Because of their small size, microplastics (plastic particles < 5 mm long) pose a unique environmental threat. Larger trash items can generally be removed through improved waste management systems and clean-up efforts, but microplastics are virtually impossible to collect en masse. On top of that, their number continues to grow exponentially as larger plastic items degrade over time.

Microplastics can travel vast distances, carried primarily by water or air. As such, plastic has been found in some of the most remote habitats on earth. Research indicates that more than 1,500 species are known to ingest plastic, potentially causing gastrointestinal distress, false satiation, toxicological exposure, and bioaccumulation. Humans are not immune to these impacts.

Microplastics have been found in various human organs and tissues, likely breathed in or ingested through contaminated food and beverages, leading to the recent concern regarding potential health impacts.

Learn more about microplastics, their sources, effects, and some potential solutions, and hear about the newly established Oregon Microplastics Analytical Research Center (OMARC), and hear both past and ongoing microplastic research from PSU.

Dr. Elise Granek runs the Applied Coastal Ecology (ACE) Lab in the Department of Environmental Science and Management at PSU. She holds a PhD in Marine Ecology from OSU and a Masters degree in Forest Ecology and Conservation Biology from Yale University’s School of the Environment. Her research at the land-sea interface spans ecological (community composition in mangroves), socio-ecological (perceptions and attitudes about marine reserves, microplastics, non-native mangroves), and eco-toxicological (examining effects of microplastics, pesticides, pharmaceuticals on marine animals) studies.