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

Gouin, Todd; Becker, Richard A.; Collot, Anne‐Gaelle; Davis, John W.; Howard, Brett E.; Inawaka, Kunifumi; Lampi, Mark A.; Ramon, Blanca Serrano; Shi, Jay; Hopp, Philipp W.

doi:10.1002/etc.4529

Cited by 84 publications

(70 citation statements)

References 101 publications

(163 reference statements)

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“…Therefore, the risk posed to marine ecosystems by plastic particles within the size range currently monitored by standard methods can be classified as negligible. This is in line with previous assessments 12,53 .…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Currently monitored microplastics pose negligible ecological risk to the global ocean

Beiras

Schönemann

2020

Sci Rep

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Given the rise in plastic production, microplastics (MP) dominate marine debris, and their impact on marine ecosystems will likely increase. However a global quantitative assessment of this risk is still lacking. We conducted an ecological risk assessment of MP in the global ocean by comparing the thresholds of biological effects with the probability of exposure to those concentrations, according to plastic density data adjusted to a log-normal distribution. Levels of MP from 100 to 5000 µm span from < 0.0001 to 1.89 mg/L, whereas the most conservative safe concentration is 13.8 mg/L, and probability of exposure is p = 0.00004. Therefore large MP pose negligible global risk. However, MP bioavailability, translocation and toxicity increase as size decreases, and particles < 10 µm are not identified by current monitoring methods. Future research should target the lowest size fractions of MP and nanoplastics, and use in toxicity testing environmental plastic particles rather than engineered materials.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Currently monitored microplastics pose negligible ecological risk to the global ocean

Beiras

Schönemann

2020

Sci Rep

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“…Acknowledging that MP represent a complex mixture of particles (shape, size, and type), incorporating strategies that enable effect-assessment to move from a “substance-based” approach to a “mechanism-based” approach may add considerable value in assessing environmental risk, not just for MP but for any other particle-stressor organisms may encounter. 79 , 80 Knowledge on effect mechanisms will enhance the strategic application of species sensitivity distributions for distinct categories of effects. Finally, advancing scientific understanding of particle effect mechanisms, such as those associated with exposure to MP, will aid in the development of effect models.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 79 , 90 It is, however, not clear if oxidative stress is a response to another MP toxicity mechanism or that the MP toxicity directly works at the molecular level. 35 , 80 Elucidating on this aspect will aid in choosing relevant end points to use within risk assessment frameworks. 80 …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Quality Criteria for Microplastic Effect Studies in the Context of Risk Assessment: A Critical Review

Ruijter

Redondo‐Hasselerharm

Gouin

et al. 2020

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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213

224

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In the literature, there is widespread consensus that methods in plastic research need improvement. Current limitations in quality assurance and harmonization prevent progress in our understanding of the true effects of microplastic in the environment. Following the recent development of quality assessment methods for studies reporting concentrations in biota and water samples, we propose a method to assess the quality of microplastic effect studies. We reviewed 105 microplastic effect studies with aquatic biota, provided a systematic overview of their characteristics, developed 20 quality criteria in four main criteria categories (particle characterization, experimental design, applicability in risk assessment, and ecological relevance), propose a protocol for future effect studies with particles, and, finally, used all the information to define the weight of evidence with respect to demonstrated effect mechanisms. On average, studies scored 44.6% (range 20–77.5%) of the maximum score. No study scored positively on all criteria, reconfirming the urgent need for better quality assurance. Most urgent recommendations for improvement relate to avoiding and verifying background contamination, and to improving the environmental relevance of exposure conditions. The majority of the studies (86.7%) evaluated on particle characteristics properly, nonetheless it should be underlined that by failing to provide characteristics of the particles, an entire experiment can become irreproducible. Studies addressed environmentally realistic polymer types fairly well; however, there was a mismatch between sizes tested and those targeted when analyzing microplastic in environmental samples. In far too many instances, studies suggest and speculate mechanisms that are poorly supported by the design and reporting of data in the study. This represents a problem for decision-makers and needs to be minimized in future research. In their papers, authors frame 10 effects mechanisms as “suggested”, whereas 7 of them are framed as “demonstrated”. When accounting for the quality of the studies according to our assessment, three of these mechanisms remained. These are inhibition of food assimilation and/or decreased nutritional value of food , internal physical damage , and external physical damage . We recommend that risk assessment addresses these mechanisms with higher priority.

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“…Although it remains to be shown whether the effects of MPs on human health are significant or not, there is clearly Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https ://doi.org/10.1007/s4245 2-020-03749 -0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. a strong need to urgently evaluate their prevalence in the environment [22,23]. The first step towards understanding their significance for humans is in establishing the exposure routes and quantifying exposures.…”

Section: Rationalementioning

confidence: 99%

Microplastic contamination of salt intended for human consumption: a systematic review and meta-analysis

et al. 2020

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Microplastics (MPs) are an emerging contaminant ubiquitous in the environment. There is growing concern regarding potential human health effects, a major human exposure route being dietary uptake. We have undertaken a systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis to identify all relevant research on MP contamination of salt intended for human consumption. Three thousand nine hundred and nineteen papers were identified, with ten fitting the inclusion criteria. A search of the databases MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science, from launch date to September 2020, was conducted. MP contamination of salt varied significantly between four origins, sea salt 0–1674 MPs/kg, lake salt 8–462 MPs/kg, rock and well salt 0–204 MPs/kg. The majority of samples were found to be contaminated by MPs. Corresponding potential human exposures are estimated to be 0–6110 MPs per year (for all origins), confirming salt as a carrier of MPs. A bespoke risk of bias (RoB) assessment tool was used to appraise the quality of the studies, with studies demonstrating moderate to low RoB. These results suggest that a series of recurring issues need to be addressed in future research regarding sampling, analysis and reporting to improve confidence in research findings.

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

Cited by 84 publications

References 101 publications

Currently monitored microplastics pose negligible ecological risk to the global ocean

Currently monitored microplastics pose negligible ecological risk to the global ocean

Quality Criteria for Microplastic Effect Studies in the Context of Risk Assessment: A Critical Review

Microplastic contamination of salt intended for human consumption: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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