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Microplastic pollution - what have we learned from the last 20 years of research and what are the priorities ahead?
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This paper reviewed two decades of microplastic research progress, from the 2004 discovery paper through current knowledge on sources, environmental distribution, and effects. Key findings are that the field has matured substantially, though standardized methodologies and long-term health impact data are still needed.
Twenty years ago, a paper entitled 'Lost at Sea where is all the Plastic?' showed the long-term environmental accumulation of microplastic pieces in the marine environment and suggested that sources could include the fragmentation of packaging and textiles, incomplete degradation of products described 'biodegradable' and particles from cleaning products. Since then there have been, thousands of publications on the topic; multiple sources, widescale environmental accumulation and evidence of negative effects on biota have all been demonstrated. Microplastics have been found in the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. They have also been detected in our bodies. Micropalstics are now recognised in national and international level policy, Unless we take action, emissions could double by 2040 and environmental concentrations will continue to increase because of the fragmentation of legacy items. Some predict the potential for widescale environmental harm within 70 – 100 years, but detailed risk assessments remain limited, especially for effects on human health. While knowledge gaps about microplastics remain can we afford the costs that are already understood? To gain the benefits that plastic material offer we must take steps to ensure their applications are essential and that production is guided by safety and sustainability criteria. Fifty years of science on plastic pollution and twenty years of science on microplastic pollution now bring the opportunity for actions as part of the UN Plastic Pollution Treaty. Looking ahead independent scientific evidence will be equally critical in guiding the way forward and helping minimise the unintended consequence of the actions we take in addressing plastic and microplastic pollution. Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/559753/document
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