and soil functions. Examples of this are earthworms that create their burrows differently when microplastics are present in the soil, affecting the fitness of the earthworm and the condition of the soil, or the decline of species living below the surface, such as mites, larvae, and other tiny creatures that maintain the fertility of the soil.

In addition, most plastics can carry toxic chemicals, such as chlorinated plastic, which are harmful and are released into the soil and can leach into the surrounding groundwater or other water sources and thus into ecosystems. This can cause a range of potentially harmful effects on water-drinking species.

Generally speaking, when plastic particles break down, they gain new physical and chemical properties, which increases the risk of them having a toxic effect on organisms. The greater the number of species and ecological functions potentially affected, the greater the likelihood of toxic reactions.

Chemical effects are particularly problematic at the decomposition stage. Additives such as phthalates and bisphenol A (widely known as BPA) are released from plastic particles. These additives are known to have hormonal effects and can disrupt the hormonal system of vertebrates and invertebrates alike. In addition, nano-sized particles can cause inflammation, cross cellular barriers, and even pass through highly selective membranes, such as the blood-brain barrier or the placental barrier. Inside the cell, they can trigger changes in gene expression and biochemical reactions, among other things.

What are micro pearls?

Plastic microbeads are solid particles typically between 10 micrometres (0.00039 inches) and one millimetre (0.039 inches). Numerous countries around the world have introduced bans on the manufacture of cosmetics and personal care products containing these microbeads. Such laws have already been passed in Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

Can nuclear technology be the solution?

Can nuclear technology be the solution?

Different nuclear techniques, targets, and initiatives can be considered as a solution to plastic pollution. We tell you about them in our interactive sheet: