We have created a plastic pollution disaster for those that will follow in our footsteps. You can be part of the solution starting today!
Microplastics, 5 millimeters or less in size, come from a variety of larger plastics (like plastic bottles), car tires, plastic beads (including those skin-care products), and synthetic fibers. These larger plastics typically break down into smaller and smaller plastics called nano-plastics (less than 1 micrometer in size). Nano-plastics also come from industrial processes.
Plastic pollution is also in our homes. Your carpet and rugs are especially to blame. Clothing, bedding, and other textiles shed microplastics in fiber form (along with tire degradation and road runoff) and are major contributors to plastic pollution. These microfibers, which are carried off by your drains from your washer, enter the wastewater, eventually end up in the environment.
The problem with plastics is that take up to 1,000 years to decompose. Only 10% of plastic waste is recycled. Most plastic waste just sits there in the soil in landfills as an environmental pollutant. Worse yet, about 11 million tons of plastic enter our oceans yearly.
Listen and learn about plastic pollution in our homes as host Tim Jordan interviews Judit Weis Ph.D. about this issue.
Resources for this podcast:
- Rutgers University Website: www.rutgers.edu
- Biological Sciences at Rutgers Website: www.biology.rutger.edu
- Books by Guest, Judith Weis. https://sites.rutgers.edu/judith-weis/books/
- New Book by Guest, Judith Weis, Ph.D. Marine Pollution: What Everyone Needs to Know. 2nd Edition. (2024). https://global.oup.com/academic/product/marine-pollution-9780197753811?lang=en&cc=us
- Senator Jeff Merkley, Oregon. https://www.congress.gov/member/jeff-merkley/M001176. Merkley introduces legislation to curb plastic microfiber pollution from laundry. https://www.congress.gov/member/jeff-merkley/M001176
- Podcast Episode 26: Plastic Pollution is All Around Us. Should I Care? An Interview with Janet Brahney, Ph.D. https://1795group.com/episode/episode-26-plastic-pollution-is-all-around-us-should-i-care-an-interview-with-janet-brahney-ph-d/
- Blog: “Plastic Pollution is All Around Us. You Should Care.” https://1795group.com/plastic-pollution-is-all-around-us/
- Plastic Pollution Coalition: Plastic Pollution Facts. https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/learn/plastic-pollution-facts
- Article: (2024). Weiss, J. Laundry is a top source of microplastic pollution. Here’s how to clean your clothes more sustainably. PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/laundry-is-a-top-source-of-microplastic-pollution-heres-how-to-clean-your-clothes-more-sustainably
- Article: (2021). Okamto, K. Your Laundry Sheds Harmful Microfibers. Here’s What You Can Do About It. https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/reduce-laundry-microfiber-pollution/
- Article: (2023). The National Park Service. Reducing Laundry Microfibers. https://nps.gov/articles/000/laundry_microplastics.htm?utm
- Article: (2023). Lozanova, S. How To Reduce Microfiber Pollution From Your Laundry. Earth911. https://earth911.com/home-garden/reduce-laundry-microfiber-pollution/
- Article: (2024). Frank, G. This Washing Machine Filter Gulps Up Microplastics. The Triple Pundit.
https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2023/washing-machine-microplastic-filter/782986?utm
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tjordan@1795group.com
Thoughts? Feedback? Suggestions for topics or guests? Contact: tjordan@1795group.com
Grass Roots Health is sponsored by the 1795 Group. www.1795group.com
Grass Roots Health is produced and hosted by Tim Jordan.
Dr. Brahney was booked by Tim Jordan. Artwork by Danielle Procopio. Audio editing and mastering by Christopher Stoll of Audio Flare Recording, Toledo, OH: https://www.audioflare.com/
Website design by Alex Brinkman, Green Tree Media, www.greentreemediallc.com
