Article: “Microplastic Contamination Found in Common Source of Groundwater”

Source: Science Daily

Link: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190125112312.htm

Citations:

Banjot Kaur. “For the First Time, Study Confirms Presence of Microplastics in Indian Cosmetics.” Down To Earth, www.downtoearth.org.in/news/environment/for-the-first-time-study-confirms-presence-of-microplastics-in-indian-cosmetics-60365.

“Causes and Effects of Groundwater Contamination (ULTIMATE LIST).” ALL ABOUT WATER FILTERS, 6 Sept. 2018, all-about-water-filters.com/causes-effects-groundwater-contamination/.

Louise Prance-Miles. “Japan Passes Bill to Reduce Microplastics in Order to Combat Pollution.” Global Cosmetics News, 22 June 2018, globalcosmeticsnews.com/japan-passes-bill-to-reduce-microplastics-in-order-to-combat-pollution/.

Santa Rosa Water. “Groundwater.” 2018 Ballot Measures | Santa Rosa, CA, www.srcity.org/857/Groundwater.

Steinmetz, Katy. “Microbeads: States Set to Battle Over Face Wash.” Time, Time, 10 Dec. 2014, time.com/3628392/microbead-ban-states/.

Tomiwa Isiaka. “Microplastic Pollution Is All around Us.” SustyVibes, 1 May 2018, sustyvibes.com/microplastic-pollution-is-all-around-us/.

The Questions:

• What: Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic in the environment that are contaminating our water sources (both surface waters and groundwaters). Microplastics can be found as little beads in toothpaste, facewashes, etc. or can be broken down larger pieces of polluted plastic.
• Who: University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign conducted a study to see how much microplastic is in groundwater around metropolitan St. Louis and rural northwestern Illinois.
• Why: Wildlife is already being affected by microplastics due to them eating them and then either killing them, giving them health problems, or humans eating the wildlife and then we have the after effects of health problems because plastic is not meant to be in the human body. That was when we would eat wildlife but when it is directly in our water source it will cause more direct health problems.
• When: Study was posted on January 25^th, 2019 (does not mention when that actual study was conducted)
• Where: Globally people are affected by microplastics, but this study was done in Illinois (metropolitan St. Louis and rural northwestern Illinois)
• How:  Pollution of plastics or microplastics being found in cosmetics, toothpaste, or facewashes

Impact of the event:

We were already aware of the problems of microplastics in surface water and how it will affect wildlife and human health. It was through eating marine life that we would ingest plastic which could be very dangerous to human health let alone wildlife health. Now with this study it shows that humans could be directly drinking microplastics.

Relevance to society: 

Some people only have access to groundwater, and this could be a massive health issue if this is not fixed or there is not proper filtration of these microplastics. Although there is little research on microplastics and human health that does not mean that it is good for our health. It has been shown to migrate through intestinal walls and absorb toxic chemicals and release them in the digestive system.

Relevance to the course: 

This is clearly not a sustainable way to live due to the pollution of plastics. It affects the wildlife population, wildlife health, and human health. Clean drinking water is a essential this human life. Even if we stopped using plastic today, we would still have a long problem of pollution.

Any pertinent questions raised by the story: 

What is an alternative way to dispose of plastics and microplastics? How do we directly fix this? Where is it coming from most?