Scientists urge global action against microplastics

September 20 () –

According to a new report, science has provided more than enough evidence to justify a collective and global approach to address the continuing spread of plastic pollution.

In an article published in the journal Sciencean international group of experts says that It has never been more urgent take global action to address all forms of plastic waste and microplastics.

It is clear that existing national legislation alone is not enough to address the challenge, they say, and the United Nations Plastic Pollution Treaty (due for its fifth round of deliberations in November 2024) presents a ““tangible opportunity” for joint international action.

However, for such a treaty to be truly effective, it must commit to an overall reduction in plastic production along with measures to reduce the emission and release of microplastic particles throughout the entire life cycle of plastic. Failure to do so, the researchers add, could lead to “a high risk of irreversible environmental damage.”

TWENTY YEARS OF THE TERM ‘MICROPLASTIC’

The article was written to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the first study, also published in the journal Science, in which the term microplastics was coined to describe the microscopic fragments of plastics in our ocean.

Both studies were led by Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS, Head of the International Marine Litter Research Unit at the University of Plymouth and one of the co-ordinators of the Coalition of Scientists for an Effective Plastics Treaty.

It was co-authored by experts in marine biology, sustainability, environmental psychology, global plastics policy and risk assessment from: the University of Plymouth, Bangor University (UK); EA-Earth Action (Switzerland); the University of Vienna (Austria); the University of Wollongong (Australia); and Wageningen University (Netherlands).

Professor Thompson said: “After 20 years of research, there is clear evidence of the harmful effects of microplastic pollution on a global scale.. This includes physical harm to wildlife, harm to societies and cultures, and a growing evidence base of harm to humans. Added to this is the fact that microplastics are persistent pollutants and, once in the environment, are virtually impossible to remove.

“There are still unknowns, but over the 20 years since our first study, The amount of plastic in our oceans has increased by around 50%, which only further emphasizes the urgent need to act,” he added. in a statement.

Since the first study was published in 2004, there have been approximately 7,000 research studies on microplastics, providing considerable evidence on their sources and impacts, as well as potential solutions.

Microplastics have been found in every corner of the planet, in more than 1,300 aquatic and terrestrial species, in the food and drinks we consume, and in multiple tissues and organs of the human body.

Emissions of microplastics into the environment are estimated to amount to 40 megatons per year, a figure that could double by 2040, so the predictions indicate that Large-scale environmental damage could continue for the next century.

Professor Sabine Pahl, Professor of Urban and Environmental Psychology at the University of Vienna and Honorary Professor at the University of Plymouth, added: “Plastic pollution is entirely caused by human actions. That’s why we need to do research on perceptions of the risks and benefits of plastic, as well as other factors driving policy support and change, integrating a social science perspective.”