In an article published on February 2, 2022, in the peer-reviewed Journal of Hazardous Materials, Kala Senathirajah from The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia, and co-authors present an integrated multi-criteria framework to identify plastic polymers of concern. The researchers think that their developed framework can help regulators and policymakers to prioritize management measures for addressing plastic- and microplastic-related risks (FPF reported and here).
Senathirajah et al. assessed problems associated with plastic pollution through their whole life cycle, connected them, and determined associated impacts. To identify risk factors contributing to the environmental harm from plastics and microplastics, they used the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD’s) ‘Drivers, Pressures, State, Impacts and Response’ (DPSIR) framework extended by further analysis techniques (e.g., material flow analysis). DPSIR conceptual frameworks are generally used to analyze “dynamic interactions between the environment, society, and economy.” The framework developed by Senathirajah and co-authors consists of 21 key criteria that are separated into five categories: drives (including criteria such as high use polymers, land use), pressure (e.g., production, consumption, recycling, litter), state (e.g., particle, additives), impacts (e.g., active service life), and response (e.g., management interventions). To identify a polymer’s hazard level, each polymer is evaluated and scored on the 21 criteria using data from scientific studies. Subsequently, the results of each criterion are added to derive a final score that is “indicative of the cumulative risk throughout the lifecycle.”
The scientists used data from Victoria, Australia, to test their developed framework for the effectiveness of ranking plastic polymers. In the case study, the polymers polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS), which are also applied in the packaging sectors, had the highest risk of harm. The three polymers received the highest cumulative ranking due to high scores in different criteria: PVC scored high in additives, monomers, and service life, PP in additives, service life, production, consumption, and land use, and PS in service life, land use and additives.
The authors concluded that their simple and systematic “multi-criteria framework is an effective scientifically-based tool that provides oversight and direction, and supports decision-making in relation to targeted initiatives.”
Reference
Senathirajah, K. et al. (2022). “Polymer prioritization framework: A novel multi-criteria framework for source mapping and characterizing the environmental risk of plastic polymers.” Journal of Hazardous Materials. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128330
