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What are our oceans important for?

Our oceans are important for a variety of responsibilities. They are a vital part of our planet’s daily functioning and survival.

Biodiversity: Oceans harbor a vast array of species and biodiversity, many of which are not found anywhere else on Earth.
Climate Regulation: Oceans play an important role in regulating Earth’s climate. They absorb and store vast amounts of carbon dioxide, mitigating the impacts of climate change.
Economic Resources: Oceans are a valuable source of resources, including fish and seafood that form a major part of our global diet. Additionally, they provide minerals, energy resources (such as oil and natural gas), and support industries like tourism and shipping.
Oxygen Production: Phytoplankton, microscopic marine plants, produce a major amount of the world’s oxygen through photosynthesis. Oceans contribute significantly to the oxygen we breathe, making them essential for sustaining life on Earth.
Climate Resilience: Oceans act as a buffer against extreme weather events, absorbing and distributing heat. They help protect coastal areas from storm surges and provide natural barriers contributing the resilience of ecosystems.

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What are Microplastics?

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles, typically less than 5 millimeters in size (usually invisible to the human eye), that result from the breakdown of larger plastic items or are intentionally manufactured at a microscopic scale. They come in various forms, including microbeads, microfibers, and fragments.

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Sources of Microplastics

Fragmentation: Larger plastic items like bottles and bags break down into smaller particles due to sunlight, wind, and wave action.
Microbeads: Microscopic plastic beads found in personal care products like exfoliating scrubs and toothpaste.
Textile Fibers: Microscopic fibers shed from synthetic fabrics during washing.
Industrial Processes: Certain industrial activities release microplastics into the environment.
**Tire Abrasion: Car tires are actually one of the biggest sources of microplastic pollution in the United States. Every time we brake and accelerate our tires release microplastics as a result of the friction with the road.

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Environmental Impacts

Marine Life: Microplastics pose a significant threat to marine life, as they can be ingested by organisms ranging from zooplankton to large marine mammals. This ingestion can lead to physical harm, blockages, and transfer of toxins through the food chain.
Ecosystem Disruption: Microplastics can disrupt ecosystems by affecting the behavior, reproduction, and growth of aquatic organisms. They can also alter sediment composition.
Human Health: While the full extent is still being studied, there are concerns about the potential impact of microplastics on human health, as they may enter the food chain through seafood and other sources. This is often through bioaccumulation and biomagnification, increasing concentrations up the food chain.
Global Distribution: Microplastics are ubiquitous and have been found in diverse environments, from deep-sea sediments to remote Arctic ice. They circulate globally through ocean currents, atmospheric transport, and even in the air we breathe.

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What Can We Do?

There is a lot we can do to mitigate microplastic pollution as they stem originally from all of the plastic products we use on a day-to-day basis.

Some of these steps including:

Reducing single-use plastics
Proper waste disposal (make sure to separate between recycling and trash)
Supporting legislation (advocating and promoting policies that support reductions with plastic waste).

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