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Deliverable 10. AI Methods for MNP Research - A Roadmap for the Possible Applications of Artificial Intelligence Methods in Micro and Nano-Plastics Research
Summary
This deliverable from the MOMENTUM research project provided a roadmap for applying AI methods—including deep learning, natural language processing, and predictive modeling—to micro- and nanoplastic (MNP) research challenges. The authors identified AI-assisted detection, environmental fate modeling, and exposure-health outcome linkage as the highest-priority applications for accelerating MNP science.
Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) have become a critical concern in environmental science and human health. They have been detected in virtually every ecosystem, from the peaks of Mount Everest to the depths of the Mariana Trench, and in diverse organisms, including humans. Their ubiquity raises serious questions about ecological impacts and long-term health risks. Reliable detection and characterisation of MNPs, however, remains highly challenging. Unlike conventional analytes, MNPs represent a vast diversity of polymer types, sizes, shapes, degradation states, and chemical additives (ISO/TR 21960:2020; ISO 24187:2023). To properly characterise them, multiple particle attributes must be assessed simultaneously, often requiring complex workflows involving sample collection, preparation, and analysis. Each stage introduces biases and uncertainties that complicate comparability across studies.