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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Data Requirements for Implementing the “Essential-Use” Concept in Chemical Legislation
ClearDataRequirements for Implementing the “Essential-Use”Concept in Chemical Legislation
Researchers examined the data requirements needed to implement the 'essential-use' concept within the Stockholm Convention and EU REACH Regulation chemical legislation frameworks. The study analyzed what types of substance-specific data would be necessary to determine whether a chemical's uses qualify as essential, informing proposed revisions to global and European chemical governance.
DataRequirements for Implementing the “Essential-Use”Concept in Chemical Legislation
Researchers examined the data requirements needed to implement the 'essential-use' concept within the Stockholm Convention and EU REACH Regulation chemical legislation frameworks. The study analyzed what types of substance-specific data would be necessary to determine whether a chemical's uses qualify as essential, informing proposed revisions to global and European chemical governance.
Exploring the Essential Use Concept for Primary Microplastics Regulation in the EU
Researchers explored how the "essential use" concept could be applied to regulate primary microplastics intentionally added to products in the EU. They analyzed different product categories to determine where microplastic use might be considered essential versus where viable alternatives already exist. The study provides a framework for policymakers to systematically phase out unnecessary microplastic uses while allowing them only in applications where no adequate substitutes are available.
Restricting microplastics in the European Union: Process and criteria under REACH
Researchers analyzed the European Union's regulatory process for restricting intentionally added microplastics under the REACH chemical regulation, finding that the procedure requires extensive socio-economic justification alongside environmental and health risk assessments. The study notes that the precautionary principle plays a limited role, meaning that the less data available on a microplastic's harm, the harder it is to restrict it.
Regulating “forever chemicals”: social data are necessary for the successful implementation of the essential use concept
This paper proposes a framework for regulating PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals," using the Essential Use Concept, which assumes a chemical should be phased out unless proven necessary and without alternatives. While focused on PFAS rather than microplastics, the regulatory approach is relevant because both are persistent synthetic pollutants that accumulate in the environment and human body. The authors argue that effective regulation requires input from affected communities, not just scientists.
Characterisation and analysis of key studies used to restrict substances under REACH
Researchers analyzed key studies cited in REACH (European chemicals regulation) substance restriction dossiers, evaluating how well the selected studies reflect the full evidence base for regulated contaminants. The analysis found that dossiers sometimes relied on a narrow subset of available studies, with implications for the robustness of regulatory decisions.
Conceptual framework for identifying polymers of concern
Researchers proposed a framework for identifying which plastic polymers should be prioritized for regulation based on both the type of plastic and how it is used throughout its lifecycle. The study recommends a precautionary approach that considers the volume of plastics entering ecosystems alongside their known environmental and health impacts. The framework aims to help policymakers develop targeted strategies, from bans to redesign incentives, as part of the ongoing UN negotiations on a global plastics treaty.
Refining tools to bridge the gap between academia and chemical regulation: perspectives for WikiREACH
This paper proposed improvements to how chemical risk assessors access and use scientific literature data, arguing that better data infrastructure could lead to more comprehensive regulatory hazard assessments. Improved data availability is also relevant to microplastic risk assessment, where literature is rapidly growing and difficult to synthesize.
Application of implementation science framework to develop and adopt regulatory science in different national regulatory authorities
This paper is not relevant to microplastics; it discusses applying implementation science frameworks to help national regulatory authorities develop and adopt evidence-based decision-making practices.
An EU ban on microplastics in cosmetic products and the right to regulate
This study examined the legal implications of the EU restriction procedure on microplastics in cosmetic products under REACH regulation, analyzing how the European Commission balanced the precautionary principle, scientific uncertainty, and member states' rights to regulate in this policy process.
La Révision de REACH : Quels Impacts sur la Santé Humaine, l'Environnement et l'Industrie Attendus?
This study examines the anticipated impacts of the revision of the European REACH regulation on human health, environmental protection, and industrial practices. The analysis addresses how updated chemical regulations are expected to affect the management of hazardous substances including plastic additives and pollutants across the value chain.
Why is high persistence alone a major cause of concern?
