Pen

size 2.36 mm

Pens are widely used, but often become an overlooked source of plastic pollution. Every year, billions of pens are discarded worldwide. They are made of polypropylene copolymer, a type of plastic which cannot be recycled. When pens are discarded, some of their smaller plastic remnants end up in wastewater systems, and if they are not filtered appropriately, they become pollutants in open bodies of water. Pens are made of plastic because of its durability, light weight, and low cost of production.

Material: polypropylene copolymer (PPC)

Summary: Pens are an often overlooked source of plastic pollution. They are made of a type of plastic which cannot be recycled and is not biodegradable. Every year, billions of pens are discarded worldwide. They break down into smaller pieces of plastic which pollute soil and water.

Sponge

size 4.66 mm

Sponges are a significant source of plastic pollution. Kitchen sponges, with their abrasive undersides, are made of polyester and nylon fibres which wear down during use. Polyester and nylon degrade into smaller particles which are then washed down into wastewater systems, and since they cannot be fully filtered by the sewage treatment plants, these particles end up in aquatic ecosystems. Synthetic fibres do not decompose fully in the physical environment. They get permanently lodged into the ecosystem where they are often ingested by various living organisms. Kitchen sponges contribute to pollution every time they are replaced and disposed of. Every week, millions of sponges are discarded around the world. They cannot be recycled, and they can end up remaining in a landfill for years to come. In recent years, researchers have noticed that microplastics can absorb other pollutants. Microplastic particles can make compounds with heavy metals, antibiotics, and persistent organic pollutants. These microplastics can also function as a surface for propagation of various kinds of pathogens.

More information: here

Materials: polyester, nylon

Summary: Sponges are a significant source of plastic pollution. They are typically made of polyester and nylon, which are not biodegradable. Every time sponges are used, small plastic particles are shed and end up in wastewaters and, eventually, in open bodies of water.

Plastic film

size 3.36 mm

Every year, 380 million tonnes of single-use plastic are produced worldwide. Depending on the particular transparency and durability needs of each plastic product, they are produced of either low, medium, or high-density polyethylene. If the plastic or film product needs to be thermoresistant, it is made of polypropylene. Single-use plastic bags do not decompose naturally, resulting instead in the proliferation of increasingly small particles which pollute soil and water with harmful consequences. Microplastics can also absorb other harmful substances and attract bacteria. The smallest fragments can affect the endocrinal and reproductive systems of animals, while larger polyethylene and polypropylene film fragments can end up endangering the lives of birds and burrowing animals.

More information: here and here

Materials: polyethylene, polypropylene

Summary: Every year, 380 million tonnes of single-use plastic are produced worldwide. Many of these products are made of either low, medium, or high-density polyethylene or polypropylene. These substances do not decompose naturally, instead disintegrating into small microplastic particles which pollute the soil and bodies of water, endangering living organisms.

Balloon

size 2.79 mm

Balloons are the deadliest form of waste for water birds. Birds get entangled in balloons and ribbons, and they ingest them much more frequently than plastic bags or fishing gear. Balloons become significant pollutants after being released in the air, where due to atmospheric pressure they burst, and their pieces get scattered across ecosystems. Balloons are most commonly made of two types of material – latex and biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BOPET). Balloons made of BOPET are sometimes referred to as foil balloons as they are lined with a thin metallic film which cannot be recycled and never decomposes. On the other hand, latex balloons are made using neoprene which does not decompose either, resulting in the proliferation of small particles instead. Even balloons made with natural latex pose a threat to the environment – even though they are made of liquid rubber tree sap, these balloons are later treated with several substances which give them their plasticity and, in turn, slow down the decomposition process.

Helium balloons can end up travelling for hundreds, or thousands of kilometres, ending up in forests, rivers, seas and oceans.

Materials: latex, neoprene, BOPET film

Summary: Balloons are the deadliest form of waste for water birds. When released, they burst and pollute ecosystems with small pieces of plastic. Balloons are either made of latex or biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BOPET), which do not decompose fully.

