You may see news stories about the large amount of plastic waste in the ocean, lakes and streams. This plastic waste is visible and can have a negative environmental impact. But it is what you cannot see that can also be a problem, and that’s microplastics.
Microplastics are less than 5 millimeters in size, about the size of a pencil eraser, and can be divided into two types. The first type is small pieces, such as microbeads in personal care products or plastic pellets for manufacturing. The second type is tiny pieces of plastic that break or degrade off of large plastic items that are not disposed of properly.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, current scientific evidence does not indicate that levels of microplastics in foods pose a risk to human health. There are no standardized methods to detect, quantify, or characterize microplastics in foods.
But you can still do your part to take small simple steps to reduce plastic waste and usage. Here are some ideas from PennState Extension:
- Use refillable water bottles made of stainless steel
- Use reusable food containers.
- Bring your own bags when shopping.
- When using single-use plastics, such as plastic water bottles, recycle them properly.
- Share practices that work for you!