Activity 3.3.3 – My Plastic Use

Introduction:

While researching environmental concerns, I came across two articles discussing the risks associated with microplastics and PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances). Microplastics are very small pieces of plastic that are in the environment, which is when things we use, such as a water bottles break down. Microplastics get where they are because of the industrial waste and the breakdown of the plastics. PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals that have been used in various industries and consumer products since the 1940s. Known for their resistance to water and grease, they are commonly found in nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, and food packaging. However, PFAS are persistent in the environment and the human body, raising concerns about potential health risks, including links to cancer and other serious conditions. Due to their durability, they are often referred to as "forever chemicals." The first article points out that these substances have actually been in consumer products for a very long time, and that they might be more harmful when they mix together rather than when they’re acting on their own. The second article points out that a lot of bottled water these days has microplastics in it, which makes you wonder about the health effects, even though there's no solid proof that it's harmful yet. Together, these articles shine a light on some pretty important environmental and public health concerns.


Prompt:

This article discusses the risks of microplastics and PFAS (chemicals used in everyday products) and suggests that their combined effects may be more dangerous than when they act alone. PFAS are man-made chemicals that have been used in industries and consumer goods since the 1940s. They don’t break down easily and are linked to serious health risks. While the article focuses on environmental harm, it overlooks the economic impact of stricter regulations. If people accept its conclusions, industries that rely on plastics and chemicals might face higher production costs.

This article reveals that microplastics are found in most bottled water, raising questions about possible health risks. It looks at how these tiny particles end up in the water, but there isn’t enough solid proof yet to confirm they cause harm. Researchers used different methods to detect the particles, but more studies are needed to understand the long-term effects. While the article focuses on public health, it could offer more insight into the bottled water industry’s side. If people accept the findings, stricter rules or fewer sales could follow, though this might also spark unnecessary worry. 

I am a student in college studying environmental science, with a focus on how human activities impact the environment. My goal is to inform the general public about the risks of microplastics and PFAS while also demonstrating my ability to communicate these issues to potential employers or academic mentors. I aim to write in a way that is easy to understand, engaging, and informative. Both articles I have analyzed explore environmental risks. The first article that I have mentioned focuses on the combined dangers of microplastics and PFAS, chemicals used since the 1940s in products that don't break down easily and are linked to health problems. It questions how these chemicals interact, though more research is needed to confirm their combined impact. The second article that I have provided highlights how most of the bottled water that we use today contains microplastics, raising questions about how these particles end up there and whether they are harmful to us or not. However, the assumption that microplastics cause harm still requires more evidence. The articles that I have provided mainly focus on public health but don’t fully dive into how stricter the rules might impact businesses. They like to reference new studies, but the long-term effects of microplastics and PFAS are still unclear. The more attention these concerns get, the tougher the environmental policies could raise costs for more companies and cause more unnecessary worry among all consumers. As both a student and writer, my goal is to give a balanced perspective, helping readers understand the environmental risks while also considering the practical challenges of addressing them. 


I asked Ai from ChatGpt to compare the newer article with the older one and it gave me pretty good points to go based on. It provided me with answers for focus, perspective, data, evidence, implications, key differences, similarities, and changes over time. I read through all the answers provided, and then decided to report out some options. I will only have to agree that what is most important to keep is the information on the different focus areas, the health and economic implications, further research, and the changing perspectives. I say these options only because they are the main points we need in order to get the point across. 


The two articles provided at the beginning are on microplastics and show some of the clear differences and similarities. The 2024 article mentioned talks about the health risks of microplastics and PFAS together, looking at wider environmental problems. Meanwhile, the 2018 article focuses mainly on microplastics found in bottled water and what that means for people. Both of the articles raise many different concerns about health and highlight the need for more research. Overall, both of the articles share many of the same goals of making people more aware of important environmental issues, even though they approach the topic in different ways.




My time with this activity was quite an adventure that taught me a lot about analysis and using AI. I didn’t have any problems with the AI. It gave some helpful insights, even if a few responses weren’t as detailed as I hoped. I realized that being specific with my prompts makes a big difference in getting useful answers.


As I continued, I learned how important it is to clearly define my questions. I also discovered how vital it is to understand the topics I study—in this case, microplastics and PFAS. Learning about these substances and their possible health risks was eye-opening. I agree that we need more insight into microplastics to ensure our safety and protect the environment.


This activity significantly improved my analytical skills and deepened my understanding of microplastics and their effects on public health. I realized how interconnected these issues are and the importance of considering both environmental and economic factors. Overall, this experience broadened my perspective on how these topics impact our lives and the world.




    Above is a collage of some of the items that I use on a daily basis. These items consist of cans, bottles, lipgloss, gum, toothpaste, etc. All of these items in my collage contain microplastics, which I was not previously aware of. This just goes to show that most people are unaware that they consume or use microplastics so frequently.

References: 


  • 1) ScienceDaily. (2024, October 22). Microplastics and PFAS: Combined risk and greater environmental harm. ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241022115545.htm


  • 2) Katz, B. (2018, March 16). Study finds microplastics in more than 90 percent of tested water bottles. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/study-finds-microplastics-more-90-percent-tested-water-bottles-180968468/


  • OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT: Language model for various applications. Retrieved from https://openai.com/chatgpt

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