Researchers highlight growing global concern over microplastics, urging swift international cooperation to prevent irreversible harm to both ecosystems and human health. Review: Twenty years of microplastics pollution research—what have we learned? Image Credit: Maksim Safaniuk / Shutterstock In a recent review article published in the journal Science , researchers summarized the current understanding of microplastics' origins and sources, their effects on the environment and human health, and the urgent need for global solutions to microplastic pollution. They concluded that while public concern and international efforts to address microplastic pollution are growing, significant scientific uncertainties remain, particularly in evaluating long-term impacts and the effectiveness of proposed interventions.
More data is required not only to assess these impacts but also to prevent unintended consequences that may arise from hasty measures. Sources of microplastics Experts define microplastics as particles of solid plastic less than 5mm in size. They are made of materials like nylon, polyester, and acrylic and have been present in the environment since at least the 1960s, with their abundance increasing rapidly over time.
They have accumulated along coastlines, in the water column, deep into the ocean, and in sea ice. Microplastics have been detected near the summit of Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world. Microplastics have been found in more than 1,300 species, af.