Electrical cable insulator

size 2.10 mm

Plastic is an indispensable ingredient in the production of electrical cable insulators which are made of thermoplastic materials based on polyolefin polymers. When these polymers deteriorate, they break down into smaller pieces and produce microplastics. If these microplastics are not disposed of appropriately, they end up building up in the physical environment where they can cause harm to various living organisms.

Materials: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene etc.

Summary: Electrical cable insulators are made of plastic. Since they must have thermoplastic properties, insulators are made of several types of polymers. When these polymers break down, they end up releasing microplastics which pollute the environment and endanger living organisms.

Cigarette butt

size 2.46 mm

Cigarette filters are currently the most widespread form of litter. Every year, 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are disposed of improperly. They are toxic and harmful to the environment. Because of how widespread cigarettes are, there are many pathways for cigarette butts to end up polluting open bodies of water. Cigarette filters contain a number of chemical compounds, including cellulose acetate – a form of plastic which does not decompose naturally, and which has absorbed several other harmful substances during the process of smoking. Even though we do not yet fully understand the extent of the environmental impact of cigarette butts, it is clear that they negatively affect the ability of plants to germinate, and in aquatic environments, they are often ingested by animals. It takes several years for cigarette filters to break down, but even then, they never fully decompose, resulting in the proliferation of smaller particles which contribute to microplastic pollution.

More information: here and here

Material: cellulose acetate

Summary: Every year, 4.5 trillion cigarette butts end up as litter. They contain toxic substances which do not decompose. In aquatic ecosystems, cigarette butts can be ingested by organisms with lethal consequences, and on land, they can negatively affect plant germination.

Tyre

size 3.22 mm

Every year, 200,000 tonnes of small plastic particles find their way from motorways to oceans. Researchers have found that due to wear and tear, a single tyre can lose up to 4 kg of its mass during its lifetime. Every time a vehicle brakes suddenly, or gains speed, or drifts, tyres get worn down and lose material. The resulting microplastics contain several environmentally harmful substances, such as hydrocarbon compounds and heavy metals, including zinc. Although we do not know just how quickly particles from tyres end up on the ground, according to some estimates, the smallest particles could remain in the air for up to a month. A large proportion of these particles end up in wastewaters and, eventually, in open bodies of water.

One of the most significant factors in the spread of microplastics is wind along rivers which carries the microplastics into seas. Since banning the use of certain materials in tyre manufacturing may prove too challenging, experts recommend that we focus instead on capturing microplastics by treating the water that washes off roads.

More information: here and here

Materials: hydrocarbons, zinc

Summary: Every year, 200,000 tonnes of plastic find their way from motorways to oceans. Due to wear and tear, a single tyre can lose up to 4 kg of its mass throughout its lifetime. The resulting microplastics contain several environmentally harmful substances, including hydrocarbon compounds and heavy metals. The smallest particles can remain in the air for up to a month, while a large proportion pollute open bodies of water or end up in groundwater.

Car lights

size 2.45 mm

Polycarbonate particles are common microplastic pollutants in urban environments. Polycarbonate polymers are extremely durable and are used in manufacturing of various plastic products, including car lights. In order to protect the light bulb from impact or scratches, they sometimes get treated with a special self-adhesive film which contains vinyl or ABS plastic (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene). When disposed of, these materials do not biodegrade, splitting into smaller plastic particles instead. These particles then remain in soil and water and they have catastrophic consequences on the reproductive systems of living organisms.

Material: polycarbonate

Summary: Polycarbonate is a durable and transparent material used in producing car lights, which are treated with a protective film containing vinyl and other types of plastic. When these materials end up in the environment, they break down into smaller particles that are harmful for aquatic animals.

Lighter

size 5 mm

Lighters are made using several types of materials. Their external frame is made of a durable plastic such as acetal resin. Acetal is a thermoplastic material that is widely used in the manufacturing of various goods. As acetal resin breaks down into smaller fragments, it never fully decomposes and can eventually become one of the many contributors to microplastic pollution.

Material: acetal or polyoxymethylene (POM)

Summary: The frame of a lighter is made of thermoresistant materials which do not fully decompose. Microplastics made of acetal resin are, therefore, a significant source of microplastic pollution.

