Microplastics are pieces of plastic weighing 5 mm or less and have been found in 90 percent of sea salt and 93 percent of bottled water. Besides microplastic, oceans attract tourists who contribute to the pandemic, but this could be avoided. This definition includes many popular products whose packaging is discarded into the environment, which is the source of microplastics. The worst hit by the spread of the microplastic pandemic is the oceans. Scientists estimate that 51 trillion pieces of microplastic exist in our beautiful blue seas. By following a few steps, marine tourists can do their part against the spread of this microscopic menace.
How do you stop the spread of microplastics?
- Travel With a Reusable Bottle.
The first step is an obvious one. Rather than lugging around single-use plastic bottles and buying a new one whenever you need a drink, bring a reusable travel mug. Single-use bottle pollution is a big enough problem as it contributes to the spread of microplastics. Yet those tiny plastics, which are contained in almost every water bottle, are arguably worse pollutants than the bottles themselves. Microplastics accumulate in the bodies of anyone who drinks from the water supply where the bottles end up or anyone who eats an animal that uses that water supply and ingests microplastics. As a result, the average person consumes an estimated 100,000 microplastic particles each year. Of course, not all these microplastics come from water bottles, but opening a plastic bottle can release tens of thousands of particles. - Participate in beach cleanups.
Garbage should be one of the many things that tourists take from exotic beaches. They can pick up a piece of litter for every Instagrammed beach photo, ocean excursion, or ray of mood-improving sunlight. If removing a single piece of plastic can reduce the spread of microplastics and tiny particles, imagine what a concerted cleanup effort can do. If you don’t want to organize that yourself, several organizations have you covered. International Coastal Cleanup is one organization that tourists can get involved with. ICC removes beached plastic that has made its way from boats, resorts, and even homes and workplaces. Eighty percent of ocean plastic comes from land, meaning the bottles and packaged lunches you bring to work and home can wind up on the pokers of ICC volunteers. Prioritizing homemade lunches and reusable mugs in your everyday life will significantly reduce plastic use in the office and make their job a little easier. - Stop Using Products That Contain Microbeads.
This step should be followed on vacation, at home, and anywhere else. Ensure they are microbead-free when shopping for home care, healthcare, and beauty care products. Microbeads are mostly useless microplastics in specific toothpaste, facewash, and related products. Worst of all, these beads are small enough to pass through water treatment plants and pollute the ocean. If you’re unsure whether your medicine cabinet is microbead-free, some companies have emblazoned a large “Zero Plastic Inside” logo on applicable products.
Since microplastics come from various sources, their effects on the environment can be devastating, and it is essential to end the problem. Marine tourists can help slow the spread of microplastics by taking a few small steps that make little impact on their vacation. These steps are only minor and include packing a reusable travel mug, picking up trash when possible, and avoiding products that contain microbeads.
MICROPLASTICS FAQ
Microplastics are polymers weighing 5 mm or less that can degrade the surrounding environment, create health hazards, and affect people’s well-being.
Microplastics can be found in lakes, rivers, oceans, waterfalls, plain land, and seas.