1. Interdependence of the Environment and Public Health: Microplastics,
Rachel L. D. Truxall, BS, RN
Public Health Graduate Student
University of West Florida
Marine Discovery Center Graduate Intern

2. Objectives Define public health
Discuss microplastics and public health
Discuss water quality and public health

3. What is Public health
“Public health refers to all organized measures (whether public or private) to prevent disease, promote health, and prolong life among the population as a whole” (WHO 2015).
World Health Organization. (2015)Trade, foreign policy, diplomacy, and health. Retrieved November 4, 2015 from:

4. Environmental Concerns that Public Health Professionals Study
Outdoor air pollution
Indoor air pollution
Children’s environmental health
Environmental health in emergencies
Climate change
Built environment
Water quality

5. Microplastics in Our Water
< 5 mm pieces of plastic
Aquatic pollutants
Unable to be filtered out by waste water treatment plants
They attract other harmful chemicals (Hg)
Primary and Secondary microplastics

6. Where do Microplastics Come From?
Polyester, nylon or acrylic fibers from clothing that have been broken down in the washing machine
Can be made to use in personal care products (polyethylene or polythene)
“Petroleum-based plastics do not biodegrade. They become weathered and disintegrate into smaller pieces over time.” (McGuire 2015)
Nurdles from cargo ship containers

7. Primary microplastics
“Nurdles”
Primary microplastics are those that are deliberately made as small pieces. “Nurdles” are the common form of pre-consumer plastic. In other words, this is the form in which plastic is shipped to manufacturers who then melt it down in order to make their production items. They are often shipped by the containerload. As you can see, they come in different colors. They are not totally spherical.

8. Where do nurdles come from?
Nurdles are pre-production resin pellets used for the manufacture of plastic items, and as fillers (e.g. in Beanie Babies, squishy pillows).
Nurdles are also used as stuffing for “squishy” items like these beanie babies, and some pillows.

9. Primary microplastics
“Microbeads”
(McGuire 2016)
Other primary microplastics are made for inclusion in personal care products like many facial scrubs. Often referred to as “microbeads,” these plastics come in various colors and sizes. In addition to plastic microbeads, the facial scrubs also often contain microcrystalline wax, which is a petroleum-based product.

10. Where do Microplastics Come From?
“The American non-governmental organisation (NGO) 5Gyres, found a large number of microplastics in the Great Lakes and estimates that one single care product (Neutrogena's Deep Clean) contains 360,000 microbeads.”

12. Secondary microplastics
Pieces from degradation of larger plastic items
(McGuire 2016)
Microplastics are divided into two groups. Secondary microplastics, like those shown here, are small pieces resulting from the degradation of larger plastic items. (Note that a few of the pieces in the photo are probably technically slightly larger than microplastic…). Dr. Anthony Andrady (author of the 2003 book, Plastics and the Environment) is often quoted as saying, “Every piece of plastic ever made still exists today,” although probably in smaller and smaller pieces. Plastics can photodegrade (as a result of UV light), chemically degrade, or undergo microbial degradation.

13. Secondary microplastics
Fibers
Polyester, nylon, acrylic, polypropylene
“Microfiber”
Shed from fabrics during laundering
(McGuire 2016)
One of the biggest sources of secondary microplastics is fabrics. When we wash synthetic fabrics, or use them for cleaning or drying, microscopic fibers can be shed. Common synthetic (plastic-based) fabrics include polyester, nylon, acrylic and polypropylene. The term “microfiber” is often used for combinations of these synthetic fibers.

14. Concerns About Microplastics In Our Water
Comprised of known endocrine disruptors and attract other endocrine disruptors, such as Mercury
Microplastics in food chain
Has become public health concern
“Additives used in the manufacture of plastics (e.g. bisphenol A) and toxins can leach into animal tissue”
(McGuire 2016)

16. Microplastics and Public Health
No definitive link to human disease
Scientists do not know how to study microplastics’ effects on human health
Scientists have discovered inflammatory responses in small marine animals (worms, bivalves) with microplastics
Microplastics are a global issue

17. (McGuire 2016)
This study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (published online before print, Feb 1, 2016: DOI /pnas ) reports that Pacific oysters that were fed polystyrene microbeads along with algae for a 2 month period had significant decreases in egg production and sperm mobility. Additionally, larval yield and survival were lower in these oysters compared to controls. The authors theorize that the oysters put energy into clearing the plastics (“elevated maintenance”), reducing the energy available for reproduction. This is perhaps the first study showing physiological impacts of plastic ingestion on a marine invertebrate.

18. News
2012—consumer goods company Unilever committed to making all of its products plastic-free by Its website says all plastics were phased out by Jan 1, 2015.
L'Oréal, Colgate/Palmolive, Beiersdorf, Procter & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson have followed the example set by Unilever and over the course of 2013 pledged to stop the use of microbeads. Unfortunately, not all of these companies have set a deadline for when they plan to have completely phased out microbeads.

