This story is part of “Earth Day Every Day,” Word In Black’s series exploring the environmental issues facing Black Americans and the solutions we’re creating in the fight for climate justice.
You probably don’t notice, but every time you inhale, you are breathing in plastic.
The production of plastic has exponentially increased in the last two decades. So much so that, globally, 400 million tons of plastic waste are produced every year. Because plastic does not decompose, all plastic that has ever been made is still present in the environment today.
For example, polyester is a plastic fiber used to make beverage bottles, like water bottles. When a water bottle breaks down into smaller pieces, it then becomes a microplastic — which can be found in dust particles.