Microplastics

Microplastics is a general term for plastic fragments of various origins up to 5mm in size. Their existence is mainly associated with their presence in the environment (water, soil and air) indicating the negative effects of plastic pollution. Most come in the form of fibres, beads or irregularly shaped fragments, some of which are primarily produced in this manner (primary microplastics – from pastes, detergents, etc.), but most are formed by fracturing from larger plastic parts (secondary microplastics). The presence of microplastics in the environment is problematic not only for the environment (sediments, animals, especially fish, birds) but also secondarily for humans, where the particles enter the human food chain, are consumed in drinking water (including bottled water), inhaled by the lungs, where they can cause inflammatory reactions, etc.