Ecotoxicity testing of microplastics: Considering the heterogeneity of physicochemical properties

Lambert, Scott; Scherer, Christian; Wagner, Martin

doi:10.1002/ieam.1901

Cited by 234 publications

(115 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…However, reliance on the application of a homogenously dispersed system for microplastic particles may not be equivalent to results obtained from higher-tier mesocosm or environmental data, where particles are unlikely to be uniformly dispersed. Furthermore, under environmentally relevant conditions, the physicochemical properties of the microplastic particles themselves may be significantly different from those wileyonlinelibrary.com/ETC © 2019 The Authors tested in the laboratory, having succumbed to a variety of weathering and aging and surface biofilm processes leading to a heterogeneous mixture of particle shapes and sizes (Jahnke et al 2017;Lambert et al 2017;Gigault et al 2018;Paul-Pont et al 2018;ECETOC 2019). Understanding the interaction between organisms and microplastic particles will benefit from greater mechanistic understanding through the application of well-controlled test systems (Paul-Pont et al 2018).…”

Section: Adverse Effects and Dose-response Relationshipsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward the Development and Application of an Environmental Risk Assessment Framework for Microplastic

Gouin¹,

Becker

Collot

et al. 2019

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Emissions of plastic waste to the environment and the subsequent degradation into microplastic particles that have the potential to interact with biological organisms represent a concern for global society. Current understanding of the potential impacts on aquatic and terrestrial population stability and ecosystem structure and function associated with emissions of microplastic particles is limited and insufficient to fully assess environmental risks. Multistakeholder discussions can provide an important element in helping to identify and prioritize key knowledge gaps in assessing potential risks. In the present review, we summarize multistakeholder discussions from a 1‐d International Council of Chemical Associations–sponsored symposium, which involved 39 scientists from 8 countries with representatives from academia, industry, and government. Participants were asked to consider the following: discuss the scientific merits and limitations of applying a proposed conceptual environmental risk assessment (ERA) framework for microplastic particles and identify and prioritize major research needs in applying ERA tools for microplastic particles. Multistakeholder consensus was obtained with respect to the interpretation of the current state of the science related to effects and exposure to microplastic particles, which implies that it is unlikely that the presence of microplastic in the environment currently represents a risk. However, the quality and quantity of existing data require substantial improvement before conclusions regarding the potential risks and impacts of microplastic particles can be fully assessed. Research that directly addresses the development and application of methods that strengthen the quality of data should thus be given the highest priority. Activities aimed at supporting the development of and access to standardized reference material were identified as a key research need. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:2087–2100. © 2019 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC.

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Section: Adverse Effects and Dose-response Relationshipsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward the Development and Application of an Environmental Risk Assessment Framework for Microplastic

Gouin¹,

Becker

Collot

et al. 2019

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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“…Consequently, when estimating the hazards presented by MP properties such as size, shape, polymer density, surface area, chemical composition of the parent plastic, and the chemical composition of sorbed co-occurring contaminants may need to be considered [114]. However, when considering secondary MPs information on some of these properties may be unavailable.…”

Section: Considerations For Assessing Environmental Risksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microplastics Are Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Freshwater Environments: An Overview

Lambert

Wagner

2017

The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry

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214

137

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In recent years, interest in the environmental occurrence and effects of microplastics (MPs) has shifted towards our inland waters, and in this chapter we provide an overview of the issues that may be of concern for freshwater environments. The term 'contaminant of emerging concern' does not only apply to chemical pollutants but to MPs as well because it has been detected ubiquitously in freshwater systems. The environmental release of MPs will occur from a wide variety of sources, including emissions from wastewater treatment plants and from the degradation of larger plastic debris items. Due to the chemical makeup of plastic materials, receiving environments are potentially exposed to a mixture of microand nano-sized particles, leached additives, and subsequent degradation products, which will become bioavailable for a range of biota. The ingestion of MPs by aquatic organisms has been demonstrated, but the long-term effects of continuous exposures are less well understood. Technological developments and changes in demographics will influence the types of MPs and environmental concentrations in the future, and it will be important to develop approaches to mitigate the input of synthetic polymers to freshwater ecosystems.

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“…Thus, the heterogeneity within the term "microplastics" arises from myriads of combinations of polymers and additives. To make things even more challenging, those additives can change the physicochemical properties and, consequently, also the environmental behavior of particles (for details, see [66]). Therefore, it seems reasonable to develop particular regulatory options focusing on special subgroups.…”

Section: Regulation By Groups?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Freshwater Microplastics: Challenges for Regulation and Management

Brennholt

Heß

Reifferscheid

2017

The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry

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The accumulation of plastic debris in aquatic environments is one of the major but least studied human pressures on aquatic ecosystems. Besides the general waste burden in waterbodies, (micro)plastic debris gives rise to ecological and social problems. Related to marine ecosystems, these problems are already in the center of interest of science, policy, and public. The United Nations Environment Programme, for instance, drafted a joint report on "marine plastic debris and microplastics," and the European Community included the issue into the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive, descriptor 10 "marine litter."However, (micro)plastic litter in freshwater systems is not yet explicitly addressed in the respective regulations, although the issue is relevant for many international and national policy instruments and initiatives. Many conventions, agreements, regulations, strategies, action plans, programs, and guidelines refer to "all wastes" in general. This should also concern (micro)plastic waste.This chapter provides an overview of the regulatory instruments developed at different levels to address freshwater (micro)plastic litter. Beyond that, specific management options and measures that are either compulsory or voluntary are presented. Nevertheless, only few options have been realized so far. Reasons are numerous, first and foremost the lack of consensus on the definition of microplastics. The complexity of these particulate stressors with very heterogeneous physicochemical characteristics poses new challenges for regulation and management. We highlight the most important questions from the perspective of freshwater monitoring. Furthermore, we discuss a possible adaption of existing environmental policy instruments and potential management options for single categories of (micro)plastics.

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Ecotoxicity testing of microplastics: Considering the heterogeneity of physicochemical properties

Cited by 234 publications

References 49 publications

Toward the Development and Application of an Environmental Risk Assessment Framework for Microplastic

Toward the Development and Application of an Environmental Risk Assessment Framework for Microplastic

Microplastics Are Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Freshwater Environments: An Overview

Freshwater Microplastics: Challenges for Regulation and Management

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