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Microplastics

Introduction
1. Introduction
1.1 What Are Microplastics?
1.2 History of Plastics
1.3 The Making of Plastics
1.4 Plastics Naming Conventions
1.5 Why Do We Care About Microplastics?
1.6 Distribution of Microplastics in the Environment
1.7 Fate and Transport of Microplastics
1.8 Environmental Justice and Microplastics
1.9 Acknowledgment of the Evolving State of the Science
Environmental distribution, fate, and transport
2. Environmental distribution, fate, and transport
2.1 Primary vs. Secondary MP
2.2 Point and Nonpoint Sources
2.3 MP in the Fluvial Environment
2.4 MP in Soil
2.5 MP in Sediment
2.6 MP in Air
2.7 MP in Urban Litter
2.8 Prevalence of MP in Biota
2.9 Degradation
Sampling and analysis
3. Sampling and analysis
3.1 Sample Collection Considerations—MP
3.2 General Quality Assurance/Quality Control
3.3 Special Considerations for NP
3.4 Sample Collection Methods by Matrix
Microplastics Sampling Method Selection Tool
3.5 Sample Preservation
3.6 Sample Preparation
3.7 Analysis and Identification
Human Health and Ecological Effects
4. Human Health and Ecological Effects
4.1 Chemical Properties
4.2 Physical Properties
4.3 Microplastics as Vectors
4.4 Trophic Transfer
4.5 Human Health
4.6 Ecological
4.7 Risk Assessment Methodologies
Regulatory Context
5. Regulatory Context
5.1 State Survey
5.2 Overview of Legislation and Regulatory Programs
Mitigation and Abatement
6. Mitigation and Abatement
6.1 Prevention/Mitigation Strategies
6.2 Abatement/Treatment
Data Gaps and Future Research Needs
7. Data Gaps and Future Research Needs
7.1 Fate and Transport Data Gaps
7.2 Future Research Needs for Sampling and Analyzing MP
7.3 Data Gaps in Evaluation of Potential Health Risks
7.4 Data Gaps in Evaluation of Trophic Transfer
7.5 Data Gaps on Ecological Exposures and Effects
7.6 Future Research Needs for Mitigating, Abating, and Managing MP
References
Appendix A. Microplastics Case Studies
Appendix B. Microplastics State Survey
Appendix C. Laws and Regulations Related to Microplastics
Appendix D. Team Contacts
Appendix E. Glossary
Appendix F. Acronyms
Acknowledgments
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Microplastics
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Plastics have become pervasive in modern life and are now used in a wide range of commercial and industrial applications. Microplastics (MP) are one of the biggest emerging threats to the global environmental community. Recognizing the importance of tackling the global plastics problem, the United Nations convened the UN Plastics Summit in Uruguay in 2022 to develop a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution. The Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme resolution recognizes that plastic pollution includes MP (United Nations Environment Assembly 2022). Microplastics may be intentionally produced for specific applications and products or may result from the degradation and fragmentation of larger plastics. Regardless of their origin, MP are now ubiquitous in our environment—they have been found on the top of the highest mountain peaks, at the bottom of the Marianas trench, and everywhere in between.

Because of their small size and pervasiveness in the environment, MP, along with any other contaminants that are adsorbed to the MP or intentionally added through the manufacturing process, may be consumed by humans and other organisms. Microplastics have been reported in human blood, in the deep lung, and in placenta, meconium, and human excrement (Braun et al. 2021, Zhang, Wang, et al. 2021). The science surrounding MP, their potential health effects, and knowledge of their fate and transport is very new and ongoing, with research articles being published at a rapidly accelerating rate. Even techniques and best practices for sample collection and analysis of these tiny particles and fibers are still very much evolving.

This MP guidance document was written for an individual who has a reasonable level of scientific understanding, but not a lot of MP-specific knowledge. The guidance provides a user with information on MP and the state of the applied science without having to go to the scientific literature. It is divided into seven sections. The Introduction (Section 1) provides a primer on MP, their sources, and the worldwide distribution of MP, and includes an environmental justice component. Environmental Distribution, Fate, and Transport (Section 2) investigates the various pathways through which MP can enter and travel in the environment and their distribution in various media (water, soil, sediment, air, and biota). Although MP in the environment have been a concern for many years, techniques and best practices for sample collection and analysis of these particles and fibers are still very much evolving. To date, few standards have been adopted. It is the goal of Sampling and Analysis (Section 3) to outline the most common techniques and best practices for sampling and analyzing MP. A primary concern of MP pollution is whether they represent a risk to human health and ecosystems. This is covered in Section 4, which presents information that includes the following: factors that influence the effects and toxicity of MP, effects on human and ecological health due to exposures to MP in different environmental media and settings, and uncertainties and data gaps in the evaluation of human health and ecological risk assessments due to MP. Regulatory Context (Section 5) provides an overview of information on existing regulations related to MP. The section includes regulatory programs and actions that may address all sizes of plastics (macro and micro) due to their potential to act as sources that generate MP but tries to emphasize and focus on MP to the extent possible. Section 6 intends to consolidate and evaluate established and emerging best management practices (BMPs) and treatment techniques currently being used to address and manage MP. The first half of the section focuses on prevention and mitigation strategies and BMPs to reduce MP from entering the environment. The second half focuses on technologies to abate, treat, and remediate MP once they exist in the environment (in all media). These methods and technologies are constantly evolving and are generally categorized in this section as fully demonstrated or as an emerging option. Finally, Section 7 highlights current data gaps and recommendations for future research and regulatory actions. The guidance also includes several case studies covering a range of current MP-related topics in Appendix A and a table of laws and regulations related to MP in Appendix C.

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Microplastics

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