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  • Risk assessment for microplastics in terrestrial environments

    April 16, 2024

    Researchers / Institutional Affiliations

    • Dr. Karsten Schlich
      Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology
      (Germany)

    Timeline

    February 2023 to December 2025

    Additional Information

    The HERA-MP (Holistic Environmental Risk Assessment for MicroPlastic in the terrestrial environment) project is applying Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)/ International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standardized effect test systems to several types of microplastic in the context of agricultural practices. These include environmentally-relevant microplastics and a subset of microplastics with specific compositions, sizes and shapes. Testing will focus on heterogeneous mixtures of particles, which will be used to develop the risk assessment framework; and select, homogeneously distributed microplastics, to evaluate potential toxicological mechanisms of action based on properties such as size, shape and composition. This will supplement information from the critical review of the literature.

    Further details are available here.

    Professional Presentations

    Schofield K, Griffiths M, Pemberton E, Schlich K, Simon M, Hughes C. Comparing Approaches to Terrestrial Ecotoxicity Studies for Micro- and Nanoplastic Particles and Engineered Nanomaterials: A SWOT Analysis Approach. SETAC Europe: May 2024. See details here.

    Published Papers

    N/A

  • Comprehensive additive release and bioaccessibility model for risk assessment of micro- and nano- plastics in the environment

    April 16, 2024

    Researchers / Institutional Affiliations

    Principal Investigator

    • Prof P. Lee Ferguson
      Duke University
      (US)

    Collaborators

    • Dr. Mark R. Wiesner
      Duke University
      (US)
    • Dr Maria del Prado Domercq
      Stockholm University
      (Sweden)

    Timeline

    October 2021 to September 2024

    Additional Information

    There is a significant gap in understanding of the environmental fate of plastics additives. These may include synthetic organic chemicals such as dyes and plasticizers, and surface coatings such as water/stain repellents. Risk assessments for these additives in aquatic environments depends on being able to measure and predict exposure of sensitive receptors – such as plants, animals, habitats and ecosystems – to these materials. Robust models are needed to assess leaching of substances from plastics into water, and to understand the fate of nano- and micro-plastics ingested by organisms. Challenges to developing models include molecular diversity among polymer-associated chemicals; varied types, sizes, and formulations of polymers; complexity in nano-/micro-plastic transport and degradation; and variability in receptor organism digestion. This project aims to address these challenges and create a robust, generalizable model to predict polymer additive release, transformation and bioaccessibility in aquatic environments. Laboratory experiments will be carried out to test the model, which is expected to advance understanding and inform risk assessments.

    Further details are available here.

    Professional Presentations

    Sipe J, Lewis A, Santizo K, Pfohl P, Lopez B, Harrison S, Wohlleben W, Wiesner M, Ferguson PL. Modeling Fragmentation and Additive Release from Polymers and Microplastics. ACS Spring Polymer Fragmentation: March 2024.

    Sipe J, Lewis A, Santizo K, Pfohl P, Lopez B, Harrison S, Wohlleben W, Wiesner M, Ferguson PL. Modeling Fragmentation and Additive Release from Polymers and Microplastics. Society of Polymer Engineers: February 2024.

    Sipe J, Lewis A, Santizo K, Pfohl P, Lopez B, Harrison S, Wohlleben W, Wiesner M, Ferguson PL. Modeling Fragmentation and Additive Release from Polymers and Microplastics. AEESP: June 2023

    Published Papers

    N/A

  • Emission factors for micro- and nano-plastics in Europe

    April 16, 2024

    Researchers / Institutional Affiliations

    • Dr. Sam Harrison
      Lancaster Environment Centre
      (UK)
    • Dr. Mark Wiesner
      Duke University
      (US)
    • Dr. Bernd Nowack
      Empa-Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology
      (Switzerland)

    Timeline

    January 2023 to December 2024

    Additional Information

    The EMIFACT MNP project is developing a model that predicts environmental emission factors for the full size range of plastics emissions, covering the full lifecycle of broad range of widely used polymers. The model will provide:

    • Environmental emission factors for Europe, taking account of regional differences in lifecycle processes such waste management to predict spatially distributed emissions factors
    • Size-distributed emission factors over relevant time periods, based on predictions of fragmentation during the entire polymer lifecycle, and building on the ongoing Cefic-LRI ECO59 FRAGMENT-MNP project
    • An analysis of the lifecycle of polymers based on complete material-flow analysis of technological applications
    • Probabilistic emission factors based on use of probabilistic material flow analysis (PMFA) pioneered by project partners

    The end-product will be a framework for generating emission factors, applied to a broad range of polymer types, which will be ready for use in environmental exposure models. The project will use previous work develop by Bernd Nowack’s team for Switzerland, here.

