{"id":66069,"date":"2024-09-20T11:50:34","date_gmt":"2024-09-19T23:50:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/?p=66069"},"modified":"2025-05-20T12:51:48","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T00:51:48","slug":"scientists-reviewed-7000-studies-on-microplastics-their-alarming-conclusion-puts-humanity-on-notice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/scientists-reviewed-7000-studies-on-microplastics-their-alarming-conclusion-puts-humanity-on-notice\/","title":{"rendered":"Scientists reviewed 7,000 studies on microplastics. Their alarming conclusion puts humanity on\u00a0notice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s been 20 years since a paper in the journal Science<\/a> showed the environmental accumulation of tiny plastic fragments and fibres. It named the particles \u201cmicroplastics\u201d.<\/p>\n\n

\"Small \u00a9 Greenpeace \/ Manoel Santos<\/div>” class=”wp-image-66072″\/>
Small white plastic balls found washed up on a beach
\u00a9 Greenpeace \/ Manoel Santos<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

The paper opened an entire research field. Since then, more than 7,000 published studies have shown the prevalence of microplastics in the environment, in wildlife and in the human body.<\/p>\n\n

So what have we learned? In a paper released today<\/a>, an international group of experts, including myself, summarise the current state of knowledge.<\/p>\n\n

In short, microplastics are widespread, accumulating in the remotest parts of our planet. There is evidence of their toxic effects at every level of biological organisation, from tiny insects at the bottom of the food chain to apex predators.<\/p>\n\n

Microplastics are pervasive in food and drink and have been detected throughout the human body. Evidence of their harmful effects is emerging.<\/p>\n\n

The scientific evidence is now more than sufficient: collective global action is urgently needed to tackle microplastics \u2013 and the problem has never been more pressing.<\/p>\n\n

Tiny particles, huge problem<\/h2>\n\n

Microplastics are generally accepted as plastic particles 5mm or less in one dimension.<\/p>\n\n

Some microplastics are intentionally added to products, such as microbeads in facial soaps.<\/p>\n\n

\"Copyright
Copyright : Fred Dott, Hamburg, http:\/\/www.freddott.de<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Others are produced unintentionally when bigger plastic items break down \u2013 for example, fibres released when you wash a polyester fleece jacket.<\/p>\n\n

Studies have identified some of the main sources of microplastics as:<\/p>\n\n