Guidebook cover photo. (Source: MSU)

Overview:

In recent years, more information has been uncovered about microplastics and the impacts they may have on the environment. Researchers have developed two main categories of microplastics, both of which pose significant threats. In the following resources, you will learn about the similarities and differences between these two categories of microplastics, as well as what is left to be discovered.

Objective:

Define and describe the two categories of microplastics.

Read:

Guidebook: “Microplastics Sampling and Processing Guidebook”

This guide published by Mississippi State University Extension and their partners provides an overview of microplastics concepts, as well as some examples of common microplastics. Reflect on the following questions:

• What are the two categories of microplastics?
• How do these categories differ? What characteristics do they have in common?

Article: “What Are Microplastics?”

This brief article from NOAA’s National Ocean Service offers additional information about microplastic pollution. Watch the video and read the accompanying text below it. Reflect on the following questions:

• What are microbeads, and why are they so prevalent?
• How do everyday consumers contribute to microplastic pollution? How might large corporations contribute to the problem?

Watch:

Video (RT 5:40): “A Brief History of Plastic”

In this TED-Ed video directed by Sharon Colman, you will learn about the origins of plastic manufacturing. Reflect on the following questions:

• What conservation issue led to the development of the first official plastic?
• How has plastic manufacturing contributed to innovation since its development?
• What are some industries that rely on plastics?

Deep Dive Webinar (RT 1:00:57): “Microplastics: What We Know and Discussion of Research Needs”

This recorded webinar hosted by MarineDebris.info discusses marine debris, microplastics, and the research that still needs to be done into their impacts. Reflect on the following questions:

• Why are microplastics more difficult to trace back to a source than larger marine debris?
• How does marine debris contribute to secondary microplastic pollution?

Explore:

Video: “How It's Made: Cups and Cutlery”

This short clip from the series How It’s Made explains the production of single-use cups and cutlery. Reflect on the following questions:

• What role do primary microplastics play in the thermoforming process? What is the risk involved in using these materials?
• What are the benefits of this process? How do these benefits compare to the costs?
• How might secondary microplastics result from the products made in this process?

Click here to complete the quiz for this module.

What questions do you still have?  Where could you find out more?

Nurdles washed up along the Missippi River. (Source: Tristan Baurick)

Overview:

There are many ways that microplastics end up in our waterways. Imperfections in storage, transportation, and disposal are all means by which microplastics accumulate and pollute the world’s oceans. With these resources, you will learn about the pathways of various microplastics by exploring news articles, databases, and research stories.

Objective:

Identify the pathways of microplastic pollution.

Read:

Article: “Mississippi River Nurdle Spill Inspires Effort in Congress to Curb Plastic Pollution”

This Nola.com article outlines just one example of the way microplastics make their way into bodies of water. Reflect on the following questions:

• What category of microplastics are nurdles?
• How did the nurdles end up littering the beaches of Louisiana and Texas? Where else are they likely to be found in the future?
• Who was found responsible for this pollution? How were they held accountable?

Article: “Simulated Sunlight Reveals How 98% of Plastics at Sea Go Missing”

In this article from Florida Atlantic University, you will read about a study into the effects of sunlight-driven photoreactions on plastic degradation. Reflect on the following questions:

• The article discusses the estimated lifetimes of various types of plastic. How does the lifetime of a plastic material influence its pollution pathway?
• What happens when plastics are fragmented by photodegradation? Why is this relevant to micropolastic pollution pathways?

Watch:

Video (RT 4:54): “Nurdles’ Quest for Ocean Domination”

This video from Kim Preshoff and TED-Ed explains the concepts surrounding nurdles and the ways they end up in waterways all over the world. Reflect on the following questions:

• What qualities of nurdles contribute to how often they are found in the environment?
• What are some examples provided of the nurdles’ pathways into the ocean?

Video (RT 2:47): “The Story of Microfibers”

In this video produced by The Story of Stuff Project, you will learn about microfibers, where they come from, and how they contribute to microplastic pollution. Reflect on the following questions:

• What is the consumer-driven pathway of microfibers into waterways?
• How do microfibers in bodies of water end up in the human food chain?

Explore:

Interactive Article: “Our World in Data: Plastic Pollution”

This article hosted on Our World in Data lists the means by which plastic pollution occurs. Scroll through the sections of the article to find its interactive graphs. Reflect on the following questions:

• Scroll to the section titled “How Do We Dispose of Our Plastics?” What was the “fate” of the majority of plastics produced between 1950 and 2015?
• Scroll to the next section, titled “Which Sectors Produce the Most Plastic?” How does plastic waste by sector compare to overall plastic usage? What influences plastic waste generation, aside from primary plastic use?

Click here to complete the quiz for this module.

What questions do you still have?  Where could you find out more?

Microplastics in sand. (Source: NOAA)

Overview:

Microplastics are often too small to be visible pollutants, but their size also makes them more dangerous. They can be transported easily and are often mistaken or mixed in with food sources for wildlife and humans. While there is still research to be done on the consequences of microplastics, scientists have determined that they can impact food chains, biodiversity, and human health. In the following resources, you will learn about the ongoing research into microplastics and their impacts.

Objective:

Explore the consequences associated with microplastics and their presence in waterways.

Read:

Article: “The Gulf of Mexico Is Sending Out an S.O.S. - a Message in a Plastic Bottle”

In this article from the NRDC, you will read about the impacts of plastic pollution in the Gulf of Mexico. Reflect on the following questions:

• How do microplastics specifically impact sea life, such as oysters and other filter feeders? What are the ramifications of these impacts?
• How are larger animals affected by plastic pollution? Are there other ways this might affect sea life?

