Does Plastic Persist in the Environment?

Plastic is a man-made material that is designed to be durable and to withstand the elements; consequently, it does not break down readily in the environment, but rather persists for a very long time. When it does eventually start to break down, it doesn’t disappear, but rather breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, eventually resulting in gazillions of tiny plastic fragments – or microplastics – measuring less than 5mm.

Microplastics

While plastic pollution on land has always been recognized as a huge environmental problem, only recently has the extent ofmarine plastic pollutionbecome truly apparent. This is partly because plastic tends to sink to the ocean depths, out of sight and out of mind. But as more and more plastic debris washes up onto beaches around the world, and people become increasingly aware of the existence of theGreat Pacific Garbage Patch– an extensive area where plastic debris converges in the middle of the ocean – conservationists are beginning to sit up and alarm bells are beginning to sound. Microplastics are an emerging pollutant that has scientists particularly concerned. Due to their tiny size, they have until recently slipped under the radar. Butrecent oceanic surveyshave revealed that these tiny particles are abundant in all the world’s oceans, and scientists are particularly concerned about the impact on marine animals and higher predators, especially man, who relies heavily on the world’s ocean for a source of protein food.