Are Microplastics in Our Water Becoming a Macroproblem? | National Geographic

it was completely legal as the dump

it was completely legal as the dump plastic in the ocean until the 90s and a

plastic in the ocean until the 90s and a

plastic in the ocean until the 90s and a lot of that plastic is still there

lot of that plastic is still there

lot of that plastic is still there because plastic lasts out there for a

because plastic lasts out there for a

because plastic lasts out there for a very long time it just breaks down into

very long time it just breaks down into

very long time it just breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces

we know that over 300 species of

we know that over 300 species of wildlife have ingested this material

wildlife have ingested this material

wildlife have ingested this material it’s been reported in animals and so as

it’s been reported in animals and so as

it’s been reported in animals and so as it is eaten by animals it actually can

it is eaten by animals it actually can

it is eaten by animals it actually can move up the food web and as the

move up the food web and as the

move up the food web and as the scientific literature on this issue

scientific literature on this issue

scientific literature on this issue increases literally almost every habitat

increases literally almost every habitat

increases literally almost every habitat they’ve gone to sea mounts Arctic ice

they’ve gone to sea mounts Arctic ice

they’ve gone to sea mounts Arctic ice coral reefs deep sea it’s become

coral reefs deep sea it’s become

coral reefs deep sea it’s become ubiquitous and I don’t think anybody

ubiquitous and I don’t think anybody

ubiquitous and I don’t think anybody would fight anyone on an argument the

would fight anyone on an argument the

would fight anyone on an argument the plastic debris is not become a

plastic debris is not become a

plastic debris is not become a contaminant of concern

reflecting the sample is blazing a manta

reflecting the sample is blazing a manta trawl it’s basically a big metal box

trawl it’s basically a big metal box

trawl it’s basically a big metal box with wings it looks like a manta ray

with wings it looks like a manta ray

with wings it looks like a manta ray with a very long about 12-foot mesh net

with a very long about 12-foot mesh net

with a very long about 12-foot mesh net off the back one two three at the end is

off the back one two three at the end is

off the back one two three at the end is a piece we can take off that has

a piece we can take off that has

a piece we can take off that has collected all of the solids rinse it all

collected all of the solids rinse it all

collected all of the solids rinse it all out filter it through another strainer

out filter it through another strainer

out filter it through another strainer and then put it into a jar it’s caught a

and then put it into a jar it’s caught a

and then put it into a jar it’s caught a lot of other stuff you want to take a

lot of other stuff you want to take a

lot of other stuff you want to take a look at one for rinsing out of the

look at one for rinsing out of the

look at one for rinsing out of the screen it’s more tiny plastic what we’re

screen it’s more tiny plastic what we’re

screen it’s more tiny plastic what we’re concerned about ultimately is what are

concerned about ultimately is what are

concerned about ultimately is what are the implications of trash going into the

the implications of trash going into the

the implications of trash going into the water getting into the food we harvest

water getting into the food we harvest

water getting into the food we harvest and we’re still connecting the dots

and we’re still connecting the dots

and we’re still connecting the dots they’re a bit we know that lots of trash

they’re a bit we know that lots of trash

they’re a bit we know that lots of trash goes out into the water we know that the

goes out into the water we know that the

goes out into the water we know that the Sun and waves breaks it down into small

Sun and waves breaks it down into small

Sun and waves breaks it down into small pieces we know that many many many

pieces we know that many many many

pieces we know that many many many species of animals eat it and we also

species of animals eat it and we also

species of animals eat it and we also know that bigger animals eat smaller

know that bigger animals eat smaller

know that bigger animals eat smaller animals and we also know that we those

animals and we also know that we those

animals and we also know that we those big trophy fish and so what we’re really

big trophy fish and so what we’re really

big trophy fish and so what we’re really trying to figure out is how big a vector

trying to figure out is how big a vector

trying to figure out is how big a vector plastic is for transporting chemicals

plastic is for transporting chemicals

plastic is for transporting chemicals into the tissues of the animals that we

into the tissues of the animals that we

into the tissues of the animals that we eat every day

eat every day

eat every day that’s a big problem much bigger than

that’s a big problem much bigger than

that’s a big problem much bigger than big chunks floating out into the ocean

we don’t know exactly what that plastic

we don’t know exactly what that plastic is we don’t know where exactly it’s

is we don’t know where exactly it’s

is we don’t know where exactly it’s coming from and if we’re trying to find

coming from and if we’re trying to find

coming from and if we’re trying to find policy and educational solutions to it

policy and educational solutions to it

policy and educational solutions to it we need to know what we’re targeting we

we need to know what we’re targeting we

we need to know what we’re targeting we can’t just ban plastic that’s not going

can’t just ban plastic that’s not going

can’t just ban plastic that’s not going to work

to work

to work what kind of plastic is it and what’s

what kind of plastic is it and what’s

what kind of plastic is it and what’s the best policy route to reduce it is it

the best policy route to reduce it is it

the best policy route to reduce it is it a ban is it a fee is it market change is

a ban is it a fee is it market change is

a ban is it a fee is it market change is it education and behavior change work

it education and behavior change work

it education and behavior change work what’s the best way to tackle it and

what’s the best way to tackle it and

what’s the best way to tackle it and until we know exactly what we’re dealing

until we know exactly what we’re dealing

until we know exactly what we’re dealing with we’re not going to be able to

with we’re not going to be able to

with we’re not going to be able to design the right programs to address it