Naturally Florida

Microplastic Pollution ... What Is It?

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Plastic pollution has been a known problem for decades, but more recently researchers have been focusing on this idea of microplastics, that is plastic particles about 5mm in size or smaller. Where do microplastics come from? What are the threats? And what can we do? Find out in this episode. 

Learn more:
  • What are microplastics? https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/microplastics.html 
  • Watch a webinar on “Microplastics 101” – https://youtu.be/v0xVeMkxDZc (Taught by Lara) 
  • Science by the Slice Podcast: https://piecenter.com/media/podcast/ 
    • How You Can Help:
    • Share what you learned with a friend! 
    • Get involved with the Florida Microplastics Awareness Project – https://flseagrant.ifas.ufl.edu/microplastics/ 
    • Take the pledge – A brief pledge of easy ways you can lessen your contribution to microplastics: https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3kgYVW8A9qOhu6h 
    • Use your voice – Ask your favorite companies to make a change, write to your elected officials, and lead by example. 
      • Sources for this Episode:
      • Primary Microplastics in the Oceans: a Global Evaluation of Sources – https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/2017-002-En.pdf 
      • Microplastics removal from a primary settler tank in a wastewater treatment plant – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749122004122?via%3Dihub 
      • Microplastics Increase Soil pH and Decrease Microbial Activities – https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2021.675803/full 


        • If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with a friend who might enjoy learning about Florida's natural areas and the wild things that live here! 

        If you're active on iNaturalist, consider joining our iNaturalist project, Naturally Florida's Listener Observations, here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/naturally-florida-s-listener-observations

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        Naturally FloridaBy Shannon Carnevale and Lara Milligan
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