Cosier, Susan. “A Growing Concern: Microplastic Pollution on Farm Fields.” NRDC, 21 Feb. 2021, www.nrdc.org/stories/growing-concern-microplastic-pollution-farm-fields.

Plastic pollution is a problem not just in waterways, but also on farmland. Because of the design of water pathways to agricultural lands, many times small plastic particles pollute the water and make the journey with it to farms. This raises several concerns, in how our food within farming of plants and animals may be contaminated. A study done specifically in California found that metric tons of millions of synthetic microfibers enter our soils, rivers, lakes, and ocean each year. This is in part due to to when people wash synthetic threads i their clothes, and microfibers are released into wastewater plants. Outside of this factor, some other “culprits” are degraded car tires that release plastic into soils, cosmetics washed into wastewater, as well as tools on farms used such as seed coatings and plastic mulch. Toxins like PFA’s and cadmium contaminate cows and dairy products. At high levels over time these can lead to kidney disease and other health issues. 

This was an interesting piece on some lesser discussed effects of plastics. Often we think about its more visible yet very pollutive contamination of the ocean and streets, and common animals habitats that are affected. So it was interesting to hear about how plastic gets carried to farmland and can actually leave toxins in the food grown and then brought to grocery stores. I think it is unfortunate that one use plastics find a way to come full circle in contaminated each part of human and animal’s lives. I would be interested to know more about solutions to the specific problem of farmland being polluted in California, and possible ways to clean waterways or have safer transfer of water.