A scientific perspective on microplastics in nature and society

The best available evidence suggests that microplastics and nanoplastics do not pose a widespread risk to humans or the environment, except in small pockets. But that evidence is limited, and the situation could change if pollution continues at the current rate.

This is the verdict of SAPEA’s Evidence Review Report on micro- and nanoplastic pollution, published in January 2019. The report is written by a group of world-leading experts nominated by academies across Europe, and informs the Scientific Opinion from the European Commission’s Group of Chief Scientific Advisors.

What the report says

The report comprehensively examines the best available evidence from the natural sciences and computer modelling, as well as social, political and behavioural sciences. Its key conclusions are:

• Microplastics — tiny particles under 5mm in length — are already present across air, soil and sediment, freshwaters, seas and oceans, plants and animals, and in several components of the human diet.
• These particles come from a variety of sources, including plastic products, textiles, fisheries, agriculture, industry and general waste.
• In controlled experiments, high concentrations of these particles have been shown to cause physical harm to the environment and living creatures, including inducing inflammation and stress.
• However, the concentration levels measured in many real-world locations are well below this threshold — though there are also limitations in the measurement methods currently available.
• Meanwhile, in other parts of the environment, there is no reliable evidence about the levels or effects of these particles. This is true especially of nanoplastics, which are very difficult to measure and evaluate.

Debate and impact

As SAPEA’s work on microplastics is published and disseminated throughout 2019 and beyond, its impact on the microplastics debate will be recorded here.

Events for researchersPublic eventsMedia coverageDebate on Twitter

SAPEA’s work on microplastics will be presented and discussed at a range of events for researchers and academics in 2019.

ALLEA General Assembly

The ALLEA General Assembly convenes Academies of Sciences and Humanities from 40 countries across the Council of Europe region.

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SETAC Europe

The society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) is a not-for profit, global professional society established in 1979 to provide a forum for individuals and institutions engaged in education, research and development, ecological risk assessment and life-cycle assessment, chemical manufacture and distribution, management and regulation of natural resources, and the study, analysis, and solution of environmental problems.

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SAPEA’s work on microplastics will be presented and discussed at a range of events for the general public in 2019. Details will be published here.

As details of media coverage become available, they will be published here.

• Politico Europe: Microplastics not always a risk (10 January 2019)
• NRC: Kleine plasticdeeltjes zullen in de toekomst veel milieuschade aanrichten (10 January 2019)
• Naturwissenschaften Schweiz: A scientific perspective on microplastics in nature and society (January 2019)
• ALLEA: SAPEA report: Evidence on microplastics does not yet point to widespread risk (10 January 2019)
• Scheldeschorren: A scientific perspective on microplastics in nature and society (10 January 2019)
• Wageningen University: Vijf vragen over de impact van de containerramp met de MSC Zoë (11 January 2019)
• Suomen Tiedeakatemiat: Mikromuovien aiheuttamat riskit ympäristölle ja ihmisille ovat toistaiseksi paikallisia (11 January 2019)

The FRAM Centre@FRAM_UGot·

13h

New report about #microplastics comprehensively examines the best available evidence from the natural sciences and computer modelling, as well as social, political and behavioural sciences. @SAPEAnews
https://t.co/8lQbq1QN7N

Twitter feed video.

Sabine Pahl@SabinePahl·

14 Jan

“What we found is that as the extremity of opposition increased, objective knowledge went down, but self-assessed knowledge went up” - this discrepancy is relevant for our recent work for @SAPEAnews too

Niki Rust🌱 on Twitter

“Really important #scicomm article on knowledge deficit of opponents to #GM foods. Has widespread implications for dealing with #climatechange d...

twitter.com

Lesley Henderson@lesleyhenders·

14 Jan

Thankyou @SabinePahl for an intense & productive 4 months helping to add the #socialscience to #microplastics & #risk @SAPEAnews @EU_Commission @BrunelResearch @Bruneluni

Thomas Backhaus on Twitter

“Here's our review report on #microplastics for SAPEA (Science Advice for Policy by European Academies) @SAPEAnews https://t.co/WijOBxFzWl Ho...

twitter.com

Thomas Backhaus@ThoBaSwe·

14 Jan

Here's our review report on #microplastics for SAPEA (Science Advice for Policy by European Academies) @SAPEAnews

https://t.co/WijOBxFzWl

Honored to have worked with Bart Koelmans @SabinePahl @martiwag @DykstraPearl and a whole bunch of other great people!

Twitter feed video.

Ocean. Now.@now_ocean·

12 Jan

"The precautionary principle enables decision-makers to adopt precautionary measures when scientific evidence is uncertain & when the possible consequences of not acting are high." great thinking by @SAPEAnews.@SvenjaSchulze68 does the "precautionary principle" count in politics?

Science Advice for Policy by European Academies on Twitter

“Hot off the press: SAPEA report comprehensively reviewing risks posed by #microplastics and #nanoplastics https://t.co/221TK7agGe”

twitter.com

Cardiff Knowledge Hub@aecardiff·

11 Jan

Prof Ole Petersen is representing @SAPEAnews in the 2 days discussion on #microplastics held at the @EU_Commission, where a new #SAPEA evidence review report has been presented.
➡️ Click here for the report: https://t.co/QIWtmWDHLJ

Dulce Boavida@BoavidaDulce·

11 Jan

.@NicoleGrobert from #SAMGroup_EU wrap-up 2 days discussions on #microplastics Pollution @JEPaquetEU @DCallejaEC @DykstraPearl @ChiefSciCan @SabinePahl @JoKlumpers @lesleyhenders @BCarneyAlmroth @gavigja @SAPEAnews

Twitter feed video.

Sabine Pahl@SabinePahl·

11 Jan

Day 2 of launching our @SAPEAnews report on #microplastics and great summary of current state of research on human health by Stephanie Wright. @martiwag

Twitter feed video.