Synthetic fabrics

size size 0.466 mm - width of a fibre

Synthetic fabrics make up one third of all microplastics found in the oceans. These fabrics degrade while in use and shed fibres during washing, ending up being flushed down into sewers. Wastewater treatment plants are not always capable of filtering these fibres out, so they end up in the sea. Synthetic fibres are extremely stable and they do not biodegrade. Moreover, microplastics can absorb a number of other harmful substances, thereby creating a dangerous cocktail of chemical compounds. The resulting microplastics become a permanent pollutant of the physical environment and are an unwelcome part of the food chain.

More information: here

Materials: polyester, nylon, acrylic polymers, etc.

Summary: Synthetic fabrics make up one third of all microplastics found in oceans. These fabrics shed fibres during use or washing, which go on to travel through wastewater systems, eventually releasing microplastics into seas and oceans. Synthetic fibres are extremely stable, and they do not biodegrade

Children’s toy

size 2.9 mm

Children’s toys are a significant source of plastic pollution. Ninety percent of all toys are produced using plastic. By some estimates, around 40 tonnes of plastics are needed to produce one million US dollars of profit in the toy manufacturing industry. Most toys are made of a combination of various polymers which are treated with a number of substances in order to achieve the desired transparency, elasticity and other qualities. A common material for toy manufacturing is polyolefin (polyethylene, polypropylene). When these materials are disposed of, they do not decompose. Rather, they break down into smaller pieces, becoming a significant source of microplastic pollution.

More information: here

Material: polyolefin (polyethylene, polypropylene)

Summary: Children’s toys are a source of plastic pollution. They are manufactured using several polymeric compounds which get treated with chemicals to give them transparency and elasticity. These materials do not decompose naturally

Fishing net

size size 0.71 mm - width of the knot

Fishing gear is a source of microplastic pollution. Fishing nets, synthetic ropes and other types of fishing gear wear down through use. Some nets are lost at sea where they continue drifting as so-called ‘ghost nets’, entrapping and killing fish and other animals. Fishing materials were historically made of plant-based fibres such as linen or cotton , but since the 1960s, manufacturers have shifted to using a much cheaper and more durable material – nylon. Nylon is a plastic fibre that does not fully biodegrade, releasing microplastics into the physical environment instead.

More information: here

Material: nylon

Summary: Fishing nets are no longer made of linen or cotton ropes. Manufacturers primarily use nylon instead. It is a light and durable plastic material which does not biodegrade and releases small plastic particles into the environment.

Synthetic fabrics

size 2.59 mm

Microplastics are small, less than 5 mm long, degraded pieces that break off from bigger objects made from plastic. Synthetic fibres detach from clothing or other fabrics, especially during the washing process. Wastewater treatment plants are not always capable of filtering these fibres out, so they eventually end up in seas and oceans. Synthetic fibres are extremely stable and they do not biodegrade. Moreover, microplastics can absorb a number of other harmful substances, thereby creating a dangerous cocktail of chemical compounds. The resulting microplastics become a permanent pollutant of the physical environment and are an unwelcome part of the food chain.

More information: here

Materials: polyester, nylon, acrylic polymers, etc.

Summary: Synthetic clothing materials shed microplastic fibres, especially during the washing process. Wastewater treatment plants are not always capable of filtering these fibres out, so they end up in seas and oceans. Synthetic fibres are extremely stable and they do not biodegrade.

Children’s playground

size 3.06 mm

The flooring of children’s play areas is a source of microplastic pollution. These kinds of floor coverings are typically made of rubber granules which contain materials that can be harmful to people and the environment. According to some estimates, the production of synthetic flooring involves the use of thousands of rubber pieces that are created by shredding recycled car tyres. This type of flooring was once believed to be stable and not prone to shedding. However, research now indicates that small particles are released from such flooring over time and make their way into rivers and other bodies of water through wastewater in sewers. These particles can be ingested by aquatic organisms. Similar problems occur with artificial grass on football pitches and horse-riding arenas. These floor covers are made of recycled and processed plastics, which contain a multitude of harmful substances, including phthalates, flame retardants, heavy metals and other substances.

