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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Navigating regulatory complexity: Challenges and shifting problem framings in turning microplastics into a European policy object
ClearNavigating regulatory complexity: Challenges and shifting problem framings in turning microplastics into a European policy object
This paper analyzed the challenges regulators face in governing micro- and nanoplastics, examining how shifting problem framings, ambiguous definitions, and material heterogeneity have destabilized regulatory efforts. The study traced how disputes over whether microplastics are a safety or environmental issue have complicated the development of coherent international regulatory frameworks.
Pitfalls of ambiguity in the development of safe and sustainable biobased plastics: How can industry and regulators better navigate this landscape?
This policy analysis examines how vague and inconsistent definitions of 'biobased,' 'biodegradable,' and 'bioplastic' across EU regulations create confusion for industry and regulators trying to reduce microplastic pollution. The authors propose a decision tree to clarify polymer classification, which is important because mislabeled bioplastics may still shed persistent microplastics in the environment.
Microplastics: Finding a consensus on the definition
This paper reviewed the history and inconsistencies in microplastic definitions across the scientific literature and proposed a new comprehensive definition incorporating size, origin, material composition, and physical state. The proposed definition aims to resolve ambiguities that have led to non-comparable data across studies and hinder regulatory decision-making.
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.
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.
Legislation and Policy on Pollution Prevention and the Control of Marine Microplastics
This review analyses international legislation and policies targeting marine microplastic pollution, finding that most existing regulations focus narrowly on microbeads while failing to address other microplastic types, and identifies three systemic dilemmas that impede more comprehensive regulatory frameworks.
Science-society-policy interface for microplastic and nanoplastic: Environmental and biomedical aspects
This review proposed a new conceptual framework for addressing microplastic and nanoplastic pollution at the science-society-policy interface, covering detection methods, environmental and health impacts, and regulatory approaches.
Addressing the complexities of microplastic particles and their effects from the laboratory
This review addressed the complexity of microplastic pollution including the enormous variability in particle properties and environmental contexts that makes it difficult to assess effects on organisms and ecosystems. The authors argued for a more systematic framework to characterize and communicate microplastic hazard that accounts for this complexity rather than relying on oversimplified models.
Can Current Regulations Account for Intentionally Produced Nanoplastics?
This study examines whether current regulatory frameworks adequately address intentionally produced nanoplastics, highlighting gaps in existing policies for managing these engineered materials.
How problems with microplastics in research and application can be overcome
This methodological review addressed common problems in micro- and nanoplastic research, including challenges in hazard identification, exposure assessment, and risk characterization arising from the complex mixture nature of MNPs. The authors proposed practical solutions and standardization approaches to improve the reliability of microplastic risk assessments.
Obstacles to Controlling and Managing Microplastics in the Environment
This review identifies the major obstacles to controlling and managing microplastics in environmental settings, including the difficulty of measuring MPs across size ranges, the challenge of removing small particles from water and soil, and the regulatory gaps that allow continued plastic pollution.
Are We Speaking the Same Language? Recommendations for a Definition and Categorization Framework for Plastic Debris
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.
Microplastics: A Review of Policies and Responses
This critical review assembled current knowledge on policies and regulatory responses to plastic pollution globally, including legislative measures, economic instruments, and voluntary commitments. The authors identify a gap between scientific evidence and policy action and call for stronger, more coordinated international governance of plastic pollution.
Policy priorities: emerging trends in a global response
This policy review examines global regulatory responses to plastic and microplastic pollution, identifying focal areas, gaps, and future directions by drawing parallels to historical policy development around air pollution management.
The Burden of Microplastics Pollution and Contending Policies and Regulations
This review examines the growing global burden of microplastic pollution and the policies being developed to address it. Researchers found that inadequate waste management systems allow massive amounts of plastic to contaminate terrestrial and aquatic environments, threatening ecosystems and the billions of people who depend on them. The study evaluates existing regulations and suggests that stronger, more coordinated policy frameworks are needed to curb microplastic pollution.
Do We Speak the Same Language for Reference Particles in Microplastic Research?
This paper argues that the microplastics research community lacks agreement on standardized reference particles for laboratory experiments, making it difficult to compare results across studies. The authors call for consensus on definitions and materials to improve the reproducibility and policy relevance of microplastic research.
Addressing the complexities of microplastic particles and their effects from the laboratory
This review addressed the complexity of microplastic pollution research, examining why consensus on health and ecosystem effects remains elusive despite high scientific and public interest. The authors argue that the extraordinary diversity of microplastic particle types makes general conclusions about harm difficult and call for more targeted research approaches.
Framing pollution
This social science analysis explores how "pollution" — and microplastics specifically — is defined not just by science but by political, economic, and cultural forces. The paper examines different ways of framing microplastic pollution: as a waste management failure, a consumer behavior problem, or an inevitable product of industrial capitalism, each with different implications for who bears responsibility. It argues that understanding the social and political dimensions of microplastic pollution is essential for developing just and effective responses.
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.
Addressing the environmental and health impacts of microplastics requires open collaboration between diverse sectors
Researchers argue that addressing the environmental and health impacts of microplastics requires open collaboration between scientists, regulators, and policymakers across diverse sectors. They highlight that microplastics do not fit neatly into traditional risk-based regulatory frameworks due to their extreme diversity in size, shape, and chemical properties. Using California as a case study, the paper draws lessons from the regulation of persistent chemicals like PFAS to suggest strategies for developing health-protective microplastic policies.
How Problems with Microplastics in Research and Application Can be Overcome: Lessons From the Experience of Plastics Stakeholders
This methodological review addressed persistent challenges in micro- and nanoplastic research — particularly in hazard identification and exposure assessment — and proposed practical solutions to improve reliability and reproducibility. The authors emphasized the need for standardized protocols that account for the complex mixture nature of MNPs including polymer, additives, and adsorbed chemicals.
Macro problems from microplastics: Toward a sustainable policy framework for managing microplastic waste in Africa
Researchers critically reviewed regulatory and policy approaches to managing microplastic pollution across African countries. They found that while environmental monitoring studies demonstrate an urgent need for action, the effectiveness of existing plastic waste policies in Africa remains poorly understood. The study proposes a sustainable policy framework tailored to the unique challenges African nations face in reducing microplastic waste generation and environmental contamination.
Micro/nano-plastics occurrence, identification, risk analysis and mitigation: challenges and perspectives
This review provides a comprehensive overview of micro- and nanoplastic pollution, covering their sources, occurrence in different environments, identification methods, and potential risks to ecosystems and human health. Researchers examined current analytical techniques and found significant gaps in the ability to detect and quantify the smallest plastic particles. The study outlines mitigation strategies including improved waste management, advanced filtration, and biodegradable alternatives.
An Examination of Evolving Concerns, Obstacles, and Prospects in Relation to Pollution in the Marine Environment
This review examines international and national regulatory frameworks for marine pollution, finding that laws are often reactive — triggered only after environmental disasters — and inadequate for addressing diffuse threats like microplastic contamination. The authors argue that current legal tools need modernization and stronger enforcement to keep pace with emerging pollutants. This is relevant context for understanding why microplastic regulation lags far behind scientific evidence of harm.