Microplastics are pieces of plastic weighing 5 mm or less and have been found in 90 per cent of sea salt and 93 per cent of bottled water. The spread of the microplastic pandemic primarily affects the oceans. Scientists estimate that there are 51 trillion pieces of microplastics in our beautiful blue seas. By following a few simple steps, marine tourists can help mitigate the spread of microplastics.
The spread of microplastics creates environmental hazards.
Microplastics are polymers that degrade the surrounding environment, create health hazards, and affect people’s well-being. They are found in lakes, rivers, oceans, waterfalls, plains, and seas. Microplastics accumulate in the bodies of anyone who drinks water from the supply, where the bottles ultimately end up.
How do you stop the spread of microplastics?
1.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 because 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. As a result, the average person consumes an estimated 100,000 microplastic particles each year. Of course, not all microplastics come from water bottles, but opening a plastic bottle can release tens of thousands of particles.
2. Participate in beach cleanups: Garbage should be one of the many things that tourists leave behind on 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, imagine what a concerted cleanup effort can do. If you don’t want to organize that yourself, several organizations can help you. International Coastal Cleanup is one organization that tourists can work with. The ICC removes beached plastic that has washed up from boats, resorts, and even homes and workplaces. Eighty per cent of ocean plastic comes from land, meaning the bottles and packaged lunches you bring to work 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.
3. Stop using products that contain microbeads: Ensure they are microbead-free when shopping for home care, healthcare, and beauty care products. Microbeads are essentially useless microplastics found in certain toothpastes, face washes, and similar products. Worst of all, these beads are so small that they can 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.