system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: What are Microplastics? How did they spread everywhere? Can they harm animals/Us?
gpt
Microplastics are just tiny bits of plastic. They are the result of plastic breaking down into smaller and smaller pieces. Sometimes they are created intentionally, such as when they are added to hair products. Imagine this: Almost everything made of plastic slowly releases this dust. This dust is scattered by wind, people, and water. It spreads to oceans, lakes, rivers, and pools. It also appears in sealed plastic bottles, since it is formed of the plastic the bottle is made of. Is it bad? Maybe. We don't know, but we sure hope it isn't, because it is inescapable at this point.