The Power of Citizen Science to Tackle Microplastic Pollution

One sunny afternoon in a densely populated residential area on the outskirts of town, a high school student is scrolling through his social media and then he stops to read an infographic about the detection of microplastics in drinking water. From that infographic, he learns that one of the reasons how microplastic ends up in the drinking water is because of the degradation of plastic waste that is carelessly thrown into the rivers. He then remembered the presentation given by researchers who visited his class two days ago about an invitation to do a beach cleaning project not far from his house. The researchers explained the danger of plastic waste to the environment and living things, and everyone's participation in combating plastic pollution is crucial, and even small things matter. For the beach cleaning, the researchers asked the students to collect plastic waste, separate it according to certain criteria, and take pictures. While still reading the infographic, his mother walks in front of him carrying a plastic bag full of plastic food packaging waste and then tells his younger brother to throw the plastic bag into the river behind their house. The high school student looks surprised. He then said to his mother, "Don't throw it into the river, Mom. It will come back to us as microplastic waste which is more detrimental to our health. Let me throw it in the trash".