Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 3.1 Marine debris on a beach (photo from NOAA)
larger pieces as well as residue from washing synthetic fab-
rics is accumulating in the marine environment and could be
entering the food chain. Researchers traced some microplastics
back to synthetic clothes, which release thousands of tiny fibers
when they are washed. Microplastic is abundant on shorelines,
especially near urban areas, and consists of polyester, acrylic,
and polyamides (nylon). Litter also accumulates in the deep
sea, not an eyesore to us, but a problem for deep sea animals.
What happens to the plastic? Does it break down?
Plastic is extremely slow to degrade and tends to be buoyant,
which allows it to travel in ocean currents for thousands of
miles. Most plastics become brittle when exposed to ultra-
violet (UV) light and break down into smaller and smaller
pieces, forming microplastic. These pieces, as well as plastic
pellets, are already found in most beaches around the world.
No one knows just how small these pieces become—they are
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