Microplastics and PFAS (aka 'forever chemicals') are everywhere. What does that mean for our bodies and environment?

Around 400 million tons of plastic are produced annually, which is the estimated weight of all of humanity! Plastic-covered beaches and litter on the side of the road is gross and depressing, but it turns out that stuff is just the visible tip of the iceberg. Plastic breaks down into tiny, tiny pieces that have now been found in almost every ecosystem on the planet—from the bottom of the ocean to mountain ranges in Europe. They’ve also been found in us. This episode of Tiny Matters is all about microplastics and both the molecules that stick to them and the ones they release, like forever chemicals (aka PFAS). Find Imari's upcoming book about plastics here. If you're looking for more info on microplastics monitoring and policy, check out  this episode of Stereo Chemistry from our friends at C&EN. If you're in the United States: for data on your region's drinking water go to the Environmental Working Group's website here. The Tiny Show & Tell stories this week can be found here and  here. Pick up a Tiny Matters mug here! All Tiny Matters transcripts are available here.