Microplastics are tiny plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in diameter. They originate from the breakdown of larger plastic debris or are manufactured as microbeads for personal care products. Because they do not biodegrade easily, they persist in the environment for hundreds of years, accumulating in oceans, soil, and even the bodies of living organisms, including humans.
The term 'microplastics' was popularized in 2004 by marine biologist Richard Thompson to describe the accumulation of microscopic plastic fragments in marine environments. However, the presence of plastic debris in the oceans had been reported as early as the 1970s. Research has since expanded to find them in everything from bottled water to Arctic ice.
Microplastics are a ubiquitous environmental pollutant, found in the deepest ocean trenches and on the highest mountain peaks. They have entered the food chain, raising concerns about their potential health effects on marine life and humans. Governments are increasingly banning microbeads and exploring policies to reduce single-use plastics.