Literature review summarizes in vitro and in vivo studies on micro- and nanoplastics; reports on various exposure and adsorption pathways and toxic effects of plastic particles; human health impacts to be evaluated under realistic exposure scenarios
June 16, 2021
New Horizon 2020 projects to research impacts of micro- and nanoplastics
CUSP cluster launches with five research projects supported by €30 million in EU funding; aims to investigate complex relationships between micro- and nanoplastics and human health over the next five years; Food Packaging Forum collaborates within the AURORA project focused on early-life health
May 19, 2021
Review finds plastic pollution qualifies as planetary boundary threat
Review in Environmental Science and Technology presents evidence that plastic pollution fulfills all three criteria necessary for consideration as a planetary boundary threat: global exposure, not easily reversible, creating hazards disrupting earth system processes; suggests research priorities to find extent of planetary boundary but states risk that “boundary threshold for environmental plastics could be crossed before it is known”
May 10, 2021
Nature News reviews research on micro- and nanoplastics
Feature article provides an overview of the current research surrounding the study of microplastics and nanoplastics, potential effects on human and environmental health, and concerns for the future
January 13, 2021
EFSA colloquium on micro- and nano plastics rescheduled
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) postpones colloquium on micro- and nano-plastics in food to 6-7 May, 2021 in Lisbon, Portugal
October 12, 2020
NGOs call for REACH polymer registrations to address microplastics
European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and ChemSec submit comments to CARACAL subgroup on polymer registrations under REACH; recommend modifying proposed criteria for polymers requiring registration, suggest recognizing micro- and nanoplastic generation as inherent hazardous property of plastic polymers; call for mandatory pre-registration with submission of defined minimal dataset for all polymers
July 10, 2020
Global summit on nanotechnology and nanoplastics regulatory science
European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) publishes technical report on outcomes from discussions between near 200 scientists; identifies needs for more harmonized methods, standards, reference materials, and improved communication
February 17, 2020
NIA calls for careful use of the term ‘nanoplastics’
Nanotechnologies Industries Association (NIA) urges public agencies and media to differentiate between intentionally produced plastics at nanoscale and nano-sized plastics present as secondary plastics from degradation
October 16, 2019
Plastic Health Summit talks published
Event brings together scientists and advocates to discuss latest research on micro- and nanoplastics, plastic additives, and health; presentations recorded and now publicly available
October 1, 2019
Plastic tea bags release billions of particles
Researchers measure micro- and nanoplastics released from plastic tea bags during brewing; find over 14 billion particles released per bag, record dose-dependent behavioral and developmental effects on daphnia