Most of the plastics in the marine environment are ones we cannot even see on our beach walks. Microplastics, which are less than 5 millimeters in size, dominate the plastic pollution problem. While some of these microplastics come from larger plastics that have broken down, recent research demonstrates that the majority (73 percent by volume) of plastics found on local beaches are microfibers. These tiny fibers are ubiquitous in ocean waters. Numerous studies in recent years have found these microplastics in every single sample taken from the Salish Sea, whether water samples, sediment samples, or samples taken directly from beaches.

An article from UW News clarifies, “These thin strands are not from the breakdown of larger litter, such as plastic bottles or disposable cutlery; rather, they start when fabrics shed fibers that flow out with laundry water after washing synthetic fabrics, like polar fleece or other types of polyester.” A single sweater can release up to 10,000 microfibers, which enter the water stream through laundry. Water treatment plants do not yet have filters with fine enough mesh to prevent these fibers from slipping through.

It isn’t even simply our local habits translating to local plastic pollution—in fact, plastic can have a global footprint, as microplastics can easily be carried by both water and wind. Scientists are finding microplastics on remote mountains peaks, far from sources, where they have been carried on the wind.

Because plastic does not break down on a scale of years or even decades, having this much plastic in the oceans and on coastlines is a problem that continues to compound every year, affecting ecosystems and food chains in ways that research is only just beginning to examine. The research that has been done on the impacts of plastics in our food webs show a much bigger problem than anyone initially imagined. Microplastics can directly affect smaller animals by interfering with their digestion, causing breathing problems, or loading their tissues with toxic chemicals. These chemicals bioaccumulate as they move up the food chain, becoming more concentrated in salmon, seals, whales, and humans.

Reducing plastics in our waterways does matter. It matters to our health, and the health of everything in our ecosystems. People can take actions to reduce plastic use on the front end, while also advocating for improved filtration systems and removal of existing plastics in our waters. Failure to act could have serious impacts on iconic northwest species such as Orca whales and Chinook salmon, for whom plastic pollution is a threat multiplier, adding to threats due to habitat loss, warming waters, and over-harvesting. The entire ecosystem of the Salish Sea faces serious, possibly irreversible consequences from the impacts of plastics that are infiltrating the entire Puget Sound ecosystem.

If we want the people and animals in our Salish Sea region to thrive, it is absolutely vital that we take action to reduce plastic use and address the amount of plastics and microfibers in our waterways. Come with us as we explore how people who live, work, play, and research in the Salish Sea region are working to respond to this problem, and how you can be part of that change.

Table of Contents, Issue #7, Spring 2020