By Alisha Ali, Age 11
Microplastics are really, really small plastics that are in the air, your house, in the ocean, lakes, and mostly everywhere. We care about microplastics because they can harm our bodies and our health, though some scientists say that the threat of microplastics is overblown, according to The Guardian.
Microplastics are created from polyethylene, a very strong plastic that can last many years.
Drinking bottled water in plastic water bottles increases microplastics in humans.
To avoid microplastics, you have to be careful to not microwave your food in plastic containers. Some kinds of kitchenware can increase microplastics, like plastic silverware and plates, as well as nonstick pans. Other products that can be high in microplastics are makeup, tea bags, and even some toys. They are also harming a lot of sea animals because of the waste that gets thrown into the ocean.
Some scientists are working on ways to fix this problem. For example, IndyKids covered the example of a Spanish scientist, Federica Bertocchini, who discovered that wax worms can bite plastic and dissolve it. Mussels could also be a tool to filter out microplastics, according to Fast Company.
According to the experts, we should be concerned about microplastics because they’re not safe and not good for our health.
