Rachael Zoe Miller, left, listens as Agustina “Tati” Besada gives her portion of the pair’s Chautauqua Lecture Series presentation Wednesday in the Amphitheater.
National Geographic Explorers Rachael Z. Miller and Agustina “Tati” Besada took to the Amphitheater stage on Wednesday morning to discuss the vast problem microplastics and microfibers pose to Earth’s biggest bodies of water. Miller and Besada tag-teamed their lecture, part of the Week Eight theme “Water: Crisis, Beauty and Necessity,” with Miller explaining much of the scientific data concerning microfibers and Besada discussing the solutions-oriented ideas of the organization Unplastify, which she co-founded.
Miller and Besada’s work focuses on ocean cleanup through four primary strategies: data, prevention through education, embracing innovation and technology and conducting solutions-based research.
“We are optimistic because we recognize the collective ‘we’ made this, and we believe the collective ‘we’ can get ahead of it again,” said Miller.
Miller began her portion of the lecture by ensuring everyone was on the same page about what microplastics are. Microplastics are any piece of plastic from 5 millimeters to 1 micrometer, a measurement 1/80th the width of a human hair. Another piece of the microplastics problem-puzzle is microfibers, synthetic fibers that shed from our clothes. Even natural fibers like cotton pose problems, as they deteriorate and leach dyes into the environment.
The majority of marine debris comes from the land-sea interface, the interaction between humans on land with the water. As a result, ocean life — from coral to plankton, all the way up to blue whales — ingest tiny microplastic fibers. When animals ingest these fibers, so do humans. Miller described a 2015 study conducted at a California fish market that “found that 1 in 3 shellfish, 1 in 4 finned fish, and the majority of species had microplastics, mostly microfiber, in them.”
She continued: “A recent literature review found 555 species studied had similar numbers — 70% had microplastic, and 54% of that are commercially important, which means they go to market.”
Microplastics have also been found in drinking water (both tap and bottled) honey, salt and beer. The microplastics found in food, water and air are also primarily microfibers. And just like the whales consuming plastic-laden plankton, humans also consume plastic-contaminated food. Miller said studies show microplastics have been found in lung tissue, heart tissue, digestive tracts, gums, the reproductive systems of men and women, and blood and arterial plaque.
Furthermore, microplastics have been found to cause adverse effects in the human body, including negatively impacting the gut microbiome, potential infertility, and increased likelihood of heart attack and stroke. Yet, Miller insisted people shouldn’t despair, and turned toward Besada to continue the discussion.
“Waste is a design problem,” said Besada, as she stepped forward to take Miller’s place center stage. When Besada worked at a recycling center in Brooklyn, New York, surrounded by mountains of plastic, she began to wonder what happened to all the waste that wasn’t tossed in a recycling bin. According to data presented by Miller and Besada, only 9% of plastic waste ends up being recycled.
“When we throw plastic away, there is no ‘away,’ ” said Besada. Microplastics do not biodegrade. Besada wanted to see with her own eyes the cost of the permanence of plastic waste, and began her adventures as a sailor and explorer. From New York to Europe to Africa to South America, Besada has helped test water samples from around the world, and the findings are undeniable. Every sample contained plastics. Even the most remote and pristine waters on earth contain microscopic plastic particles.
How do these particles end up in the most remote reaches of the earth? The ocean’s currents and gyres carry them thousands of miles from their original source. Plastics released along the United States’ East Coast are swept as far away as the Faroe Islands and the Arctic Ocean.
In addition to her work as a National Geographic Explorer, Besada is co-founder of Unplastify, an organization that works to “minimize the use of single-use plastic in the world, to prevent plastic pollution and regenerate the oceans.”
Unplastify works to identify the source of pollution and combat the problem before waste ends up in waterways. Besada said that the plastic waste problem is not the material itself, “but its use and abuse,” primarily the prevalence of single-use plastics. The human relationship with plastic, she said, is out of control — and the solution to pollution is preventing single-use plastics from coming into production in the first place.
“Solutions are simple,” she said. “They exist.” She proposed eliminating unnecessary single-use plastics and replacing essentials with reusable and biodegradable options.
“Awareness needs to be transformed into action,” Besada continued.
Thinking systemically instead of individually is another of Besada’s core tenets. She believes solutions lie not with the individual, but with the systems in which they live, from the most local to the global. She said waiting for every individual to switch to reusable water bottles, for example, would be far too slow a process to institute meaningful change; people’s lives need to be “unplastified” without them realizing it.
Despite facing what might feel like an insurmountable problem, Miller and Besada are optimistic about the fight against marine debris. One of the major points of their lecture was Cora Ball, a device invented by Miller to prevent and catch microfibers in laundry. The ball is simply tossed into a load in the washing machine, and Miller’s data demonstrates that Cora Ball has a 31% efficiency rate in collecting microfibers and reducing the amount of fibers shedding from clothes.
Cora Ball is made from synthetic rubber, but Miller is confident the current product “is not contributing microplastics” to the environment.
“There are plastic solutions to plastic problems,” added Besada. Cora Ball is an item made for long-term use, and Miller designed her product to be repairable and recyclable.
Miller also spoke about the microfibers expelled from clothes dryers. She said people can reduce dryer-originating microfibers by air-drying their clothes, regularly cleaning their lint trap, and supporting emission standards at the state and national levels — Besada and Miller agree that regulations are a key part of the solution to microplastic pollution.
Besada and Miller suggested several simple first steps for folks concerned about their daily exposure for microplastics.
First, Besada suggested focusing on eliminating one source of single-use plastic, such as bottled water. Miller recommended reducing food exposure by switching from plastic to wooden cutting boards and avoiding reheating food in plastic containers. Miller also offered several suggestions for eliminating microfiber shedding from clothes, like washing clothes in cold water and larger loads to reduce abrasion and shedding. Additionally, Miller said that many people wash clothing items more often than is essential. She encouraged avoiding fast fashion, only purchasing new clothing when absolutely necessary, and buying second hand.
“Think in systems,” Besada said in conclusion, “and try to affect systems.”
