Microplastics in Sand
Understanding the implications of microplastics in the marine environment
What are Microplastics?
Microplastics are small plastic pieces that are less than 5 mm in size. Plastic fibers smaller than 5 mm in width but larger than 5 mm in length are also considered microplastics. There are two types of microplastic, primary microplastics, which are intentionally produced, and secondary microplastics, which result from the breakup of larger plastic items during use or after disposal.
Microplastics appear in various shapes, such as foils, foams, fibers, pellets, fragments, and microbeads. Microplastics can be found in items like toothpaste, facial products, clothing, furniture, and much more.
How do microplastics end up in the environment?
Microplastics come from particles arising from the breakdown of larger plastic items into the environment. Microplastic pollution originates from a variety of sources and can generally be divided into inland-based, sea-based, and air-based sources, where river runoff is the biggest pathway of transportation. Once released or broken away from their original plastic product, microplastics can travel through waterways and end up in the ecosystems.
Trillions of microplastic particles in the ocean threaten marine life, from huge filter feeders to tiny plankton. Although not lethal in the short term, the long-term impacts of microplastics on plankton and marine microbes could disrupt key Earth systems. Microplastics can be the right size for many marine organisms to prey on, which can harm biodiversity and ecosystem function. They can cause a disruption to the ecosystem and food chain as the pollutants accumulate in aquatic environments through biomagnification. They can often be toxic and cause fatalities, delayed growth, and other health conditions.
Microplastics can also have a huge impact on human health. Exposure to microplastics in humans potentially leads to serious health issues, including various cancers, respiratory disorders, and inflammatory bowel disease. Their increased widespread presence in the oceans and environment is going to overall affect us in the long run if we don't change now.
Recent initiatives at Good Harbor beach
Seasides efforts
Seaside Sustainability is conducting monthly Microplastics in the Sand testing using the Microplastic Beach Protocol. This Protocol is designed to help interns and volunteers collect data on microplastic pollution along both freshwater and marine beaches and shorelines. This data is then used to characterize different types of microplastics and evaluate the levels of pollution we have in the local, regional, and global trends.
Data collection is currently focused at Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester, Massachusetts, but needs to be expanded to other locations around Cape Ann. Volunteers and interns collect sand samples from 12 different quadrats along 100 meters of the beach. Quadrats are set at the back of the beach, in the middle, and at the wrack line. Sand is sifted through a 5mm sieve and any suspected microplastics are put into a glass jar and tabled for further evaluation.
Evaluation of microplastics consists of testing such as visual identification using a magnifying glass and the visual guide, the ‘sink test’, and a ‘squish test’. Data from each collection is put into a Google sheet, and we are able to analyze changes in microplastic abundance through the yearly months.
Why should we care about microplastics?