Journal Article: “Marine Litter Plastics and Microplastics and Their Toxic Chemicals Components: The Need for Urgent Preventive Measures”

This journal article originally published in Environmental Sciences Europe presents a thorough argument for preventative measures against marine litter and microplastics. Reflect on the following questions:

• The article states that chronic exposure to microplastics is correlated with changes to zooplankton survival and mortality. Why is this significant to the overall health and biodiversity of marine ecosystems?
• What chemical threats does an abundance of microplastics pose? What are the sources of the chemicals associated with microplastic pollution?
• What are endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDCs), and why are they affiliated with plastic pollution? Why are they dangerous?

Article: “A Reality Check on Environmental Racism & Plastics”

This article from the Surfrider Foundation discusses the disproportionately negative effects that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) face due to plastic use and production. Reflect on the following questions:

• How does each step of a plastic material's "life cycle" contribute to the impacts of environmental racism?
• Not all plastics end up in waterways. Why are landfills and plastic incineration a threat to human health? Why are they particularly harmful to BIPOC communities?

Watch:

Video (RT 9:01): “How Humans are Turning the World into Plastic”

This animated video produced by Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell and the UN Environment Clean Seas Program explains the dangers of plastic pollution with a focus on microplastics. Reflect on the following questions:

• How do microplastics in our waterways end up in our food? How might this affect human health in the long term?
• What factors complicate the process of mitigating plastic pollution? What about microplastics?

Video (RT 6:13): “Microplastics in the Baltic”

This clip from IUCN explores an unexpected result of microplastics in water and marine ice formations. Reflect on the following questions:

• How do microplastics affect ice formation in the Baltic? How can this impact thermoregulation on a global scale?
• What effect can dark pieces of plastic have on the arctic region’s albedo? How did the scientists in the vieo try to determine this?

Explore:

Deep Dive Webinar (RT 1:01:51): “Microplastics: An Emerging Threat to Global Ecology and Public Health”

In this webinar presented by the Collaborative on Health and the Environment, the speakers explain the correlations between increases in microplastics and decreases in overall public and environmental health. Reflect on the following questions:

• Why is it important for researchers to determine what specific characteristics of microplastics make them dangerous?
• What are some other foods in which microplastics have been found?

Click here to complete the quiz for this module.

What questions do you still have?  Where could you find out more?

BabyLegs microplastics sampling device. (Source: CLEAR)

Overview:

There has been an influx of research into microplastics pollution and mitigation strategies in recent years. With that, a substantial number of potential solutions have been introduced and developed. In the following resources you will learn about the various methods that have been explored to limit, clean up, and replace plastics, as well as the challenges that may come along with them.

Objective:

Investigate the mitigation strategies and potential solutions to microplastics pollution.

Read:

Article: “A Running List of Action on Plastic Pollution”

This article published by National Geographic lists the actions taken against plastic pollution in countries around the world. Scroll through the article to find the mitigation strategies implemented by various government agencies and industries. Reflect on the following questions:

• The majority of these examples address plastic use in general. How does mitigating plastic consumption and waste serve to manage microplastic pollution as well?
• Do you see more instances of government-led or company-led actions? Why do you think that might be?

Article: “Irish Teenager Wins Google Science Award for Removing Microplastics From Oceans”

In this article from EcoWatch, you will read about a creative new method for removing microplastics from bodies of water. Reflect on the following questions:

• How did Ferreira use ferrofluid to remove microplastics from his water sample?
• Would employing this method alone be enough to combat the microplastics pollution crisis? What else might need to be done?

Watch:

Video (RT 2:42): “Scientists Accidentally Discovered A Plastic Eating Enzyme That Could Revolutionize Recycling”

This clip from Vice News covers the findings of John McGeehan and his team, who discovered a potential method to break down plastics that are collected from waterways. Reflect on the following questions:

• Where did the “plastic eating enzyme” come from? How did the production of this enzyme evolve?
• What are some possible applications of this enzyme? What are some potential limitations?

Video (RT 2:53): “How to Cleanse Your Beauty Regime of Microplastic”

In this video from National Geographic, you will learn some tips that consumers can use to combat microplastic pollution. Reflect on the following questions:

• What category of microplastics is this video focused on?
• How can consumers work to mitigate microplastics pollution? Is consumer-driven mitigation enough? Why or why not?
• What is an added benefit of avoiding products that use microplastics, such as polyethylene?

Explore:

Story Map: “Marine Debris in Coastal Parks”

In this story map from the National Park Service (NPS) Water Resource Division, you will learn about the plastic pollution littering coastal parks and the associated research from NPS. Reflect on the following question:

• At what point in its life cycle is it easiest to “clean up” plastic marine debris?

 Article with Podcast: “Replacing Plastic: Can Bacteria Help Us Break The Habit?”

This story from National Public Radio follows a start-up company focused on creating an alternative to synthetic fabrics. Reflect on the following questions:

• Listen to the podcast (5 minutes) linked at the top of the article. What is the objective of the work being done at Mango Materials?
• What category of microplastics does this work attempt to address?
• Why is it unclear whether the biopolymers can be considered biodegradable when marketed to the general public? What role does waste management infrastructure seem to play in the plastics pollution crisis and mitigation strategies overall?

Click here to complete the quiz for this module.

What questions do you still have?  Where could you find out more?