Current Status of Microplastic Pollution - 2020s
In the 2020s, microplastic pollution has become increasingly severe. Microplastics are tiny plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters, polluting rivers and oceans. In rivers flowing into Tokyo Bay and Osaka Bay, over 5,000 microplastic particles per cubic meter have been detected. These particles are mainly composed of synthetic materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene, originating from packaging, plastic containers, and household products.
In rivers such as the Arakawa and Tama Rivers in Tokyo, large amounts of microplastics are entering the water due to wastewater from households and companies. One of the primary sources of this pollution is the wastewater from the washing of synthetic fiber clothing. For example, Uniqlo, a major clothing retailer, sells polyester and nylon garments that release thousands of microplastic fibers with every wash, contributing to the increasing pollution in rivers, which is difficult to purify.
Furthermore, the entry of microplastics into the food chain is causing negative impacts. In studies conducted in the Seto Inland Sea, over 30% of marine organisms were found to have ingested microplastics. Research conducted by Kobe University and Ehime University has confirmed that this pollution is having serious consequences on marine ecosystems.
Internationally, the European Union (EU) has strengthened its regulations on microplastics, banning the use of plastic microbeads in cosmetic products and face scrubs. Similarly, in the United States, the 2015 Microbead-Free Waters Act has restricted the use of microplastics in products.
In Japan, the Plastic Resource Circulation Promotion Act, enacted in 2021, encourages companies and municipalities to work on reducing plastic waste. Major cosmetic manufacturers such as Kao and Shiseido have eliminated the use of plastic microbeads in their products and are developing alternative materials.
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