Suzie Reichman, a Professor in Ecotoxicology joins Dr Shane to discuss the impact of "forever chemicals" and microplastics in our environment. Ecotoxicology is the study of how toxic substances affect living organisms in the environment. While microplastics in the ocean get a lot of attention, what people often don't realise is that microplastics in our soil may be just as harmful, if not worse. 

Suzie says that microplastics come from various sources, including litter, biosolids, and plastics used in agriculture. She also points out that glitter, a common product many don't think twice about, is a significant environmental issue. "Most glitter has three layers: plastic, a thin metal layer, and more plastic, all sandwiched together," she explains. 

Glitter is considered a primary microplastic and does not break down in the environment, as plastics and metals are not biodegradable. Up until recently, glitter was a lightweight plastic, but it has now become a concerning contributor to microplastic pollution. In fact, in some locations glitter makes up 24% of microplastics found in treated sewage. 

Suzie introduces a more sustainable alternative—cellulose-based glitter, which is compostable and breaks down naturally. While it's still in the early stages of production, the hope is that it will be scaled up and become a mainstream replacement for harmful plastic glitter.