Since 2015, research has progressed and shows how much this product has been creating problems for the environment, especially on the seabed.
A video recorded by researchers during a scientific expedition in 2015 shocked the world by showing the suffering of a sea turtle as a plastic straw was removed from its nostril. The images quickly went viral and transformed the object into a symbol of ocean pollution, raising concerns about microplastics.
Since then, restaurants have started to abolish the accessory, Brazilian municipalities have decreed its prohibition, and the debate about the impact of plastic has gained space in everyday life. But, almost ten years later, experts warn: the straw is just the tip of a much larger and more silent problem.
Microplastics become a real threat to nature.
In addition to so-called macroplastics—packaging, bags, bottles, and utensils visible to the naked eye—the planet faces a less perceptible and potentially more serious threat: microplastics. These particles are up to five millimeters in size and are present in rivers, seas, soil, and even the air we breathe.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), approximately 28,3% of microplastics found in the oceans have an unexpected origin: fragments released by tire wear as vehicles circulate through cities.
Other important sources of contamination are synthetic textile fibers, responsible for about 35% of marine microplastics. Fabrics such as polyester and polyamide release millions of microscopic particles with each household wash. Urban dust accounts for approximately 24% of this material, showing that plastic pollution is not limited to the improper disposal of waste.
This growing presence has drawn the attention of the scientific community. Recent research has already identified microplastics in various organs of the human body, raising unsettling questions about the effects of these particles on health. “It’s a complex and worrying scenario,” says Rossana Soletti, professor at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). “Today, we can detect microplastics practically throughout the entire organism. The great challenge is…” to understand what impacts “This can generate problems in the long term,” he explains.
More plastic than fish by 2050
Global figures reinforce the scale of the problem. In 2016, the World Economic Forum estimated that, by 2050, the oceans could contain more plastic than fish by weight. More recent data from UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) indicate that up to 199 million tons of plastic are already scattered throughout the seas. As these materials take 400 to 600 years to decompose, each discarded object tends to fragment into thousands of microscopic particles.
An Australian study estimated that, by 2019, more than 170 trillion plastic particles were floating in the oceans. Even so, this volume is smaller than expected, considering the amount of plastic produced worldwide. This apparent disappearance has intrigued researchers and given rise to the so-called “vanishing plastic paradox”.
According to biologist and geoscientist Marcelo Soares, from UFC (Federal University of Ceará), the most accepted explanation is that much of this material is accumulating on the seabed or being incorporated into the marine food chain.
Recent studies indicate that approximately 14 million tons of plastic are already deposited on the ocean floor. Furthermore, research conducted along the Brazilian coast shows that tourist areas and regions near urban centers have the highest levels of pollution.
Other affected organisms
In addition to the visual and environmental impact, microplastics directly affect organisms such as mollusks and crustaceans, which ingest these particles, mistaking them for food.
From this point, the path to humans is almost inevitable. Fish consume microplastics, plants absorb particles present in the soil, and at the end of the food chain, these substances reach people’s plates. According to biologist Danila Soares Caixeta, from UFMT (Federal University of Mato Grosso), in an interview with the news portal Uol, the problem is aggravated by the limitations of sewage treatment plants, which are unable to filter these microscopic particles.
Thus, the effects on human health are not yet fully understood. Studies have already identified microplastics in the brain, lungs, heart, and even the placenta. Furthermore, preliminary research suggests possible associations with cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, but scientists emphasize that years of further investigation are needed to establish causal relationships.
Another cause for concern is the ability of microplastics to carry contaminants. Heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, and chemical additives used in the manufacture of plastics can adhere to the particles and be released into the body.
Given this scenario, experts unanimously agree that reducing plastic consumption is urgent. Although alternatives such as recycling and biodegradable materials are advancing, they still face limitations. Less than 10% of the plastic produced in the world is recycled, and not all materials labeled biodegradable decompose properly in the natural environment.
For researchers, tackling the microplastics problem requires structural changes, effective public policies, and a profound review of consumption habits. Ultimately, the debate that began with a simple straw now reveals a global challenge involving health, the environment, and the future of the next generations.
