1_Mikroplastik
Primary microplastics
Microplastics in many areas of life
Microplasty is smaller than 5 millimetres and often not visible to the naked eye. These include plastic beads in shower gels, peelings and toothpastes, which are used as abrasive and scouring particles for better cleaning. Their use has declined in recent years because, for example, in peelings polyethylene has partly been replaced by natural and more environmentally friendly alternatives.
Microplasty is smaller than 5 millimetres and often not visible to the naked eye. These include plastic beads in shower gels, peelings and toothpastes, which are used as abrasive and scouring particles for better cleaning. Their use has declined in recent years because, for example, in peelings polyethylene has partly been replaced by natural and more environmentally friendly alternatives.
According to a 2018 study, y the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology in Oberhausen, Germany, approximately 330,000 tons of microplastics are released into the environment each year. A total of 51 sources of primary microplastics were identified. The Institute distinguishes between type A primary microplastics, which are intentionally used and account for around 11% of the total, and type B microplastics, which are mainly caused by abrasion and weathering and are estimated to account for 89% of the total. The highest proportion of type B microplastics is therefore due to tyre abrasion:
1. tyre abrasion
2. emissions from waste management
3. abrasion of polymers and bitumen in asphalt
4. pellet losses
5. drifting of sports grounds and playgrounds
6. release on construction sites
7. abrasion of shoe soles
8. plastic packaging
9. road markings
10. fibre abrasion during textile washing
2. emissions from waste management
3. abrasion of polymers and bitumen in asphalt
4. pellet losses
5. drifting of sports grounds and playgrounds
6. release on construction sites
7. abrasion of shoe soles
8. plastic packaging
9. road markings
10. fibre abrasion during textile washing
Microplastics can be found under names such as acrylate crosspolymer and polyquaternium. According to the German Environment Agency,cosmetics should also not contain synthetic polymers that are difficult to degrade and are used as film formers or opacifiers, e.g. in shower gels.