Microplastics – Environmental and Human Health Risk Assessment Discussed

The abstract of a January 21, 2022 Nature Reviews Materials article https://www.nature.com/articles/s41578-021-00411-y by researchers with Netherlands Wageningen University and Research reports that “… There is no risk assessment framework that takes into account the multidimensionality of microplastic particles against the background of numerous natural particles, which together encompass an infinite combination of sizes, shapes, densities and chemical signatures. We review the current tenets in defining microplastic characteristics and effects, emphasizing advances in the analysis of the diversity of microplastic particles. We summarize the unique characteristics of microplastic compared with those of other environmental particles, the main mechanisms of microplastic particle effects and the relevant dose metrics for these effects. To characterize risks consistently, we propose how exposure and effect thresholds can be aligned and quantified using probability density functions describing microplastic particle diversity …” @WUR #PlasticWaste #SingleUsePlastic #MicroPlastics