An international team of researchers asserts that two decades of study have provided enough knowledge regarding the origins and impacts of microplastics for global leaders to implement effective measures to combat these issues. This assertion comes 20 years after the initial research that introduced the term microplastics, referring to tiny plastic fragments found in our oceans.
According to a new report, scientific evidence is more than adequate to motivate a collective and worldwide initiative to combat the ongoing spread of plastic pollution.
In a publication in the journal Science, this international panel of specialists emphasizes that the urgency for global action against all types of plastic and microplastic waste has reached unprecedented levels.
They point out that existing national regulations are not sufficient to meet this challenge, and the UN’s Plastic Pollution Treaty—set for its fifth round of discussions in November 2024—offers a “practical opportunity” for coordinated international efforts.
For the treaty to be truly impactful, however, it must focus on reducing overall plastic production and include strategies to minimize the emission and discharge of microplastic particles throughout the entire lifecycle of plastics. The researchers caution that neglecting these commitments could lead to “a significant risk of irreversible environmental harm.”
This article commemorates the 20th anniversary of the groundbreaking study published in Science that first introduced the concept of microplastics in our oceans.
Both studies were spearheaded by Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS, who heads the International Marine Litter Research Unit at the University of Plymouth and is a co-coordinator of the Scientists Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty.
It included contributions from specialists in marine biology, sustainability, environmental psychology, global plastics policy, and risk assessment, hailing from institutions such as the University of Plymouth, University of Bangor (UK), EA — Earth Action (Switzerland), University of Vienna (Austria), University of Wollongong (Australia), and Wageningen University (Netherlands).
Professor Thompson stated: “After 20 years of research, we have undeniable evidence indicating the detrimental effects of microplastic pollution on a global scale. This includes physical damage to wildlife, negative impacts on societies and cultures, and increasing evidence of harm to human health. Furthermore, microplastics remain persistent pollutants that are nearly impossible to remove from the environment once introduced. Although there are still gaps in our knowledge, since our first study, the volume of plastic in our oceans has surged by about 50%, highlighting the urgent need for action.”
Since the first study’s publication in 2004, approximately 7,000 research papers have been produced regarding microplastics, yielding significant insights into their sources, effects, and potential solutions.
Microplastics have been detected in every region of the planet, in over 1,300 aquatic and terrestrial species, within the food and beverages we consume, and in various tissues and organs in the human body.
With estimates of up to 40 megatonnes of microplastics entering the environment each year—a figure that could potentially double by 2040—projections suggest a likelihood of extensive environmental damage well into the next century.
Professor Sabine Pahl, who holds a position as Professor of Urban and Environmental Psychology at the University of Vienna and is an Honorary Professor at the University of Plymouth, remarked: “The pollution caused by plastic is entirely a result of human actions. This is why we must research how people perceive the risks and benefits related to plastic, as well as the other factors that drive policy support and change, incorporating a social science perspective.”
