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Research recommendations to better understand the potential health impacts of microplastics to humans and aquatic ecosystems
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An international expert group identified critical research gaps that must be addressed to properly assess the health risks of microplastic exposure to humans and aquatic ecosystems. They outlined four priority areas: better particle characterization for toxicity testing, improved experimental designs for dose-response analysis, development of adverse outcome pathways, and clearer understanding of real-world exposure levels. Addressing these gaps is essential for determining the concentrations at which microplastics may cause harmful effects.
Abstract To assess the potential risk of microplastic exposure to humans and aquatic ecosystems, reliable toxicity data is needed. This includes a more complete foundational understanding of microplastic toxicity and better characterization of the hazards they may present. To expand this understanding, an international group of experts was convened in 2020–2021 to identify critical thresholds at which microplastics found in drinking and ambient waters present a health risk to humans and aquatic organisms. However, their findings were limited by notable data gaps in the literature. Here, we identify those shortcomings and describe four categories of research recommendations needed to address them: 1) adequate particle characterization and selection for toxicity testing; 2) appropriate experimental study designs that allow for the derivation of dose-response curves; 3) establishment of adverse outcome pathways for microplastics; and 4) a clearer understanding of microplastic exposure, particularly for human health. By addressing these four data gaps, researchers will gain a better understanding of the key drivers of microplastic toxicity and the concentrations at which adverse effects may occur, allowing a better understanding of the potential risk that microplastics exposure might pose to human and aquatic ecosystems.
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