Grass Roots Health Episode # 27: Plastic Pollution is Even in My Laundry! An Interview with Judith Weis, Ph.D.

We adults have created a plastic pollution disaster for those that will follow in our footsteps. However, you can be part of the solution starting today!  

Microplastics, 5 millimeters or less in size, come from a variety of larger plastics such as plastic bottles, car tires, plastic beads (including those in skin-care products), and synthetic fibers. These larger plastics typically break down into smaller and smaller plastics called nano-plastics (less than 1 micrometer in size). Nano-plastics also come from industrial processes.      

Plastic pollution is also in our homes. Your carpet and rugs are especially to blame. Clothing, bedding, and other textiles shed microplastics in fiber form and are major contributors to plastic pollution, especially when washed. These microfibers, which are carried off by your drains from your washer, enter the wastewater, eventually end up in the environment.

The problem with plastics is that take up to 1,000 years to decompose. Only 10% of plastic waste is recycled. Most plastic waste just sits there in the soil in landfills as an environmental pollutant. Worse yet, about 11 million tons of plastic enter our oceans yearly. Let’s do something about this plastic disaster!        Listen and learn about plastic pollution in our homes as host Tim Jordan interviews Judit Weis Ph.D. about this issue. 

Resources for this podcast: 

1) Judith Weis, Ph.D.:  Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Weis

2) Rutgers University Website: www.rutgers.edu

3) Biological Sciences at Rutgers Website: www.biology.rutger.edu

4) Books by Guest, Judith Weis. https://sites.rutgers.edu/judith-weis/books/

5) New Book by Guest, Judith Weis, Ph.D. Marine Pollution: What Everyone Needs to Know. 2nd Edition. (2024).  https://global.oup.com/academic/product/marine-pollution-9780197753811?lang=en&cc=us

6) Senator Jeff Merkley, Oregon.  https://www.congress.gov/member/jeff-merkley/M001176. Merkley introduces legislation to curb plastic pollution from laundry. https://www.congress.gov/member/jeff-merkley/M001176

7) Podcast Episode 26: Plastic Pollution is All Around Us. Should I Care? An Interview with Janet Brahney, Ph.D. https://1795group.com/episode/episode-26-plastic-pollution-is-all-around-us-should-i-care-an-interview-with-janet-brahney-ph-d/

8) Blog: (2024). Plastic Pollution is All Around Us. You Should Care. https://1795group.com/plastic-pollution-is-all-around-us/

9) Plastic Pollution Coalition (2024). Plastic Pollution Facts. https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/learn/plastic-pollution-facts

10) Article: (2024). Weiss, J. Laundry is a top source of microplastic pollution.  Here’s how to clean your clothes more sustainably. PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/laundry-is-a-top-source-of-microplastic-pollution-heres-how-to-clean-your-clothes-more-sustainably

11) Article: (2023). The National Park Service.  Reducing Laundry Microfibers. https://nps.gov/articles/000/laundry_microplastics.htm?utm

12) Article: (2023). Lozanova, S. How To Reduce Microfiber Pollution from Your Laundry. Earth911. https://earth911.com/home-garden/reduce-laundry-microfiber-pollution/

13)  Article: (2024). Frank, G. This Washing Machine Filter Gulps Up Microplastics. The Triple Pundit. https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2023/washing-machine-microplastic-filter/782986?utm

14)  Article (2024). Engler, S. 10 Ways to Reduce Plastic Pollution. Natural Resources Defense Council.  https://www.nrdc.org/stories/10-ways-reduce-plastic-pollution?utm_source

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