Approximately three million metric tons of microplastics are lost to the environment worldwide each year. The source of nearly half of this amount entering the world's environment comes from the loss of synthetic rubber (which is indeed a type of plastic) from the abrasion of tires on roads.
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UNEP, & GEF, & Danmarks Tekniske Universitet. (October 23, 2018). Annual volume of microplastics lost to the environment worldwide as of 2018 by source (in million metric tons) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 25, 2026, from /statistics/1192550/sources-of-microplastics-entering-environment-worldwide/
UNEP, und GEF, und Danmarks Tekniske Universitet. "Annual volume of microplastics lost to the environment worldwide as of 2018 by source (in million metric tons)." Chart. October 23, 2018. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 25, 2026. /statistics/1192550/sources-of-microplastics-entering-environment-worldwide/
UNEP, GEF, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet. (2018). Annual volume of microplastics lost to the environment worldwide as of 2018 by source (in million metric tons). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 25, 2026. /statistics/1192550/sources-of-microplastics-entering-environment-worldwide/
UNEP, and GEF, and Danmarks Tekniske Universitet. "Annual Volume of Microplastics Lost to The Environment Worldwide as of 2018 by Source (in Million Metric Tons)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 23 Oct 2018, /statistics/1192550/sources-of-microplastics-entering-environment-worldwide/
UNEP & GEF & Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, Annual volume of microplastics lost to the environment worldwide as of 2018 by source (in million metric tons) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1192550/sources-of-microplastics-entering-environment-worldwide/ (last visited July 25, 2026)
Annual volume of microplastics lost to the environment worldwide as of 2018 by source (in million metric tons) [Graph], UNEP, & GEF, & Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, October 23, 2018. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1192550/sources-of-microplastics-entering-environment-worldwide/
