Kayla Lewis

ELR Staffer, Class of 2027

In recent years, research has shown that microplastics are accumulating in our bodies.  Microplastics are a growing concern for environmental health and human safety.  A recent study estimates that the average adult consumes approximately 2,000 microplastics per year through salt alone, while the total annual ingestion of microplastics ranges from tens of thousands to millions of particles. Another study shows that U.S. residents inhale approximately 300,000 particles of microplastics each month. 

Microplastics have become an increasingly urgent pollution issue that requires regulatory and legislative action. The United States and other countries have started taking action to address the issue. State and federal legislative action and regulations that ban or reduce the presence of microplastics can provide standards for companies producing these microplastics to follow and comply with. 

Microplastics are defined as plastic particles smaller than five millimeters, originating from the breakdown of larger plastics or microbeads manufactured for use in cosmetics like toothpaste and face wash. Humans are exposed to microplastics through oral intake, inhalation, and skin contact, which typically occurs when consuming and using items that contain microplastics. 

Current Legislative Frameworks:

The first ban on microplastics in the United States passed in 2014 in Illinois.  Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation to ban microplastics in beauty products to prevent water pollution and protect the states’ lakes and rivers, particularly Lake Michigan. This ban paved the way for  the federal Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015. The Act prohibited the manufacture (as of 2018) and distribution (as of 2019) of nonprescription drugs that are also cosmetics and that contain plastic microbeads to exfoliate or cleanse any part of the human body. The EPA has created a National Recycling Strategy that can increase the recycling rate by 50% in 2030, with the goal of preventing plastics from breaking down into microplastics.  The Strategy aims to create a circular life for recycled plastics so their likelihood of turning into waste is reduced.

Other countries and international bodies are also taking protective measures to reduce microplastic pollution. The European Union has made proposals related to plastic pellets, which are on of the largest sources of microplastics.  Every year “between 52,000 and 184,000 tons of pellets are released into the environment each year due to mishandling throughout the supply chain.” Neither the United States nor the European Union know the full extent of the effects of microplastic pollution. Still, the E.U. is steadfast in their goal of reducing up to 30% of microplastics in the environment by 2030.  Their strategy for doing so focuses primarily on reducing pollution that comes from plastic pellets. 
Many other countries have also become aware of the rapid increase of microplastic pollution and have made efforts to reduce these rates with pledges to reduce single-use plastics, investment in recycling facilities, and promoting stronger regulation. Changing the general view of plastic use by encouraging companies to produce biodegradable plastics, encouraging consumers to purchase items that use those types of plastics, and supporting governmental actions that reduce microplastic pollution are some of the ways we can help to decrease widespread microplastic pollution.