Plastic pollution is a global scourge, and Quebec is not exempt. The St. Lawrence River flows through a densely populated region, particularly upstream from the city of Quebec. Plastic pollution in the St. Lawrence River environment is a major concern due to the persistence of plastics and their harmful consequences on marine life and potentially on human health.
The most frequently observed category of waste along the shores of the St. Lawrence River is single-use plastic, such as plastic bottles, coffee cup lids, straws, and plastic cups.
What Are Microplastics?
Plastic pollution is measured in two size categories: microplastics (<5 mm) and macroplastics (>5 mm). Microplastics are primarily fragments of plastic objects—often human-generated waste—that have broken down over time. They are accumulating at an alarming rate in soils, rivers, lakes, and across all marine environments.
Within just a few decades, microplastics have contaminated all the world’s oceans and the majority of marine species at every level of the food chain, both in Quebec and around the globe.
Impacts on Marine Biodiversity
Microplastics have significant impacts on aquatic wildlife and humans.
Birds and fish ingest them. Microplastics can cause internal blockages, a false sense of satiety, and even death in animals.
They destroy habitats and ecosystems. Microplastics alter the physical properties of habitats, which affects more sensitive organisms (both flora and fauna) that are less resilient to environmental changes.
They accumulate pollutants. Microplastics absorb pollutants already present in the water, acting like a magnet for contaminants. Synthetic chemicals, such as PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), attach themselves to microplastic particles in the water. Once attached, these pollutants are bioaccumulated by animals and build up throughout the food chain.
Being Part of the Solution: Easier Than You Think!
In 2022, the Government of Canada passed the Single-Use Plastics Prohibition Regulations, targeting a major source of microplastics. This regulation bans the manufacture, import, and sale of six categories of single-use plastic items: checkout bags, cutlery, foodservice ware made from problematic plastics, ring carriers, stir sticks, and straws (with some exceptions for flexible straws used for accessibility purposes) ?1?.
In recent years, many companies and businesses have also chosen to stop offering single-use plastic products.
However, work remains to be done at all levels. As responsible citizens, we can reduce our plastic consumption. For example, instead of buying plastic water bottles, we can use a stainless steel reusable bottle.
