The Global Scale: How Microplastics Are Contaminating Water Around the World
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in diameter, and they have become a growing concern due to their increasing prevalence in aquatic environments. These particles originate from a variety of sources: broken-down plastic waste, microbeads in cosmetics, synthetic fibers from clothing, and tire abrasion on roads. Because of their minuscule size, they easily bypass most water filtration systems and end up in lakes, rivers, and oceans, eventually infiltrating even the most remote ecosystems. The problem with microplastics in water is no longer confined to isolated regions. Research has shown that microplastics are now present in water bodies... View Article