How many garbage trucks full of plastic are dumped into the world’s oceans, rivers, and lakes every day?. …By Julie Peller Ph.D.

Green Junction

According to the United Nations Environment Program, the equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic are dumped into the world’s oceans, rivers, and lakes every day. The surge and growth of the plastic industry have led to more plastic materials being released into the environment as long-lasting plastic garbage. The amount of plastic in the oceans is estimated to be between 100 and 200 million tons. While most of this comes from land sources, fishing gear is also a significant contributor to this plastic pollution in our oceans.

According to a 2021 study, 10 rivers worldwide account for 18% of the plastic pollution carried by rivers into the oceans. Most of these rivers are in poorer Asian countries that have inadequate waste management practices. These rivers are near cities where higher populations of people use disposable plastics. Furthermore, cities have many paved surfaces that facilitate the flow of garbage into rivers.

Last week, I described the plastic pollution that moves in the other direction: from the waters of Lake Michigan to the land. Lightweight plastic pieces can travel for years in the atmosphere and great distances. This mode of transportation accounts for the microplastics found on mountaintops. A recent study by meteorologists at the University of Vienna found that over 20 times more microplastic particles are emitted from land than from the ocean. This makes sense given that most plastic is on land.

When we breathe, we inhale microscopic plastic particles. The concentration of microplastics in indoor air may be higher if your home contains many plastic-based materials, especially plastic microfibers. A study released last year by French scientists estimated that adults inhale about 68,000 microplastics measuring 1-10 micrometers. (For comparison, the diameter of strands of hair ranges from about 20 to 200 micrometers.) The 1-10 micrometer particles are small enough to be inhaled deeply into the lungs and can cause health problems. To reduce your exposure, limit the use of fabrics (fleece, rugs, toys) that release plastic fibers in your home. All of this data tells us that plastic has invaded our lives and our earth, and it is on all of us to say no to unnecessary plastics.

Julie Peller, Ph.D., is an environmental chemist (Professor of Chemistry at Valparaiso University). She has been writing a weekly column, The Green Junction, for the past seven years and is helping to move the call of Laudato Si to action. Her research interests include advanced oxidation for aqueous solutions, water quality analyses, emerging contaminants, air quality analyses, challenges along the Lake Michigan shoreline (such as Cladophora, water, and sediment contaminants), and student and citizen participation in environmental work.