New research from the University of Minnesota details how microplastic pollution impacts human, animal and environmental health.
Gerald (Jerry) Shurson, a professor in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, and Mary Kosuth, a postdoctoral fellow in the Institute on the Environment, answer questions about microplastics and what experts are doing to make a difference.
Q: What are microplastics and where are they found?
Dr. Shurson: Microplastics are tiny plastic pieces that measure less than 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) in length. Even smaller pieces of plastics, called nano plastics, are microscopic plastic fragments that are less than 1,000 nanometers (nm) and often less than 100 nm in diameter. Microplastics and nanoplastics form when larger pieces of plastics break down through weathering processes in the environment. Because of the enormous amounts of numerous types of plastics produced worldwide, they are found everywhere. They are found in oceans, soil, freshwater and air in all types of landscapes and ecosystems. They are very difficult to break down, which causes them to build up in oceans, soil, air and the food chain.
Q: How do microplastics impact Minnesota’s waters and wildlife?
Dr. Kosuth: Lake Superior was one of the very first freshwater bodies in the world to be studied for the presence of microplastics. Since then, these particle pollutants have been found in other Minnesota lakes as well as rivers, sediments and fish. They were even discovered in remote parts of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Microplastics are concerning because their presence in water, soil and air allows them to be taken up by some of the smallest members of the food web, a web that humans live in and depend on. These particles can grab and concentrate chemical pollutants, heavy metals and harmful microorganisms from the environment. Plastics also contain thousands of chemical additives which can move from the particles into the bodies of living things. While we may not yet know the lethal dose of microplastics, there is evidence that their presence creates an overall drag on ecological health and resilience.
Q: In what ways do microplastics impact human and animal health?
Dr. Shurson: Because of their extremely small size, they can cross biological barriers. They can be absorbed by plants, and when consumed by animals and humans, they are absorbed into the blood stream and can accumulate in all organs in the body. As a result, they can contribute to many types of adverse health effects including digestive disturbances, increased risk of cardiovascular problems, hormonal and reproductive disorders, and developmental risks in humans. Similarly, in animals, reduced digestive abilities, tissue inflammation, hormone disruption, and reduced fertility have been associated with microplastic and nanoplastic accumulation.
Q: What can people do to protect themselves and the environment around them?
Dr. Kosuth: Raising your own personal awareness is a good first step to protecting yourself and the people and places you care about. Simply pause and notice the plastic products that are part of your everyday life. Once you have taken a little personal inventory, you will start to see ways you can replace plastics, especially single-use plastics, with alternatives. Maybe this means you start bringing your own reusable bag to the grocery store, or you choose a reusable metal water bottle over bottled water, or you say ‘no thanks’ when a server offers you a plastic straw for your drink. Individual actions matter, and you can power up by talking to friends and family. However, microplastics are a systemic problem which means impacts are greater when industries and governments join in the effort to work at a systems level. Innovations and policies from the private and public sectors determine the choices that individuals make, so everyone needs to be at the table in order to solve this problem.
Q: How does your work at the University of Minnesota help address concerns around microplastics locally and around the world?
Dr. Shurson: Much of the focus of most of my current work is on synthesizing research and providing education to various agri-food sectors and public audiences at the local, national and international levels on the urgent need to find and implement solutions and change our behaviors to overcome numerous challenges that involve sustainability, One Health, and circularity of resources in our global food system. As we transition toward meeting these goals, there are many tradeoffs that need to be considered that involve the production, use, disposal and pollution of plastics in our food production systems.
Dr. Kosuth: Much of my work at the University of Minnesota, during my time at the School of Public Health, involved testing environmental samples that were collected here in our state. I examined raw water, tap water and wastewater samples that were gathered from Minnesota sources. I also studied indoor air from homes in South Minneapolis and ambient (outdoor) air, rain and snow collected from the rooftop of a University of Minnesota, Minneapolis campus building. Finally, I studied a handful of consumer products that many Minnesotans purchase and use. I tested the shedding of microplastics from water filters, tooth brushes, plastic ice cube trays and sports water bottles. I also tested regional beers and internationally sourced table salts that can be purchased here in the state. Through this work I learned that plastic pollution is both a local and global problem.
Mary Kosuth is a postdoctoral fellow in the Institute on the Environment. She has been studying microplastic pollution for a decade. Her areas of expertise include public health, plastic waste, microplastic pollution, environmental contaminants and science communication.
Gerald (Jerry) Shurson is a professor in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. His areas of expertise include animal nutrition and food animal production systems where his research focuses on topics such as systems biology; environment, social and economic sustainability; One Health; food loss and waste; and nutrient recycling.
About the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences
The University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences strives to inspire minds, nourish people, and sustainably enhance the natural environment. CFANS has a legacy of innovation, bringing discoveries to life through science and educating the next generation of leaders. Every day, students, faculty, and researchers use science to address the grand challenges of the world today and in the future. CFANS offers an unparalleled expanse of experiential learning opportunities for students and the community, with 12 academic departments, 10 research and outreach centers across the state, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the Bell Museum, and dozens of interdisciplinary centers. Learn more at cfans.umn.edu.
About the Institute on the Environment
The University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment builds connections: across campuses and colleges, and between academia and the broader world. IonE catalyzes interdisciplinary research, develops the next generation of environmental leaders, and produces stories and resources that move sustainability knowledge into public use. IonE’s mission is to build a future where people and planet prosper together. Learn more at environment.umn.edu.
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