Worth noting that tire dust is major, major source of microplastics. One study claims that tire dust is responsible for nearly 4/5ths of all oceanic microplastics
Other research shows that driving just 1 km can release over a trillion microplastic particles, and that number in increasing as vehicles get heavier.
Over 7 trillion microplastics particles wash into San Francisco bay every year from tire dust pollution, and may be responsible for the extinction of the Coho Salmon from the bay. https://www.sfei.org/projects/microplastics
If you're worried about microplastics, the most important thing you can do to impact their emission is by taking direct action in supporting walkable/bikeable cities where you don't need a car to get by, as well as good public transit to cover the distances where you would need a car. What can you do? Well, in the US, your local representatives like your city council have both a shocking amount of power, as well as much more time to listen than any of your federal representatives. Start there. Organize, go and talk to them with a few friends; what you say comes across much louder if more people are saying it at the same time. These are achievable goals, you can do them if you try.
Very informative, thank you!
Plastics are not directly causing global warming. But they are a byproduct of the fossil fuel industry and are part of the environmental crisis we are causing.
Posting and liking memes is great, but real change comes from actions. If you are as concerned as we are about climate change, please consider joining or supporting climate activists near you.
Won't someone think of the human placentophagists?
Microplastics are the new pesticides
