Microplastic is everywhere: in the air, in water, in soil – and even in our bodies. It is generated through abrasion, use, and the breakdown of synthetic materials, and it enters our bodies through food, drinking water, and the air we breathe.
The consequences are far‑reaching: microplastic threatens the climate, biodiversity, ecosystems, and human health. And because the particles are so small, they are nearly impossible to remove once they enter the environment.
To understand the problem, and to act effectively, we need to know what microplastic is, where it originates, and how it affects us and our world.
Microplastic is everywhere: in the air, in water, in soil – and even in our bodies. It is generated through abrasion, use, and the breakdown of synthetic materials, and it enters our bodies through food, drinking water, and the air we breathe.
The consequences are far‑reaching: microplastic threatens the climate, biodiversity, ecosystems, and human health. And because the particles are so small, they are nearly impossible to remove once they enter the environment.
To understand the problem, and to act effectively, we need to know what microplastic is, where it originates, and how it affects us and our world.
Microplastic refers to plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters. They are created in two ways:
Primary microplastics
Particles intentionally produced at this size, for example, plastic pellets, granulates, paints, coatings, or exfoliating beads in cosmetics.
Secondary microplastics
Particles generated through abrasion, use, UV exposure, or the breakdown of larger plastic products, from clothing and tires to packaging materials.
Important: Microplastic is not just made from fossil‑based polymers. It is a chemical cocktail of polymers, dyes, plasticizers, flame retardants, and additives. On top of that, it accumulates pollutants along the way – including PFAS, pesticides, heavy metals, and bacteria.
Microplastic refers to plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters. They are created in two ways:
Primary microplastics
Particles intentionally produced at this size, for example, plastic pellets, granulates, paints, coatings, or exfoliating beads in cosmetics.
Secondary microplastics
Particles generated through abrasion, use, UV exposure, or the breakdown of larger plastic products, from clothing and tires to packaging materials.
Important: Microplastic is not just made from fossil‑based polymers. It is a chemical cocktail of polymers, dyes, plasticizers, flame retardants, and additives. On top of that, it accumulates pollutants along the way – including PFAS, pesticides, heavy metals, and bacteria.
Microplastic is generated wherever synthetic materials are used, moved, or abraded. A study by the IUCN shows that the largest sources are not in the ocean, but right in the middle of our everyday lives.
A significant share comes from textiles that shed fibers during wear and washing. A similarly large portion originates from tire abrasion, which is produced while driving and enters soils and waterways through road runoff. Dust, road markings, artificial turf, paints, coatings, and industrial processes also contribute substantially to overall pollution.
Indoors, household dust is an underestimated source: it contains fibers from clothing, carpets, upholstery, curtains, and synthetic surfaces – an invisible mixture we inhale every day and release into the environment during cleaning.
In short: microplastic is generated everywhere we live, work, produce, and move.
Microplastic is generated wherever synthetic materials are used, moved, or abraded. A study by the IUCN shows that the largest sources are not in the ocean, but right in the middle of our everyday lives.
A significant share comes from textiles that shed fibers during wear and washing. A similarly large portion originates from tire abrasion, which is produced while driving and enters soils and waterways through road runoff. Dust, road markings, artificial turf, paints, coatings, and industrial processes also contribute substantially to overall pollution.
Indoors, household dust is an underestimated source: it contains fibers from clothing, carpets, upholstery, curtains, and synthetic surfaces – an invisible mixture we inhale every day and release into the environment during cleaning.
In short: microplastic is generated everywhere we live, work, produce, and move.
Microplastic travels vast distances. It is dispersed by wind, transported by rivers, and carried by ocean currents. Research shows that microplastic particles can also be detected in the air. As a result, they reach ecosystems far removed from human settlements.
For animals and plants, the consequences are severe. Plankton absorbs microplastic and passes it up the food chain. Fish, shellfish, birds, insects, and mammals are all affected. Microplastic can damage organs, alter behavior, and impair reproduction.