More information: here and here

Materials: hydrocarbon compounds, heavy metals

Summary: The flooring of children’s playgrounds is made of rubber granules which contain harmful substances. The material is made from shredded car tyres and deteriorates over time releasing microplastics into the wastewaters. Eventually these particles can end up in rivers or other water bodies.

Construction foam

size 4.34 mm

Construction foam, or polystyrene foam, is a lightweight material used for insulation. Polystyrene is made from petroleum. Because of its properties, low cost of production, and ease of processing, polystyrene foam is widely used across many industries. However, when polystyrene ends up in the physical environment, it does not fully decompose, rather, it breaks down into increasingly smaller particles. Animals may mistake these particles for food and ingest them, thereby filling their digestive tract with inedible material. This can lead to malnourishment and death. Polystyrene is also used in the production of disposable food containers, making it potentially harmful for human health, too. Polystyrene contains carcinogenic substances, and if food containers are used to store warm and fatty foods, these substances can mix with the fats from the food, and may be ingested by humans.

More information: here

Material: polystyrene

Summary: Construction foam contains a lightweight and durable material – polystyrene – which does not decompose. Instead, it releases small particles which may be ingested by animals with lethal consequences. Since polystyrene is used in making disposable food containers, it also poses a risk to human health due to its carcinogenic properties.

Car insulation material

size 2.99 mm

There are many materials that are used in our cars for heat insulation or as sound deadeners. Foil sound deadening mats have a foil front and a black rubber material on the back. These materials are efficient at absorbing engine noise and are heat resistant. They are made of hydrocarbon compounds that eventually become a part of microplastic pollution. Similar to particles from car tyres they end up on the ground and wastewaters. In physical environment they can cause harm to various living organisms.

More information: here

Materials: hydrocarbon polymers

Summary: Materials that are used in cars for heat insulation or as sound deadeners are made from foil and rubber-based materials. They are heat resistant and as they break into smaller pieces, they become a part of microplastic pollution and can cause harm to various living organisms.

Sponge

size 3.86 mm

Sponges are a significant source of plastic pollution. Kitchen sponges, with their abrasive undersides, are made of polyester and nylon fibres which wear down during use. Polyester and nylon degrade into smaller particles which are then washed down into wastewater systems, and since they cannot be fully filtered out by treatment plants, these particles end up in aquatic ecosystems. Synthetic fibres do not decompose fully in the physical environment. They get permanently lodged into the ecosystem where they are often ingested by various organisms. Kitchen sponges contribute to pollution every time they are replaced and disposed of. Every week, millions of sponges are discarded around the world. They cannot be recycled, and they can end up remaining in a landfill for many years to come. In recent years, researchers have noticed that microplastics can absorb other pollutants. Microplastic particles can make compounds with heavy metals, antibiotics, and persistent organic pollutants. These microplastics can also function as a surface for propagation of various kinds of pathogens.

More information: here

Materials: polyester, nylon

Summary: Sponges are a significant source of plastic pollution. They are typically made of polyester and nylon, which are not biodegradable. Every time sponges are used, small plastic particles are shed and end up in wastewaters and, eventually, in open bodies of water.

Candy box

size 2.36 mm

Microplastics are small plastic fragments, fibres or particles that are less than 5mm in size. While early candy wrappers were mostly made from cellophane, modern wrappers are made of polypropylene film. Candy boxes are mostly made from a mixture of different types of plastic, aluminium foil and other materials. Generally, candy wrappers and other packaging materials are made from non-biodegradable plastics. Plastic accumulation in the natural environment is estimated to reach 155–265 million tons by 2060, while around 13% of this weight is expected in the form of microplastics.

More information: here

Material: polypropylene film, high-density polyethylene

Summary: Early candy wrappers were mostly made from cellophane, whereas modern wrappers are made of polypropylene film. Candy boxes consist of a mixture of different types of plastic, aluminium foil and other materials. Candy wrappers and most of the other plastic materials are non-biodegradable.