Reading Passage
Microplastics — tiny plastic fragments less than 5 millimeters in size — have been found virtually everywhere on Earth, from the deepest ocean trenches to the highest mountain peaks. These particles originate from the breakdown of larger plastic waste, synthetic clothing fibers, and industrial processes. Scientists have discovered microplastics in drinking water, seafood, table salt, and even in human blood and lung tissue. While research into the health effects is still ongoing, early studies suggest potential links to inflammation, oxidative stress, and disruption of hormonal systems. The persistence of microplastics in the environment — some fragments taking hundreds of years to degrade — poses long-term challenges that current waste management systems are ill-equipped to address.