One striking example: studies show that microplastic in beach sand can influence the temperature at which sea turtle eggs incubate. This shifts the sex ratio of hatchlings, threatening the long‑term survival of entire populations.
Microplastic is therefore not just a waste problem, but a direct interference with ecological processes.
Microplastic travels vast distances. It is dispersed by wind, transported by rivers, and carried by ocean currents. Research shows that microplastic particles can also be detected in the air. As a result, they reach ecosystems far removed from human settlements.
For animals and plants, the consequences are severe. Plankton absorbs microplastic and passes it up the food chain. Fish, shellfish, birds, insects, and mammals are all affected. Microplastic can damage organs, alter behavior, and impair reproduction.
One striking example: studies show that microplastic in beach sand can influence the temperature at which sea turtle eggs incubate. This shifts the sex ratio of hatchlings, threatening the long‑term survival of entire populations.
Microplastic is therefore not just a waste problem, but a direct interference with ecological processes.
Microplastic enters our bodies through several pathways: through the air we breathe, through food, through drinking water, and via the skin. Studies have already detected microplastic in the lungs, in the bloodstream, in the placenta, in breast milk, and in the digestive system.
The health impacts can be divided into two areas:
Physical burden
The particles can cause cellular stress, cross biological barriers, and trigger chronic inflammation. They are associated with a range of diseases, including Alzheimer’s and cancer. The smaller the particles, the deeper they penetrate — reaching tissues and even individual cells.
Chemical burden
Microplastic acts like a taxi for pollutants and chemicals. It binds PFAS, plasticizers, pesticides, heavy metals, and pathogens.
The scientific evidence is clear: microplastic is not a harmless foreign particle. It actively interacts with our bodies.
Microplastic enters our bodies through several pathways: through the air we breathe, through food, through drinking water, and via the skin. Studies have already detected microplastic in the lungs, in the bloodstream, in the placenta, in breast milk, and in the digestive system.
The health impacts can be divided into two areas:
Physical burden
The particles can cause cellular stress, cross biological barriers, and trigger chronic inflammation. They are associated with a range of diseases, including Alzheimer’s and cancer. The smaller the particles, the deeper they penetrate — reaching tissues and even individual cells.
Chemical burden
Microplastic acts like a taxi for pollutants and chemicals. It binds PFAS, plasticizers, pesticides, heavy metals, and pathogens.
The scientific evidence is clear: microplastic is not a harmless foreign particle. It actively interacts with our bodies.
Microplastic affects the climate in multiple ways. It can disrupt natural processes that are essential to the global carbon cycle, including the ability of marine organisms to bind CO₂ and transport it into deeper ocean layers. As plastics break down, they also release climate‑relevant gases such as methane and ethylene. A process that accelerates as particles become smaller. At the same time, most plastics are derived from fossil resources, and their extraction, production, and disposal are energy‑intensive and generate significant CO₂ emissions.
One thing is clear: without addressing the microplastic problem, we cannot overcome the climate crisis.
Microplastic affects the climate in multiple ways. It can disrupt natural processes that are essential to the global carbon cycle, including the ability of marine organisms to bind CO₂ and transport it into deeper ocean layers. As plastics break down, they also release climate‑relevant gases such as methane and ethylene. A process that accelerates as particles become smaller. At the same time, most plastics are derived from fossil resources, and their extraction, production, and disposal are energy‑intensive and generate significant CO₂ emissions.
One thing is clear: without addressing the microplastic problem, we cannot overcome the climate crisis.
Even though microplastic is a global problem, there is a lot we can influence in our daily lives:
Every step counts. Every particle, every fiber we keep out of the environment makes a difference. Not just in the future, but right now.
Even though microplastic is a global problem, there is a lot we can influence in our daily lives:
Every step counts. Every particle, every fiber we keep out of the environment makes a difference. Not just in the future, but right now.
