This is an example blog post from last year that current MPH student Michael Manning presented...
Microplastic beads can be found in common household products such as facial washes and exfoliants and have been the subject of many recent scientific studies. These fine particles can be washed down the drain, pass through waste water treatment facilites and accumulate in water supplies such as the Great Lakes. It is hypothesized that these particles can have a negative impact on wildlife. And so, over the past few years, organizations such as the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative have worked to regulate the use of these particles.
Microplastic beads can be found in common household products such as facial washes and exfoliants and have been the subject of many recent scientific studies. These fine particles can be washed down the drain, pass through waste water treatment facilites and accumulate in water supplies such as the Great Lakes. It is hypothesized that these particles can have a negative impact on wildlife. And so, over the past few years, organizations such as the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative have worked to regulate the use of these particles.
A recent article
published online in Vice News addresses the growing concern over the
accumulation of plastic microbeads in the Great Lakes. This article explains
current efforts to regulate these particles by state and local governments. The
Vice article also explains how the pollution of these microbeads will harm the
Great Lakes environment and its wildlife surroundings.
In order to explain the levels of plastics
in the Great Lakes, the article cites a study by scientists at the State
University of New York – Fredonia and the 5 Gyres Institute in California. This
study documents the levels of microplastics in the surface water of the Great
Lakes. Samples were taken by trawling Lake Superior, Lake Huron and Lake Erie. overall, 21 data points were taken.
The Vice article does a good job of citing the study to explain that
there are these substances in the lakes, and that they can come from household
products. Unfortunately though, this is the only part of the article that is
backed up by cited scientific research.
The
article makes several claims about the impact of these
microbeads, and although they might make sense, and may be factually
accurate,
the article does not cite any science to support these claims. One
argument is
that once these microbeads enter the waterways, they begin to absorb
pollutants
and carry them to the lakes. It is also asserted that, because these
beads can
be the size of fish eggs, they may enter the food chain and cause harm
to
wildlife through biomagnification. Neither of these claims are cited
with peer reviewed scientific evidence and so I am hesitant to accept
them as fact.
All in all, the Vice article does a good job of explaining
the issue of microbeads in the Great Lakes. They accurately explain the study
that was done and make factual claims about the products that contain
microplastics. Unfortunately, while seemingly attempting to increase the
importance of this issue, the authors make claims that are not explained
through peer reviewed scientific articles. Because of this, I would give this
article a 6/10.
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