The Student News Site of Ithaca College

The Ithacan
21° Ithaca, NY
The Student News Site of Ithaca College

The Ithacan
The Student News Site of Ithaca College

The Ithacan
According to a National Geographic encyclopedia entry, microplastics are plastic pieces that are less than 5 millimeters in diameter that degrade from larger plastics. Primary microplastics come from microfibers from clothing and textiles, and secondary microplastics come from particles that break down from larger, often single-use plastics like bags or water bottles. The entry states that microplastic particles are often so small that they easily pass through water filtration systems and end up in waterways and the ocean. 

IC Toxicology Lab investigates microplastics in Cayuga Lake

By Caroline Grass, Staff Writer • November 11, 2021
The IC Toxicology Lab estimates that Cayuga Lake has 100,000,000 microplastic particles in it, which can harm aquatic life and people. 
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