대학신문방송국

Pollution from microplastic is one of the environmental problems that has recently received a lot of attention worldwide. Microplastics are very tiny particles that occur in the process of decomposing plastic products in nature and are more than 100 nm and less than 5mm in size. Then, where are microplastics coming from? Microplastics are too tiny to be filtered by sewage treatment facilities, but they flow directly into the sea and rivers. Eighty percent of the plastic flowing into the sea comes from land and 20 percent are nets and styrofoam thrown away by fishermen. If the seawater is full of plastic like this, we may end up consuming them when we eat fish, seaweed, and shellfish. The same is true of plastics buried underground. If plastic bags, delivery food containers, and discarded wet wipes made of plastic materials are buried in the ground, microplastics will enter the human body when eating plants, fruits, and vegetables from the soil. Lastly, plastics are also found in the atmosphere. Microplastics are also detected in bottled water that we drink because water vapor evaporated from the sea becomes rain and collects after it falls to the ground. How will microplastics generated in this way affect our bodies and environment?

 More than 90 percent of the plastic absorbed in the human body is excreted through bowel movements. However, the problem is the accumulated plastic in the human body. It does not decompose in the body because of its microscopic size but moves through lymphatic vessels and penetrates cells. Depending on where microplastics have penetrated, it can cause various cancers such as lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, thyroid cancer, and uterine cancer. Also, there is a risk of penetrating the brain and affecting various brain diseases and lives.

 Microplastics are also having a bad effect on the environment. Microplastics accumulate in the soil, which degrades the soil and prevents moisture from entering the soil properly. In addition, about 10 million tons of plastic waste are generated in the sea every year. Compared to fish without microplastics, studies have shown that fish with microplastics have reduced their lifespan and body size, including productivity and proteolysis capacity.

 Let’s look at the main objects in everyday life that release microplastics.

 First, it is the “delivery food” we often eat. When food is delivered, it is served in a plastic container. Disposable plastic containers bring convenience to our lives but adversely affect health and the environment. It takes more than 500 years for plastic containers to decompose, and it is highly likely that harmful substances will be released if hot food is contained or heated in a microwave. Therefore, those who order delivery food frequently increase their exposure to microplastics, and the more frequently they order, the more microplastics are released.

 Second, it is the “disposable wet tissue” that has a negative impact on the environment. Most disposable wet tissues on the market use a plastic material called “polyester,” so using disposable wipes to clean stains and dust is the same as using disposable plastic.

 Finally, the convenient “teabag” that we find when we want to drink a cup of tea contains plastic fibers, so if we add tea bags to drink tea, microplastics enter our bodies.

 Thus, we should make efforts to reduce microplastics that cause serious problems in the human body and the environment. Let’s refrain from using disposable products and use alternatives or multi-use products. For example, why don’t you try a personal tumbler or mug instead of a plastic disposable cup at a café or restaurant? Furthermore, try to use handkerchiefs instead of wet wipes, natural sponges instead of iron sponges, eco bags instead of plastic bags, multi-use lenses instead of disposable lenses, and try to make tea with grains instead of disposable tea bags. If you use plastic, it is also necessary to thoroughly recycle. Recycling the collected plastic can slow the progress of environmental pollution. In addition, microplastics float in the air and show high concentrations indoors, so making frequent ventilation and cleaning is one way to reduce microplastics in daily life.

 If you abandon the idea of “Who cares if I litter or not” and practice efforts to lessen microplastics in your life, you will be able to slow down the microplastic disaster. Let’s practice efforts to reduce microplastics for the clean sea, marine life, and our health.