While scientists have found that wildlife, such as seabirds, can be harmed by consuming plastic, the effects on human health are less clear. Unlike other pollutants, microplastics have different effects depending on their size, their shape, and where they are found, such as in food, air, or water.
Studies have detected tiny plastic fragments, known as microplastics, in settings that include the atmosphere, drinking water sources, wild animals, and human food chains. There is no federal standard for measuring microplastics in various media, such as water and soil.
To curb plastic waste piling on the planet, a global effort is underway with 175 nations negotiating a binding treaty on plastic pollution, aimed at completion by late 2024.
The Biden administration's new U.S. strategy on plastic pollution covers five areas: plastic production, product design, waste generation, waste management, and plastic capture and removal, focusing on actionable steps federal agencies can pursue.
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