- 16 views
- 21 downloads
Microplastics: A Multidisciplinary Mess
-
- Author(s) / Creator(s)
-
Plastic is ubiquitous in water, and these resilient, complex materials increasingly threaten human and environmental health. My research investigates the degradation mechanisms of polyethylene microplastics in the environment. Of the plastics I am studying, three are included in the photo, each spilling from a large jar. In the fourth jar, instead of my plastics, Lego flowers spill onto the counter instead. The inclusion of decorative plastic plants highlights the multidisciplinary nature of the plastic pollution crisis beyond overproduction – a nod to the ironic and insidious nature of plastic over-consumption.
The released plastics mix together on the counter, blurring the line between what is considered waste and not. The mess of plastic pieces on the counter echoes the complications of plastics in the natural environment. The smaller vials in the foreground contain samples from the mess, two of which are subtly Lego. The image is focused on these samples to emphasize the lesser emphasized reality of plastic production and pollution: regardless of the source or intended use, every piece of plastic released to the environment is considered a contaminant. -
- Date created
- 2024-06-01
-
- Subjects / Keywords
-
- Type of Item
- Image