This paper argues that persistence alone — the ability of a chemical to resist degradation in the environment — should be treated as a major hazard concern in chemical regulation, even without established toxicity data. The argument is directly relevant to microplastics, which are highly persistent and accumulate in ecosystems over time.
REACHing for divergence?—UK chemical regulation post-Brexit
This paper is not directly about microplastics; it analyzes how UK chemical regulation has diverged from EU REACH standards since Brexit, finding that the UK is falling behind the EU's pace of regulatory action on hazardous chemicals. While broadly relevant to environmental protection, the study does not address microplastics specifically.
Plastic pollution: Where are we regarding research and risk assessment in support of management and regulation?
This review assessed the current state of microplastic research and risk assessment, concluding that more exposure-response studies using standardized methods and material-specific metrics are needed to support effective management and regulation of plastic pollution.
Screening and prioritization of nano- and microplastic particle toxicity studies for evaluating human health risks – development and application of a toxicity study assessment tool
Researchers developed a standardized tool to screen and rank toxicity studies on nano- and microplastics by quality and relevance, addressing a critical gap in how scientists evaluate which studies should inform human health risk assessments for these widespread plastic pollutants.
The upcoming European Soil Monitoring Law: An effective instrument for the protection of terrestrial ecosystems?
This analysis examines whether the upcoming European Soil Monitoring Law will effectively protect terrestrial ecosystems. The study suggests that while the regulation represents important progress, it needs to close gaps between existing chemical regulations and fully align with current European strategies for environmental protection and sustainability.
Assessing and managing environmental hazards of polymers: historical development, science advances and policy options
Researchers critically reviewed how polymer environmental safety regulations, largely unchanged since the 1990s, fail to keep pace with scientific understanding of plastic pollution. They identified four key areas needing regulatory attention, including better transparency about polymer identities, improved understanding of environmental fate across size categories, and more comprehensive hazard assessments. The study suggests that current regulatory frameworks worldwide need significant updates to adequately manage the environmental risks posed by polymers.
Economic valuation of benefits from the proposed REACH restriction of intentionally added microplastics
This economic study estimated how much people are willing to pay for policies that restrict intentionally added microplastics in consumer products like cosmetics. The results can help regulators justify and design cost-effective restrictions on microplastics in products where they serve no essential function.
Understanding hazardous concentrations of microplastics in fresh water using non-traditional toxicity data
Researchers developed hazard concentration thresholds for microplastics in freshwater using non-traditional toxicity data, accounting for environmentally relevant sizes, shapes, and polymer types to provide more realistic governance standards.
The emergence of microplastics: charting the path from research to regulations
This study summarized recent groundbreaking microplastic research and emerging regulations, charting the path from scientific discovery to policy action and providing recommendations to overcome remaining regulatory barriers.
From micro to macro: legal tools for combating plastic pollution at national, EU, and international levels
Researchers analyzed how laws at the national, European Union, and international levels have evolved to address microplastic pollution, tracing the shift from voluntary guidelines to binding rules like the EU's 2023 restriction on synthetic microparticles. The review identifies ongoing challenges — including inconsistent definitions and weak enforcement — and calls for stronger global governance to close the legal gaps.
Regulating chemicals globally is key to a successful plastics treaty
This review argued that a successful global plastics treaty must regulate the more than 16,000 chemicals used across the plastic life cycle, not just the plastics themselves, as thousands of these chemicals meet criteria for persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity yet remain largely unregulated.
Examining the Relevance of the Microplastic-Associated Additive Fraction in Environmental Compartments
Researchers developed a theoretical framework for sampling and analytical procedures to characterize the speciation of plastic-associated chemical additives across environmental compartments, addressing a gap in routine monitoring programs that have not accounted for additives still bound to plastic particles. The study examines additive bioavailability and plastic-associated transport as key risk factors in environmental contamination assessment.
Assessment of potential ecological risk for microplastic particles
Researchers developed a framework for assessing the ecological risk of microplastic particles, incorporating particle characteristics, environmental concentrations, and species sensitivity data. The assessment identified conditions under which current environmental microplastic levels pose significant risk to aquatic organisms.