Can we end our plastics addiction? We make more and more plastic every year. But it is affecting us in ways we cannot see, say scientists.
Now microplastics are changing the weather too
Drastic plastic: Plastics are being carried through the air, affecting every country. Glossary
Microplastics - Microplastics are fragments of degraded plastic that are less than five millimetres in length. They are blown into the atmosphere and transported by ocean currents.
Atmosphere - The layer of gases surrounding a planet or moon, held in place by that planet's gravity. Small planets and moons have weak gravitational fields, and therefore only a very thin atmosphere.
Climate - The weather over a long period of time.
Pollution - When harmful or dangerous things are put into the environment.
Bacteria - A large group of single-cell microorganisms. Some cause disease in animals and humans.