Question

What are microplastics and what are the major sources? What impacts are they having on the environment?

Answer 1

microplastics -

Microplastics are very small pieces of plastic debris in the environment resulting from the disposal and breakdown of consumer products and industrial waste.

Major sources of Microplastics are as follows :

Bigger plastic debris.

Small participates such as scrubbing agent in toiletries and cosmetics.

Originate from abrasion of large plastic objects during manufacturing, use or maintenance of erosion of tyres when driving or the abrasion of synthetic textiles during washing.

impacts of Microplastics on environment as follows :

1.chlorinated plastic can release Hamill chemicals in to the surrounding soil, which can then seep  into groundwater or other surrounding water sources, and also the ecosystem

This can cause a range of potentially harmful effects on the species that drink water.

2.the surfaces of fragments of plastic may carry disease causing organisms and acts as a vector for diseases in the environment.

3.microplastics also interacts with soil fauna, affecting their health and soil functions.

4.microplastics would cause entanglement and ingestion by a range of marine organisms such as zooplankton, fish, seabirds, sea turtles, crustaceans and mammals.

5.causes higher toxicity to algae.