19. News
April 2014—Target pledged to remove microbeads from its branded facial skin care products by late 2014; from all of its branded products by the end of 2015
June 2014—Illinois became the first state to ban the sale of cosmetics containing plastic microbeads. Manufacturers have a phase out period between [ME, NJ, CO, IN, MD, WI and CA have since passed similar legislation]
Sept 2014—Crest pledged to remove microbeads by March 2016

20. Policies
December 2015: Passage of the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 in the United States (effective in 2017)
(McGuire 2016)
Just before the end of 2015, President Obama signed the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015, after passage by both the House and Senate. One caution about the bill--it may not completely eliminate plastic microbeads from ALL personal care products--there is language that states that it applies specifically to  "rinse-off cosmetic" that is "intended to be used to exfoliate or cleanse the human body or any part thereof." It does explicitly include toothpaste, but deodorants and makeup products may be considered exceptions under this language. We'll have to wait and see (and keep checking labels!). The bill can be read at

21. Why so Difficult to Remove Microplastics?
Small sizes
Distributed throughout the water column
How to remove plastics without removing marine life?

22. What Can We Do?
We must all work together to reduce the amount of plastics that draining into our waterways.
As previously mentioned, the main way to address plastic pollution in the ocean is to reduce the amount of plastic allowed to enter the ocean.

23. What Can We Do To Reduce Plastics Into Our Waterways?
Avoid using single use water bottles
Avoid using plastic shopping bags
Avoid using personal care products with microbeads
Check your personal care products for plastic: polyethylene or polythene
Continue to urge companies to avoid the use of microbeads

24. Microplastic Recap Where do microplastics come from?
Are microplastics a possible health concern?
What word(s) will you be looking to avoid in personal care products ?
Name one thing you can do to decrease microplastics spilling into our waters.

25. Algal Blooms Returning To the Indian River Lagoon
Lack of cold weather and water temperatures have been warm
Nutrient pollution
Fertilizer ordinances are not well known to public
Lack of compliance and enforcement

26. Volusia Fertilizer Ordinance
The application of fertilizers containing nitrogen or phosphorous is prohibited from June 1 through Sept. 30 of each year.
Fertilizer may not be applied within 15 feet of water bodies.
The application of fertilizers containing phosphorous is prohibited unless a deficiency is verified.
Fertilizer containing nitrogen may be applied only between Oct. 1 and May 31 and must contain no less than 50 percent slow-release nitrogen.
Volusia County.(2014) Fertilizer ordinance. Retrieved November 18, 2015 from: ordinance.stml

27. Volusia Fertilizer Ordinance
Studies show fertilizing in the Spring will last all summer
Summer fertilizing doesn’t benefit during summer months
Summer fertilizing mostly washes off with daily Florida rains
Helps prevent algal blooms

28. Algal Blooms Rapid increase of algae in an aquatic system
Types of blooms
Ecosystem disruptive – ex. Brown Tide
Harmful(HABs)– ex. Red Tide

29. Algal Blooms Health Concerns
Causes respiratory difficulty in humans
Causes skin irritation
Causes neurotoxic shellfish poisoning; can be deadly and there is no cure.

30. Recap When can’t you fertilize your grass?
Can algal blooms negatively affect human health?

31. Mercury in the Indian River Lagoon

32. Mercury in the Indian River Lagoon
Primary focus of Harbor Branch FAU population health and epidemiology research is the interplay of marine mammal, human, and environmental health
Studied of mercury levels in dolphins that live in the IRL
Studied mercury contents in fishermen and found elevated Hg levels correlated with levels in dolphins in IRL
FAU. (2015) Epidemiology, population health & pathology. Retrieved November 4, 2015 from:

33. Mercury Health Concerns
Neurotoxic to humans (and animals)
Can affect fertility
Developing embryos more at risk causing delayed development, physical disabilities, mental retardation
In adults can cause tremors, memory loss, numbness of toes and fingers
National Resources Defense Counsil. (2015) Mercury contamination in fish. Retrieved November 18, 2015 from:

34. Putting it All Together
Why are public health professionals concerned with topics discussed today?
Microplastics (comprised of toxins and adsorb toxins)
Nutrient pollution causing algal blooms (food insecurity, respiratory issues in humans, neurotoxic shellfish poisoning)
Mercury (bioaccumulation)

35. Putting it All Together
Make a positive impact on the environment, on your health and the health of your loved ones.
For more information on microplastics, check out Plasticware.org
Check your personal care products for plastic: polyethylene or polythene

36. Thank you
For more information:

37. References
FAU. (2015) Epidemiology, Population Health & Pathology. Retrieved November 4, from:
National Resources Defense Council. (2015) Climate change threatens health Retrieved on November 4, 2015 from
World Health Organization. (2015)Trade, foreign policy, diplomacy, and health. Retrieved November 4, 2015 from: