Floating plastic islands reported by the media to be twice the size of Texas and the visible effects of marine litter have pushed plastic pollution to the stage of the G7 summit. Images of animals mistaking plastic bags for other organisms or plastic particles that enter their bodies have inspired fears of the disposable plastic that dominates everyday life. However, these fears manipulate the truth and the extent of current knowledge.
Garbage patches in the sea contain some patches of visible debris, but other spaces are polluted by microplastics, plastic particles commonly defined as less than 5 mm in diameter. Spillages and handling errors lead to pellets accumulating on beaches and ports.
These particles include ‘primary’ and ‘secondary’ microplastics. Primary microplastics are used in their pellet form in products like cosmetics and are sometimes called ‘the bead.’
Secondary microplastics originate from fragmented larger items.