As the internet will tell you, there's microplastics in our bodies. The state is endeavoring to take the lead in understanding the issue.
Microplastics, or the small fragments of plastics and polymers from clothing, packaging and cosmetics, are now found virtually everywhere on Earth — from the highest peaks to the depths of the ocean.
In the Bay Area, this means the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, East Bay Municipal Utilities District and Santa Clara’s Valley Water will need to begin ramping up programs to test source water for microplastics. Still, one of the program’s key objectives is to streamline this process by accrediting more labs and standardizing methods for comprehensive testing of the municipal water system.
The price tag of this new program is also unknown, and the burden of the costs associated with collecting, monitoring and testing will likely fall on the water utilities, said Brownwood.Significant uncertainties regarding the risks of microplastics on human health also remain. Researchers who fed microplastics to mice found several adverse changes to their gut, liver and kidney tissues, oxidative stress, altered metabolisms and chronic inflammation.
The problem is perhaps plastic’s resounding success. Plastic has undoubtedly advanced the fields of medicine, science and technology, but has also been villainized for its ties to the petroleum industry, which is considered a major contributor to climate change. “I like to think that our bodies multitask and handle pollution, but it is very concerning that we are seeing such widespread contamination of plastic,” said Box.