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Primary and Secondary Microplastic and Nanoplastic Regulations: Perspectives on Water Industry Impacts
Summary
This review provides an overview of global and European regulatory frameworks addressing primary and secondary microplastic and nanoplastic pollution, with a focus on implications for the U.S. water industry. Researchers found that while many countries have implemented bans or restrictions on microplastics, significant regulatory gaps remain, particularly regarding nanoplastics and secondary microplastic sources. The study highlights the challenges water treatment facilities face in removing these contaminants under evolving regulatory requirements.
Plastic pollution, both primary and secondary, is an environmental challenge, prompting regulatory actions at global and regional levels. With increasing research about the impacts of micro- and nanoplastics on ecosystems and human health, governments worldwide have undertaken efforts to address this issue. The global community has advanced regulatory efforts that have led to the implementation of national laws or regulations in numerous countries. These measures ban or restrict the use of primary and secondary microplastics and nanoplastics. An overview of global and European regulatory frameworks is presented to provide context for the United States (US). In the endeavor to document plastics regulation development in the US, a description of regulatory agencies and their roles in advancing policy and rules as well as future direction and areas for improvement in regulating plastics are introduced. A discussion of what emerging regulations mean to utilities and industries is also provided along with a comparison of regulatory frameworks.
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