On May 7, 2004, marine biologist Richard Thompson publishes an article in the journal Science detailing the troubling amount of microscopic plastic fragments and fibers that he and his team have discovered in the world’s oceans and marine habitats. Thompson dubs the debris “microplastics” and questions whether these particles could release harmful chemicals and pose a danger to the environment.
Thompson’s paper, “Lost at Sea: Where Is All the Plastic?,” sparked a surge of interest in both scientific and public policy circles. He and other researchers have since sought to discover just how widespread microplastics are—and how harmful.
The tiny particles of plastic, which are less than 5 millimeters in size, have been discovered in everything from Arctic Sea ice to the depths of the Pacific Ocean. They have also been found in humans and a wide range of marine life and other animals. Exposure to these tiny pollutants is believed to cause respiratory and heart issues and prove toxic to other major organs and systems in humans.
The chemicals that make plastic versatile and durable are also what makes it nearly impossible to get rid of.