    Further details are available here.

    Professional Presentations

    N/A

    Published Papers

    N/A

  • Modeling human exposure to microplastic

    April 16, 2024

    Researchers / Institutional Affiliations

    Principal Investigator

    • Dr. Bart Koelmans
      Wageningen University
      (The Netherlands)

    Collaborators

    N/A

    Timeline

    Summer 2022 to summer 2024 (Cefic Long-Range Research Initiative (LRI)) with two years’ additional funding from PlasticsEurope

    Additional Information

    This project builds on an existing model for human microplastics exposure published by Nor et al (2021). The Nor approach is a promising way to probabilistically model exposure – using a statistical approach to predict multiple possible outcomes – and predict microplastics concentrations in the human gut and body tissue. The updated model will provide direction to planned and ongoing research, offering qualitative and quantitative risk context. The project aims to: model microplastics with various size ranges (1 nm to 5 mm, with a primary focus on sizes from 100 nm to 5 mm; 25,400,000 nm = 1 inch); cover a wide range of foods and inhalation sources, including dust; and develop a user-friendly model that allows non-experts to perform analyses. The updated model is intended to simulate concentrations of microplastics in human organs and circulation, for example, modeling particle concentrations in lungs, lymphatic system, blood, and liver. The project aims to provide a list of recommendation for experimental work to refine processes and model parameters.

    Further details are available here.

    Professional Presentations

    Nor NHM, Koelmans AA. A conceptual model framework for the biodistribution of microplastics in the human body by using the Physiologically Based Pharamacokinetic (PBPK) model approach. EUROTOX: September 2023.

    Published Papers

    Wardani I, Nor NHM, Wright SL, Kooter IM, Kolemans AA (2024). Nano- and microplastic PBK modelling in the context of human exposure and risk assessment. Environment International: 108504; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2024.108504

  • Assessing microplastic inhalation toxicity

    April 16, 2024

    Researchers / Institutional Affiliations

    Principal Investigator

    • Dr. Tanja Hansen
      Fraunhofer Institute of Toxicology and Experimental Medicine
      (Germany)

    Collaborators

    • Dr. Wendel Wohlleben
      BASF
      (Germany)
    • Prof. Dr.-Ing. Silke Christiansen
      Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems
      (Germany)

    Timeline

    January 2022 to April 2024.

    Additional Information

    Routes of human exposure to microplastics may including drinking water, food, and air pollution. Nano- and micro-plastic particles are detectable in numerous aquatic organisms and in human biomonitoring samples. This project used a tiered approach to assess the inhalation toxicity of various microplastics. Objectives included: identifying factors that determine inhalation toxicity; identifying existing approaches for other solid, inhalable particles that might be usefully applied to microplastics; using a tiered testing approach; ranking microplastics by their relevance for human risk assessment, specifically human hazard by inhalation; and based on the ranking, providing recommendations for confirmatory in vivo studies.

    Further details are available here.

    Professional Presentations

    Hansen T, Santizo K, Sarau G, Kolle S, Kraus A, Ritter D, Knebel J, Schwarz K, Escher S, Christiansen S, Wohlleben W. Towards a tiered strategy to assess microplastic inhalation toxicity. EUROTOX: September 2023.

    Santizo K, Mangold H, Wohlleben W, Sarau G, Christiansen S, Hansen T. Microplastic References for Inhalation Toxicity. Inhaled Particles Conference: May 2023.

