California Takes Decisive Action to Reduce Microplastics Pollution

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In response to increasing concern about pervasive and persistent pollution caused by microplastics, the California Ocean Protection Council yesterday approved the first comprehensive microplastics strategy in the nation. This leading-edge Statewide Microplastics Strategy identifies early actions and research priorities to reduce microplastic pollution in California’s marine environment. Worldwide, an estimated 11 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year. Without any intervention, this amount is anticipated to triple by 2040. Over time, plastics break down in aquatic environments into pieces of ever-decreasing size, with those less than 5 mm in size known as « microplastics, » which are easily ingested by ocean life, causing harm such as tissue inflammation, impaired growth, developmental abnormalities, and reproductive complications.

Source: Waste360