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Are We Speaking the Same Language? Recommendations for a Definition and Categorization Framework for Plastic Debris

Environmental Science & Technology 2019 2534 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 60 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Therése Karlsson, Amy Lusher Matthew Cole, Amy Lusher Matthew Cole, Sinja Rist, Thorsten Hüffer, Amy Lusher Thorsten Hüffer, Matthew Cole, Sinja Rist, Amy Lusher Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Sinja Rist, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Nanna B. Hartmann, Amy Lusher Matthew Cole, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Amy Lusher Sinja Rist, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Thorsten Hüffer, Thorsten Hüffer, Amy Lusher Matthew Cole, Therése Karlsson, Amy Lusher Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Amy Lusher Nicole Brennholt, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Therése Karlsson, Therése Karlsson, Therése Karlsson, Wagner, Martin, Wagner, Martin, Wagner, Martin, Wagner, Martin, Richard C. Thompson, Wagner, Martin, Sinja Rist, Anja Verschoor, Sinja Rist, Anja Verschoor, Anja Verschoor, Nicole Brennholt, Sinja Rist, Amy Lusher Natalia P. Ivleva, Sinja Rist, Sinja Rist, Natalia P. Ivleva, Richard C. Thompson, Sinja Rist, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Sinja Rist, Amy Lusher Sinja Rist, Richard C. Thompson, Thorsten Hüffer, Richard C. Thompson, Nanna B. Hartmann, Sinja Rist, Sinja Rist, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Sinja Rist, Amy Lusher Thorsten Hüffer, Sinja Rist, Sinja Rist, Sinja Rist, Sinja Rist, Nanna B. Hartmann, Natalia P. Ivleva, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Sinja Rist, Sinja Rist, Matthew Cole, Thorsten Hüffer, Thorsten Hüffer, Nanna B. Hartmann, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Wagner, Martin, Richard C. Thompson, Nicole Brennholt, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Thorsten Hüffer, Thorsten Hüffer, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Thorsten Hüffer, Maren C. Hess, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Nicole Brennholt, Maren C. Hess, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Sinja Rist, Sinja Rist, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Sinja Rist, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Sinja Rist, Amy Lusher Sinja Rist, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Sinja Rist, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Sinja Rist, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Amy Lusher Matthew Cole, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Matthew Cole, Amy Lusher Matthew Cole, Sinja Rist, Sinja Rist, Amy Lusher Natalia P. Ivleva, Amy Lusher Natalia P. Ivleva, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Wagner, Martin, Martin Hassellöv, Wagner, Martin, Wagner, Martin, Wagner, Martin, Wagner, Martin, Wagner, Martin, Martin Hassellöv, Wagner, Martin, Amy Lusher Martin Hassellöv, Wagner, Martin, Wagner, Martin, Wagner, Martin, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Wagner, Martin, Wagner, Martin, Wagner, Martin, Amy Lusher Wagner, Martin, Therése Karlsson, Wagner, Martin, Amy Lusher Wagner, Martin, Amy Lusher Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Anders Egede Daugaard, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Thorsten Hüffer, Richard C. Thompson, Thorsten Hüffer, Thorsten Hüffer, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Thorsten Hüffer, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Sinja Rist, Sinja Rist, Natalia P. Ivleva, Wagner, Martin, Richard C. Thompson, Thorsten Hüffer, Thorsten Hüffer, Wagner, Martin, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Wagner, Martin, Wagner, Martin, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Thorsten Hüffer, Richard C. Thompson, Thorsten Hüffer, Richard C. Thompson, Wagner, Martin, Nanna B. Hartmann, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Thorsten Hüffer, Therése Karlsson, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Amy Lusher Nanna B. Hartmann, Richard C. Thompson, Nanna B. Hartmann, Anders Egede Daugaard, Richard C. Thompson, Thorsten Hüffer, Nicole Brennholt, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Amy Lusher Matthew Cole, Amy Lusher Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Sinja Rist, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Amy Lusher Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Nanna B. Hartmann, Thorsten Hüffer, Amy Lusher Matthew Cole, Nanna B. Hartmann, Matthew Cole, Nanna B. Hartmann, Amy Lusher Nanna B. Hartmann, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Sinja Rist, Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Natalia P. Ivleva, Amy Lusher Sinja Rist, Sinja Rist, Richard C. Thompson, Natalia P. Ivleva, Amy Lusher Nicole Brennholt, Nicole Brennholt, Richard C. Thompson, Natalia P. Ivleva, Richard C. Thompson, Martin Hassellöv, Martin Hassellöv, Richard C. Thompson, Wagner, Martin, Martin Hassellöv, Richard C. Thompson, Wagner, Martin, Wagner, Martin, Richard C. Thompson, Wagner, Martin, Richard C. Thompson, Martin Hassellöv, Wagner, Martin, Amy Lusher Martin Hassellöv, Martin Hassellöv, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Wagner, Martin, Wagner, Martin, Nicole Brennholt, Wagner, Martin, Richard C. Thompson, Martin Hassellöv, Richard C. Thompson, Natalia P. Ivleva, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Wagner, Martin, Nicole Brennholt, Amy Lusher Sinja Rist, Natalia P. Ivleva, Nicole Brennholt, Nicole Brennholt, Richard C. Thompson, Natalia P. Ivleva, Matthew Cole, Nicole Brennholt, Natalia P. Ivleva, Nicole Brennholt, Matthew Cole, Nicole Brennholt, Sinja Rist, Richard C. Thompson, Matthew Cole, Natalia P. Ivleva, Natalia P. Ivleva, Richard C. Thompson, Therése Karlsson, Anja Verschoor, Wagner, Martin, Matthew Cole, Wagner, Martin, Matthew Cole, Richard C. Thompson, Matthew Cole, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Wagner, Martin, Nanna B. Hartmann, Richard C. Thompson, Anders Egede Daugaard, Sinja Rist, Wagner, Martin, Nanna B. Hartmann, Martin Hassellöv, Wagner, Martin, Richard C. Thompson, Matthew Cole, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Matthew Cole, Thorsten Hüffer, Therése Karlsson, Nanna B. Hartmann, Anja Verschoor, Martin Hassellöv, Wagner, Martin, Martin Hassellöv, Martin Hassellöv, Matthew Cole, Amy Lusher Nanna B. Hartmann, Martin Hassellöv, Martin Hassellöv, Anders Egede Daugaard, Richard C. Thompson, Natalia P. Ivleva, Therése Karlsson, Nanna B. Hartmann, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Matthew Cole, Wagner, Martin, Richard C. Thompson, Nanna B. Hartmann, Wagner, Martin, Thorsten Hüffer, Wagner, Martin, Amy Lusher Nanna B. Hartmann, Therése Karlsson, Richard C. Thompson, Nanna B. Hartmann, Richard C. Thompson, Wagner, Martin, Matthew Cole, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Natalia P. Ivleva, Natalia P. Ivleva, Natalia P. Ivleva, Natalia P. Ivleva, Wagner, Martin, Wagner, Martin, Wagner, Martin, Wagner, Martin, Wagner, Martin, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Thorsten Hüffer, Thorsten Hüffer, Thorsten Hüffer, Thorsten Hüffer, Anders Egede Daugaard, Martin Hassellöv, Martin Hassellöv, Martin Hassellöv, Martin Hassellöv, Martin Hassellöv, Sinja Rist, Maren C. Hess, Nicole Brennholt, Nicole Brennholt, Nicole Brennholt, Anja Verschoor, Maren C. Hess, Nicole Brennholt, Nicole Brennholt, Nicole Brennholt, Wagner, Martin, Wagner, Martin, Natalia P. Ivleva, Martin Hassellöv, Wagner, Martin, Martin Hassellöv, Martin Hassellöv, Richard C. Thompson, Wagner, Martin, Wagner, Martin, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Wagner, Martin, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Thorsten Hüffer, Richard C. Thompson, Anders Egede Daugaard, Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Thorsten Hüffer, Nanna B. Hartmann, Natalia P. Ivleva, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Thorsten Hüffer, Natalia P. Ivleva, Thorsten Hüffer, Amy Lusher Natalia P. Ivleva, Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Natalia P. Ivleva, Anders Egede Daugaard, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Thorsten Hüffer, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Wagner, Martin, Therése Karlsson, Wagner, Martin, Wagner, Martin, Nicole Brennholt, Wagner, Martin, Martin Hassellöv, Natalia P. Ivleva, Martin Hassellöv, Sinja Rist, Natalia P. Ivleva, Natalia P. Ivleva, Natalia P. Ivleva, Sinja Rist, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Nicole Brennholt, Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Natalia P. Ivleva, Thorsten Hüffer, Amy Lusher Nanna B. Hartmann, Natalia P. Ivleva, Therése Karlsson, Martin Hassellöv, Matthew Cole, Wagner, Martin, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Thorsten Hüffer, Matthew Cole, Natalia P. Ivleva, Thorsten Hüffer, Amy Lusher Nicole Brennholt, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nicole Brennholt, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Natalia P. Ivleva, Therése Karlsson, Richard C. Thompson, Wagner, Martin, Natalia P. Ivleva, Wagner, Martin, Wagner, Martin, Richard C. Thompson, Matthew Cole, Matthew Cole, Richard C. Thompson, Matthew Cole, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Natalia P. Ivleva, Wagner, Martin, Richard C. Thompson, Wagner, Martin, Maria P. Herrling, Nicole Brennholt, Nicole Brennholt, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Wagner, Martin, Amy Lusher Maren C. Hess, Amy Lusher Maren C. Hess, Natalia P. Ivleva, Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Natalia P. Ivleva, Wagner, Martin, Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Wagner, Martin, Martin Hassellöv, Wagner, Martin, Amy Lusher Martin Hassellöv, Sinja Rist, Wagner, Martin, Amy Lusher Natalia P. Ivleva, Wagner, Martin, Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Matthew Cole, Amy Lusher Matthew Cole, Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Matthew Cole, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher

