Extreme Weather Amplifying Microplastics Pollution

The increasing threat of extreme weather at the hands of climate change is also amplifying the risk of plastic pollution. Scientists are pointing to the findings of a new report published last week as a cause for alarm. Read on for all of the details of the study, as well as solutions to bring this problem under control.

Latest Research Shows How Climate is Raising the Threat of Microplastics

A new study published in the journal Frontiers in Science is showing how severe storms, flooding events, and high winds are speeding up the breakdown of plastic, making it more mobile and hazardous as it spreads at a greater clip. The increase in microplastics has already become an environmental threat around the world. Now, scientists are detailing how a warming planet, coming as a result of extreme weather, is also making these microplastics even more hazardous.

Scientists have long studied the connection between plastic and climate change. This research has traditionally focused on how plastic plays a role in global warming. This is because 98% of these plastics are made using fossil fuels, releasing climate pollution throughout the entirety of the life cycle of a piece of plastic until it is disposed.