Plastic pollution may seem familiar, but it hides a profound impact on the climate. Recent studies have shown that microplastics, plastic pieces smaller than 5 millimeters, reduce the oceans' ability to absorb carbon dioxide, the fundamental process that maintains the Earth's heat balance and climate stability. Furthermore, as these particles can carry harmful chemicals, their spread poses a threat to public health and ecosystems. When marine organisms ingest them, these small particles can cause harm. This issue is not confined to one location; microplastics have been found in the depths of seas and rivers, in lakes, in the air, in soil, and in polar ice, and even inside the human body.
