The Welsh budget is always tight, especially as the levers for increasing government revenue in Wales are so much more limited in comparison to Westminster.
That’s why, when the opportunity arises, Wales should jump at the opportunity to act on issues that won’t have extreme costs but will have significant impact. Consistent testing for microplastics is one of those issues.
Currently there is no legal requirement to test for microplastics in water, and no regulations aimed at curbing this form of pollution, despite it being considered this generation’s lead paint or asbestos.
The full effect of microplastics on the human body is as yet unknown, but what we do know so far looks dire. Microplastics pass through the ecosystem and into our food, and once ingested have been found to reach almost every organ in the human body.
Earlier this year, it was revealed by researchers that the amount of microplastics in the human brain might be as much as a spoons worth. Elsewhere in the body, exposure to microplastics has been linked to disorders of the digestive, respiratory, endocrine, reproductive, and immune systems.
Despite seeing the red flags, we aren’t doing enough to tackle the issue before its too late.
That’s why Wales should be leading the way by regularly testing the level of microplastics in our waterways and environment.
This small shift should not add an undue burden on Welsh finances, as we already test waterways for multiple indicators of water quality, and we also test wastewater for levels of coronavirus in the population.
Once we know the full extent of the problem, we can measure what policies influence the levels of microplastic pollution, and what knock-on effect the levels of plastic pollution have on our environment and our health.
In this case the old adage “you can’t manage what you can’t measure” holds true. If we continue to ignore microplastics, and the consequences, it remains easier for officials to ignore the problem.
I see this as more reason to do the research. If we can measure it, it can become a tool for local communities and activists to advocate for themselves. It becomes a reason to educate more people on the dangers of microplastic pollution, and the data itself forms part of that education.
A Lanes Goup study in 2022 found that the UK population don’t feel they know enough about microplastics, and that that feeling was correct, with most people guessing that the amount of microplastics released into our environment each year is 1.5 million tons or less – despite the true figure actually being 15 million tons.
It also found that the majority [75 per cent] want to see a minister for plastic pollution put in place.
If we can prevent widespread illness and disability caused by overexposure to microplastics, we could save future governments huge amounts in Health and Benefits costs.
Regular published testing is the first step in getting this ball rolling. Currently, the public do not know enough about this issue to put pressure on the government to act.
In a world where every month we get the real statistics for how much plastic is in our waterways and potentially getting into our food, our environment, and our bodies, then every month we will have a reminder that we need to curb plastic pollution.
These statistics would make Wales a leader in the space, far ahead of the rest of the UK. Even if the stats are just from Wales, it will be easy for citizens and representatives from the other three nations of the UK to turn to the other UK governments and say, “OK, in Wales there’s this amount of microplastics, and here we aren’t even testing, let alone acting to curb it. We must do something too.”
This isn’t an issue where we have to go at alone, but it is an issue where we should take the first step, afterall, there is every indication that people will come with us.
Featured image via SIVStockStudio / Shutterstock.