Summary

This review examines the full lifecycle of microplastic pollution, from how plastics enter waterways to how they degrade and interact with ecosystems. Researchers found that microplastics serve as carriers for chemical pollutants and pathogens, and that their small size allows them to be ingested by a wide range of organisms across the food chain. The study emphasizes that understanding the fate and transport of microplastics is essential for developing effective pollution mitigation strategies.

The accumulation of plastic litter in natural environments is a global issue. Concerns over potential negative impacts on the economy, wildlife, and human health provide strong incentives for improving the sustainable use of plastics. Despite the many voices raised on the issue, we lack a consensus on how to define and categorize plastic debris. This is evident for microplastics, where inconsistent size classes are used and where the materials to be included are under debate. While this is inherent in an emerging research field, an ambiguous terminology results in confusion and miscommunication that may compromise progress in research and mitigation measures. Therefore, we need to be explicit on what exactly we consider plastic debris. Thus, we critically discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a unified terminology, propose a definition and categorization framework, and highlight areas of uncertainty. Going beyond size classes, our framework includes physicochemical properties (polymer composition, solid state, solubility) as defining criteria and size, shape, color, and origin as classifiers for categorization. Acknowledging the rapid evolution of our knowledge on plastic pollution, our framework will promote consensus building within the scientific and regulatory community based on a solid scientific foundation.

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