Michigan Microplastics in the Great Lakes

Art Hirsch is the Co-Founder and Co-Leader of the Michigan Microplastics Coalition, a group focused on addressing microplastic pollution in the Great Lakes through legislation, education, and outreach.

Microplastics are defined as being less than 5 mm in size. They come from commercial products like cosmetics and industrial products like paint removal. Textiles and Tires are large contributors of microplastics. Microplastics also come from the breakdown of larger plastics due to weather and UV radiation. 

Nanoplastics are less than 100 nm. These plastics are small enough to cross the blood/brain barrier and contaminate human organs.

These plastics have been found almost everywhere - in animals, water, and land. The Great Lakes are particularly vulnerable to plastic pollution. Large metropolitan areas surround the lakes. The water drains very slowly; Lake Michigan takes 70-80 years to flush the water. Zooplankton ingest the plastics, and it moves up the entire food chain.

The microplastics affect drinking water, fisheries, tourism, and recreation. Fishing-associated revenues are $2.7 billion. There has been no research into their effects and no established safe limits.

Things that should be done about plastic pollution are

• Source control of plastic materials
• Substitution of other materials
• Monitor waters to establish benchmarks
• Research to determine risk
• Develop a plan in Michigan (CA and IL have good plans)
• Establish risk of plastics and set standards
• Require industrial monitoring of plastic discharge
• Educate consumers to avoid plastics
• Education and outreach to citizens and lawmakers