    Published Papers

    N/A

  • Modeling fragmentation of micro- and nano-plastics in the environment

    April 16, 2024

    Researchers / Institutional Affiliations

    Principal Investigator

    • Dr. Claus Svendsen
      UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

    Collaborators

    • Dr. Wendel Wohlleben
      BASF
      (Germany)
    • Dr. Antonia Praetorius
      University of Amsterdam
      (The Netherlands)
    • Dr. Prof Mark R Wiesner
      Duke University
      (US)

    Timeline

    October 2021 to June 2024

    Additional Information

    The ECO59 FRAGMENT-MNP (Micro and NanoPlastic FRAGMentation in the Environment) project applies physical chemistry, fluid mechanics, material science and data science to extend researchers’ experience with existing fragmentation theory. This is expected to provide a unified view of how key environmental factors affect degradation and fragmentation rates for polymer particles. The project has the following elements: bringing together a ‘cluster’ of projects being funded by Cefic-LRI to ensure interoperability and sharing of learnings; developing an open-source mechanistic model; and providing an experimental database of key parameters leveraging in-house databases, existing literature and targeted gap-filling experiments.

    Further details are available here.

    Professional Presentations

    Wohlleben W, Santizo K, Pfohl P, Harrison S, Cross R, Sipe JM, Wiesner M, Adediran G, Praetorius A, Catrouillet C, Lopez B, Scendsen C. Systematic comparison of environmental stresses (shear, humidity, UV, pH, temperature, enzymes) on microplastic fragmentation and release of nanoplastics and dissolved organics. SETAC Europe: May 2024. See details here.

    Sipe J, Lewis A, Santizo K, Pfohl P, Lopez B, Harrison S, Wohlleben W, Wiesner M, Ferguson PL. Breaking down Plastics: Can we predict fragmentation and release of microplastics into the environment: University of Arizona Seminar: October 2023.

    Santizo K, Pfohl P, Wohlleben W, Sipe JM, Wiesner M, Harrison S, Cross R, Adediran G, Praetorius A, Lopez B, Svendsen C. Systematic evaluation of fragmentation of five common synthetic polymers: Influence of photolysis, temperature and relative humidity on fragment size distribution and material characteristics. SETAC Europe: May 2023.

    Santizo K, Pfohl P, Wohlleben W, Sipe JM, Wiesner M, Harrison S, Cross R, Adediran G, Praetorius A, Lopez B, Svenden. Distinctions on fragmentation and degradation of six common microplastics from hydrolysis condition variations: Insights into pH, salinity and enzyme effects. SETAC Europe: May 2023.

    Sipe J, Lewis A, Santizo K, Pfohl P, Lopez B, Harrison S, Wohlleben W, Wiesner M, Ferguson PL. Breaking down the Plastic Problem: Can we predict how microplastics are fragmented and released. Brown University Seminar: March 2023.

    Published Papers

    N/A

  • Assessing long-range transport of microplastics

    April 16, 2024

    Researchers / Institutional Affiliations

    Principal Investigator

    • Dr. Antonia Praetorius
      University of Amsterdam
      (The Netherlands)

    Collaborators

    • Dr. Todd Gouin
      TG Environmental Research
      (UK)
    • Prof. Mick Whelan
      University of Leicester
      (UK)

    Timeline

    March 2019 to March 2021

    Additional Information

    The μPLANET modelling framework uses state-of-the art advances in multimedia environmental fate modelling, integrating knowledge of the fate and transport of microplastics and naturally-occurring particles with similar properties, and strengthening understanding of processes influencing long-range environmental transport. Objectives included: applying the microBETR global model to transfer of microplastics from coasts to open oceans; developing models of transfer from rivers to oceans; and devising long-range environmental transport metrics for evaluating and prioritizing microplastics. Project outputs were integrated into a flexible tool that could be integrated into the modeling framework developed by the UTOPIA project.

    Further details are available here.

    Professional Presentations

    Seijo M, Whelan M, Gouin T, Praetorius A. Beyond the Horizon: Unveling Transport Mechanisms and Residence Times of Atmospheric Micro- and Nanoplastics. SETAC Europe 2024. See details here.

    Published Papers

    N/A

  • Modelling microplastics in aquatic environments

    April 16, 2024

    Researchers / Institutional Affiliations

    Principal Investigator

    • Matthew MacLeod
      Stockholm University
      (Sweden)

    Collaborators

    • Dr. Antonia Praetorius
      University of Amsterdam
      (The Netherlands)
    • Dr. Prado Domercq
      Stockholm University
      (Sweden)
    • Dr. Sam Harrison
      Lancaster Environment Centre
      (UK)

    Timeline

    October 2021 to September 2024

    Additional Information

    The UTOPIA project set out to develop a global, open-source multimedia modeling platform to synthesize information on the environmental fate of microplastics. The platform is intended to:

