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PlasticsFatE Deliverable Report D7.7 Joint policy briefs 1
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This EU policy brief from the PlasticsFatE project summarizes how micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) enter the human body through air, food, and water and argues they should be treated as substances of public health concern. It outlines ongoing regulatory responses including the EU Single-use Plastics Directive and calls for more research to fill critical knowledge gaps about health effects. The brief is aimed at policymakers and highlights the need for precautionary action even in the absence of complete toxicological evidence.
Regulatory relevance of the EU Research Cluster to understand the health impacts of micro and nano plastics (CUSP) Micro- and nanoplastics: substances of public health concern? The presence of micro and nanoplastics (MNPs) is part of our everyday life and they find their way into our bodies through the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat. It is not known how MNPs might be affecting human health. Policymakers and regulatory authorities around the world are increasingly implementing regulatory measures to address this concern. For instance, policymakers in the EU have adopted the Single-use Plastics Directive to reduce the environmental impact of certain forms of plastics used once or for a very limited period of time, such as straws, cutlery, plates, cotton swabs and balloon sticks1. Early in 2021, the European Commission funded five large-scale research projects under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (see figure 1) and united them under the European Research Cluster to Understand the Health Impacts of Micro-and Nanoplastics (CUSP) (see https://cusp-research.eu). In total, CUSP unites a multidisciplinary team of scientists, industries, and policymakers from 75 organisations across 21 countries. The five projects collaborate in understanding exposure routes; in assessment of hazard and risk; in developing new analytical tools, in data-sharing, in inter-laboratory comparisons, and in communicating and disseminating research results. By establishing six CUSP working groups, our synergies seek to amplify the efforts of individual projects. The close collaboration with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) and a constant dialogue between scientists, stakeholders and policymakers will enhance the policy relevance and impact of the research.
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This EU PlasticsFatE deliverable comprehensively summarizes human exposure to micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs), identifying inhalation and ingestion as the primary routes of entry into the body, with dermal exposure through personal care products also possible. It reviews evidence that MNPs can translocate from initial exposure sites — lungs, gut — to other tissues and organs. The report highlights significant uncertainty in understanding health risks and underscores the need for better exposure data and toxicological research.
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Tiny plastic particles called microplastics and nanoplastics are now found everywhere—in our food, water, and air—and this review pulls together what scientists currently know about how they get into our bodies and what they might do once there. The concern isn't just the plastic itself, but that these particles can carry along other harmful chemicals (like BPA and heavy metals) and may disrupt hormones and metabolism, with the smallest particles even able to slip past the body's natural protective barriers. The research is still catching up, though—scientists don't yet have long-term human studies to fully confirm the risks, so this paper mainly highlights what we need to study
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This systematic review maps out the many ways microplastics and nanoplastics enter the human body, including through food, water, air, and everyday products. The researchers found these tiny particles are now present in nearly every environment, from oceans to our homes. The review highlights growing concerns about what this constant low-level exposure might mean for our long-term health.
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