Mexico seminar deplores the proliferation of microplastics

Half the plastic made worldwide today- about 430 million tons in 2024 - is single-use or disposable, while 71% of all plastics end up in the environment as microplastics or tiny particles, a recent lecture at Mexico's National University revealed. Production, if unchecked, was expected to reach 1.2 billion tons a year by 2050, researcher Eduardo Tecuapa Flores told a seminar held on 22-23 October by the National (UNAM) and La Salle universities, La Jornada reported. Speakers observed on the ubiquity of plastic and its numerous forms far beyond containers or bags, which have obstructed half-hearted efforts made so far to check its use or reduce exposure to and ingestion of pulverized plastic, the daily stated. In Mexico, several environmental groups including Greenpeace have sought, in vain so far, to legally force a parliamentary debate on banning single-use plastic.