Try to do laundry less frequently, choose a milder washing programme and use environmentally friendly detergents – that way less microplastics will make their way into the sea.
Microplastics are created when polymer, nylon and acrylic items (such as clothes, tyres and street markings) break down and reach the sea via the air or from street run-off. With a single wash, hundreds of thousands of microplastic fibres can be released from a washing machine, which via micro-biota reach larger fish and birds in the food chain.
Microplastics can be found everywhere – from the far-off waters of Antarctica to the ocean depths, as well as in seafood, salt, beer and both bottled and tap water. It is forecast that by 2050 there will be more microplastics in the ocean that there are fish. Microplastics are so fine that they can penetrate human tissue. There are also respiratory illnesses related to them. In addition, microplastics can bind toxic substances and help them be absorbed by living organisms.
Does it seem unbelievable that microplastics also reach humans through the food chain? Take a look at how the zooplankton which fish eat consume microplastics.
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When buying products identify components harmful to the environment with an app from Google Play or the App Store.