As people that love the environment, we do our best to keep the planet clean. From daily recycling habits to regular beach clean ups, environmentalists work tirelessly to reduce the negative impact of plastic pollution. While removing plastic trash from beaches and parks is a valuable step, it doesn’t address the root cause of the problem — microplastics. 

Plastics break down into tiny pieces that harm the natural balance of ecosystems and the organisms that live in them — remaining in the environment long after the original plastic product is removed. So, to help you understand the severity of this environmental crisis, let's talk about the dangers of microplastics and how to avoid them in your daily life!

Pollution

From synthetic clothing to plastic water bottles, microplastics are shed from the plastic products commonly used every day — especially when washed with hot water, scrubbed, microwaved, or left in the sun. These tiny plastic pieces can get washed down the drain, into the ocean, or littered on the ground — and once they permeate the environment, they’re nearly impossible to get rid of. 

Bioaccumulation

These plastic pieces don’t just sit in the environment. They contain and release chemicals that contaminate and pollute the environment. Over time, the pieces build up and settle in areas where they don’t belong, like soil, sand, and in bodies of water. As a result, they disrupt the ecosystems and organisms that live there. Plus, microplastics in the ocean can attract and carry pollutants already in the water. 

Ingestion

The tiny, often colorful pieces are easily consumed by unsuspecting animals that drink contaminated water or mistake them for food. They’re also commonly breathed in and ingested by humans who wear synthetic clothes, drink from plastic water bottles, or eat hot food from plastic containers. Unsurprisingly, the chemicals in these microplastics are toxic to animals and humans too!

Movement

One of the major sources of microplastics in the body is seafood! Once ingested by smaller animals such as fish, the journey of microplastics often moves up the food chain. Any predators — including humans — who eat fish that consumed microplastics are faced with the negative effects too. 

Damage

Microplastics can cause severe health effects for many animals, harming their digestive systems, contributing to malnourishment, making them more susceptible to illnesses, and even causing death. For humans, exposure to the chemicals that leach from these microplastics could cause endocrine disruption, weight gain, impaired reproductive health, and even cancer. These negative effects on organisms inevitably disrupt the natural balance of our ecosystems. 

Removal

Removing microplastics from the environment is a near impossible task. They take hundreds, even thousands of years, breaking down without going away. And during this process, they can emit greenhouse gases and contribute to climate change. The best way to mitigate these negative effects is to reduce the amount of microplastics that end up in our environment in the first place!

Solutions

Wondering how to avoid microplastics in your daily life? While it can be difficult to go completely plastic-free, reducing your use can make a massive positive impact! We recommend opting for natural fiber clothes over synthetics, cutting out all single use plastics, and limiting reusable plastic materials as much as possible. To get started, swap out any reusable food or drink containers in your home that contain any plastic parts for microplastic-free versions instead!

At Pura Stainless, our mission is to be a part of the solution to the environmental and health crises that microplastics pose. That is why we innovated the first and only line of 100% microplastic-free water bottles, baby bottles, and lunch containers for people of all ages — to offer families like yours affordable, safe, durable, and truly sustainable options — so you never have to buy single use or reusable plastic bottles or containers ever again. Visit our website to learn more about the dangers of plastics, how to avoid microplastics in your daily life, and explore our eco-friendly products!