No, Microplastics Are Not The “New Acid Rain.” Not Even Close.
ACC is committed to helping people better understand what we know, based on science, about microplastics and their potential effects on human health and the environment. Unfortunately, recent media coverage of a report on microplastics in dust and rain is more focused on generating unnecessary fear and concern.
The headlines alone are sensational and ominous, “Plastic rain is the new acid rain” or “Forget acid rain. Plastic rain is now falling across the U.S.” Right off the bat, to compare microplastics to acid rain is ridiculous and in no way based on science. Microplastics are not acidic, and they don’t act like acid rain. In fact, the World Health Organization and others have noted that, while microplastics are present in the environment, existing evidence indicates they don’t pose a risk to human health.
Beyond the doomsday media coverage, the author’s own study found the amount of microplastics in the environment represents only four percent of particles collected on average – and in some cases much less. The other 96 percent comprised of natural materials like minerals, dirt and sand, insect parts, pollen, and more.
Further, the report makes projections about the potential amount of microplastics entering the environment by 2025 that are misplaced. The total amount of plastic produced annually is not the amount of microplastics in the environment. Most plastics are in use in consumer and other products, and most products are properly disposed of and recycled at the end of life.
While current scientific research doesn’t support a conclusion that there is a human health concern from microplastics, ACC and its members are helping to lead the way to learn more about the sources and any potential risks that microplastics may pose to people and the environment.
It is critical that valid scientific test methods and protocols to detect and classify microplastics be developed, because it is impossible to find, monitor, and quantify something that cannot properly be detected. That’s why our industry is involved in scientific initiatives, research efforts, and discussions around the world that are helping us better understand the potential impacts of microplastics in the environment.
While we still need to learn more about the primary sources of microplastics in the environment, we recognize that plastic waste in the environment is a serious, yet solvable, problem. An important step to keeping more plastics out of the environment is by using waste management systems that capture all end-of-life materials, recycling and repurposing plastics where possible.
The chemical industry and business community are actively developing forward looking, ambitious and achievable, goals as well as innovations and solutions through technology, public policy, and investments that strengthen our infrastructure. That includes the creation of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, a nonprofit that is committing $1.5 billion over five years to help end plastic waste, especially in areas where it is needed most.
Additionally, all Plastic Division members have committed to sign on to Operation Clean Sweep blue, a stewardship program to prevent the loss of plastic pellets to the environment., and ACC’s Plastics Division has established a goal to reuse, recycle, or recover all plastic packaging in the U.S. by 2040 and make all plastic packaging recyclable by 2030.
Our industry supports continued research on microplastics so we can better understand their sources and potential risks posed to humans and the environment. It’s important to continue the conversation on this topic, but it should be a discussion based on facts, not conjecture or sensational media articles.
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