A POISON LIKE NO OTHER

A science journalist for Wired issues an urgent call to action aimed at curbing the introduction of microplastics into the environment.

As Simon explains, microplastics are pieces of plastic smaller than 5 mm, approximately the size of a pencil eraser, and they can be found everywhere, from the depths of the oceans to the highest mountaintop. From our first sip of to-go coffee in the morning to our drive home from work in the evening, we are continually dumping microplastics into the environment and, ultimately, into our bodies. Microplastics can contain up to 10,000 different chemicals, and many of these chemicals can pose potential health risks. According to one study, preparing baby formula in plastic bottles disinfected with steam can expose “an infant to an additional 660,000 microplastics by the time they’re a year old.” When plastics break down in the environment, the pieces get smaller and smaller but never truly disappear. Scientists are in the early stages of exploring this issue, so the full extent of the problem is not yet known. However, according to the studies Simon presents, ingredients in plastics have been linked to various illnesses and conditions, including depression, sexual dysfunction, and cancer, among others. Further, Simon contends, plastic pollution is an often overlooked contributor to climate change. Throughout the book, the author presents evidence obtained from his travels with research scientists studying the negative effects of microplastics. The evidence is clear: The oceans are growing more infested with microplastics, and they have become a fundamental component of the air we breathe. Microplastics also show up at all points in the food chain, and humans “are at the very end of that chain.” Even though “all the pieces of plastic great and small are out there for good,” writes the author, “we can at least turn down the tap.”

A convincing treatment of a subject that will remain relevant for years to come.