Microplastics

As a micro plastic is called smallest plastic particles with a size in the micrometer, partly down to the nanometer range.

Genesis, origin

Micro plastic beads are added to cosmetic products specifically: for example, to assist them in toothpaste or exfoliating products, the cleaning effect.

In the sea and other water bodies in micro plastic produced by the influence of wave motion and in the sunlight UV radiation on floating debris such as plastic bags. The scientific journal Environmental Science & Technology reported on a study of many beaches on all six continents, which all proved Mikroplastikteilchen; this probably also include fibers of fleece and other garments made ​​from synthetic materials: In the waste water from washing machines have been found up to 1900 smallest plastic particles per wash.

Dissemination

From human -generated micro- sculpture is now in virtually all areas of environmental detectable. As such, it contributes to the conceptualization of the Anthropocene: the age that is dominated by human influences.

Food

According to recent investigations, micro plastic particles seem to accumulate in the food chain and endanger living beings; in 19 samples of different types of honey microplastic was detected.

Oceans

Meanwhile, there is the sand beach of some bays already to three percent of micro- plastic, a steeply rising trend.

In the habitat of marine worms on the North Sea, the plastic polyvinyl chloride makes (PVC ) more than a quarter of micro plastic particles; PVC and others for window frames, pipes, floor coverings, cable sheathing, different film types and credit cards used.

Were micro plastic parts found both in all the studied mussels, oysters, Speiballen, as well as in the feces of seagulls, also in gray seals and Seehundkot and in Totproben of harbor porpoises in the North Sea island of Juist.

Europe

In a study were both in the water of Lake Geneva Swiss high concentrations of micro- plastic, also found in each sample near the beach plastic parts, including polystyrene balls, scraps of plastic objects, films and nylon cords.

Published in October 2013 Scientists at the University of Bayreuth, an analysis of Lake Garda ( northern Italy ); also there " a surprising number " of small plastic particles were found in worms, snails, mussels, water fleas and ostracods.

Since fall of 2013, the Lake Constance is examined by the Institute of Lake Research (ISF ) from Langenargen with the participation of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne on pollution and effect of micro plastic. Austrian politicians of early November 2013, the EU Committee of the Austrian Federal Council, the fear, the Lake Constance reason could be up to 40 percent covered with plastic waste.

In a study of the riparian zones of the Danube between Vienna and Bratislava by researchers at the University of Vienna between 2010 and 2012 it became Europe's second largest river " very surprising " as much more polluted with plastic than previously thought is: there were per 1,000 cubic meters of water in the section 317 plastic pieces, but only 275 fish larvae found. The risk of fish lies in the fact that they mistook the micro plastic with their usual food such as insect larvae and fish eggs. Extrapolated the Danube transported probably around 4.2 tons of plastic waste every day in the Black Sea.

North America

In the Great Lakes higher concentrations than in samples from the South Atlantic were found partly by a quarter: in this case ( one square mile ) were 1500-1700 particles on 2.5 square kilometers counted. 85 % were large less than five millimeters.

Effect in the environment

Plastic itself can be toxic ingredients such as plasticizers, styrene compounds, phthalates, etc.; many of which are considered carcinogenic, highly toxic and harmful hormone.

A variety of other organic substances including many durable, hardly degradable pollutants, such as hydrocarbons, DDT or flame retardants to accumulate on the surface of the microparticles, such as bisphenol A.

The non-natural substances can be a different population and cause a different oxygen content of the contaminated water in the sequence.

In an experiment conducted by marine worms - a keystone of Tidenbereiche the North Sea - with sand ( their usual food) sucked Mikroplastikteilchen to disrupt their digestive system with subsequent inflammatory responses. In addition, the worms camped to the present on the plastic pieces environmental toxins in their body tissue. In addition to other serious consequences of their energy reserves after four weeks were sometimes only half as large as that of the control group. The reduced feeding activity leads mathematically to a more than 25% lower circulating the sand Watt affected.

Combat

Artificially generated microorganisms can decompose micro plastic, in addition research is being conducted on the development of microorganisms with the goal to tie the small particles into larger clumps back to artificial islands.

The company Unilever, The Body Shop and Johnson & Johnson want to get 2015 out of the use of micro- plastics, the company Procter & Gamble wants to follow in 2017.