Dear Editor,
So, as Helena Horton reports, "Microplastics from European rivers are finding their way to Arctic seas" (The Guardian, 16th Mar 2022, link below). These tiny plastic fibres come from synthetic clothing, car tyres, cosmetics and other sources. As a solution researchers propose "that better waste management is required so the health of the Arctic ecosystem is not compromised."
Better waste management? What exactly is that? Using a microscope to pick those particles out of the wash or off the road? And filters won't help: Those particles are simply too microscopic to be held back!
Basically what we learn from this article is that "there isn't a plan".
In my view, the only solution is to dramatically and quickly reduce those pollutants by a.) switching to clothing made from natural fibres; b.) scaling back road transport by, as much as possible, switching to rail-freight, public-transport, using our legs and sourcing our needs more locally (and seasonally); and ... c.) what on earth are plastics doing in cosmetics? That should never have been allowed in the first place!!!
Indeed, by taking those steps, there would be a whole bunch of other, secondary environmental benefits (e.g. CO2 reduction) that would kick in too! So why don't we simply get on and do it? Here the answer is clear: We are far too lazy, complaisant and distracted. Shame on us!
Regards
