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A NEW REPORT from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has warned that exposure to microplastics in our drinking water and in food prepared with contaminated water poses a risk to the population.
This is the first such report to provide evidence on the sources and scale of microplastic pollution in Irish freshwaters, and it says that the problems must be tackled at source rather than trying to deal with the pollution after it occurs.
EPA research manager Dr Alice Wemaere said that the research provides vital data and urges consumers to check their product labels for cosmetics and cleaners to ensure they are microplastic free.
Microbeads
Microbeads are mostly used in some soaps, shower gels and facial scrubs to exfoliate your skin, although they can be found in toothpastes and abrasive cleaners.
The tiny plastics (usually between 0.0004-1.24 mm wide) enter the world’s waterways in their billions, and because of their size, are almost impossible to remove.
In waterways, fish and other wildlife mistake the tiny scraps of plastic for food and from there, the beads are integrated into the food chain.
This research identified some of the main sources of microplastics in Ireland. They include the plastics manufacturing and recycling industries, landfill, urban wastewater treatment plans and septic tanks.
Urban wastewater treatment plants were identified as one of the main sources of microplastics.
Researchers from Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) said that microbeads washed into the sewer from personal care products was not the only way that microplastics made it into the water.
Dr Anne-Marie Mahon said: “Synthetic fibres from clothing transported in washing machine wastewater are another significant contributor of microplastics found in urban wastewater treatment plants.”
She added that these fibres often become trapped in sewage sludge at treatment plants and pose a risk to agricultural land.
At risk
Three methods were identified whereby microplastics could pose a risk to the human population. They include:
Furthermore, 24 different species were identified as being potentially at risk from microplastics, from molluscs and fish to birds and mammals.
A range of parties have proposed new legislation to ban microbeads and microplastics in recent times.
In April, the government said it would bring forward legislation banning the sale of products that contain microbeads, calling the Green Party’s previous bill ‘significantly flawed’ and accusing Labour’s bill of ‘generally confusing’ microbeads and microplastics.
Senator Grace O’Sullivan, who proposed the Green Party’s bill on the matter, said in a statement: “This very timely report has shown our fears about the level of plastic pollution in our seas are well founded. Today is World Oceans Day, and we’re yet again seeing the massive damage we are doing to these crucial habitats.
I will continue the fight with my Green Party colleagues to ensure the government takes strong action to tackle plastic waste, and to support a truly ‘circular economy’ at the European and global level. We need to protect human health, as well as the health of our seas and oceans, which Ireland in particular relies on for so much.
The full report can be found here.
With reporting from Gráinne Ní Aodha
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It’s already at risk from all the fluoride they put in it.
@Pheilum Shannon: and the lead coming off the pipes. Our water is a chemical soup
@Pheilum Shannon:
Findings reported in above article: True if you are to believe the scientific consensus.
Your statement on fluoride risk: False unless you believe the pseudo-science anti-vax fairies.
The fluoride issue is a different one to that of the anti-vax faery’s concern.
@Calvin McFly: both are true, micro beads and fluoride which causes lead to leech into drinking water because it’s an industrial waste product called Hydrofluorisilic ACID.
And why would anyone stick a needle in a child containing SCIENTIFICALLY proven carcegenic ingredients like Mercury, aluminium, formaldehyde, monkey, pig, aborted foetus DNA( and god knows what else!) along with polysorbate 80 (which OPENS the blood brain barrier) to get the nasties into children’s brains is beyond me
@Steve Egan: To prevent that child from getting a life altering disease and the pseudo science generally piped out about Flouride in our water has no validated or ratified evidence just the usual rumour and spin based nonsense. Microplastics however are actually a genuine hazard and need to be banned as soon as possible. In the mean time people need to be made responsibly aware so they can avoid these products wherever possible.
Simple Solution – Ban Micro plastics in our products. – done,
If this true then the companys who use it in there products should be made clean it up.
Has this cràp not already being dealt with? Do it, move on and get onto some real problems we are having.
Why is this stuff still legal in the EU!? Surely its time for it to be banned considering its damage to wildlife ecosystems and the fact that isn’t biodegrade for at least a thousand years. See The Pitcairn islands for example
We must reduce in a big way our plastic over consumption at every stage from industrial to house hold it’s disgusting.
You already eat plastic in fish those styrofoam boxes fish is delivered in break down, styrofoam gets in the flesh of the fish and guess where it goes ?
11 poisoned in first week of new Incinerator – nothing to see there.
0.0004-1.24 mm wide microplastics in our drinking water – life threat for all World !!
Seriously – is there any single one REAL journalist in thejournal??
@cortisola: You think 11 people who were sent to hospital as a precaution is more newsworthy than chemicals in the whole population’s drinking water?
Biodegradable plastic is immediately required to save our only planet…
Have our government not passed that bill yet? FFS, instead of point-scoring off the Greens, just stop importing this stuff, there’s enough of it in the food chain. Is no TD capable of saying “Good idea, here’s what the bill needs to include, thanks for highlighting it.” And then help to get it passed.
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