    • Describe fate processes for microplastic with reference equations, including:
      • Movement between air, freshwater rivers and lakes and their underlying sediment, coastal marine areas and urban, agricultural and background soils
      • Fragmentation into smaller plastic particles
      • Association of microplastic and organic matter due to biofouling and aggregation
      • Chemical degradation into small organic molecules that do not have characteristics of plastics and can be biodegraded
    • Offer a user-friendly interface to allow non-experts to extract data on items of interest
    • Include a generic database of microplastic properties (such as size, density and shape), enabling the model’s use for scenario analysis
    • Have a modular design so that expert users can further develop and update the model
    • Provide a reference modeling platform for screening-level risk assessment, calculation of hazard indicators, and identification of knowledge gaps and drivers of uncertainty. This will support hypothesis generation for environmental monitoring and process studies

    More detail is available here.

    Professional Presentations

    del Prado Domercq M, MacLeod M, Praetorius A, Harrison S. UTOPIA: Advancing Microplastic Understanding Through-Based Mass-Balance Modeling. SETAC Europe 2024. Available May 2024.

    Published Papers

    MacLeod M, Domercq P, Harrison S, Praetorius A. Computational models to confront the complex pollution footprint of plastic in the environment. Nature Computational Science, 2023, 3, 486-494. DOI: 10.1038/s43588-023-00445-y. Available May 2024.

  • Applying EU hazard assessment frameworks to microplastics

    April 16, 2024

    Researchers / Institutional Affiliations

    Principal Investigator

    • Dr. Bart Koelmans
      Wageningen University
      (The Netherlands)

    Collaborators

    • Dr. Martine van den Heuvel-Greve
      Wageningen Marine Research
      (The Netherlands)
    • Dr. Ivo Roessink
      Wageningen Environmental Research
      (The Netherlands)

    Timeline

    March 2019 to March 2021

    Additional Information

    The Microplastic Effect Thresholds for Aquatic Species (METAS) project assessed the applicability and adaptability of the existing EU hazard assessment framework to solid polymer particles. This provides insight into the relative hazard of these particles and helps to identify future targeted testing efforts. METAS also set out to offer guidance on testing methods for microplastic particles, and how to assess threshold levels of microplastics that affect aquatic organisms. The researchers provided guidance on the implications of the project’s findings for the environmental hazard and risk assessment of microplastics.

    Further details are available here.

    Professional Presentations

    de Ruijter VN, Hof M, Kotorou P, van Leeuwen J, van den Heuvel Greve MJ, Roessink I, Koelmans AA. Testing the effects of environmentally relevant microplastic in sediment on sixteen invertebrate species under ecologically relevant conditions. Available here.

    Published Papers

    de Ruijter VN, Redondo-Hasselerharm PE, Gouin T, Koelmans AA. Quality Criteria for Microplastic Effect Studies in the Context of Risk Assessment: A Critical Review. Environmental Science & Technology, 2020, 54 (19), 11692-11705. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c03057. Available here.

    de Ruijter VN, Hof M, Kotorou P, van Leeuwen J, van den Heuvel Greve MJ, Roessink I,
    Koelmans AA. Microplastic Effect Tests Should Use a Standard Heterogenous Mixture:
    Multifarious Impacts among 16 Benthic Invertebrate Species Detected under Ecologically Relevant Test Conditions. Environmental Science & Technology, 2023, 57 (48), 19430-19441. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c06829. Available 2Q2024.

  • Modelling microplastics in aquatic environments

    April 16, 2024

    Researchers / Institutional Affiliations

    Principal Investigator

    • Matthew MacLeod
      Stockholm University
      (Sweden)

    Collaborators

    • Dr Antonia Praetorius
      University of Amsterdam
      (The Netherlands)
    • Dr Maria del Prado Domercq
      Stockholm University
      (Sweden)

    Timeline

    March 2019 to March 2021

    Additional Information

    Environmental fate models can provide exposure predictions, improve process understanding and evaluate future scenarios. Existing modelling approaches for engineered nanoparticles offer a suitable starting point for nano- and microplastic fate models. Adjustments are required to account for wider size range, typically lower density of plastic particles, and possible weathering and fragmentation. This project set out to extend models of the environmental fate and transport of nanoparticles to open-source models for microplastics in aquatic systems, hence the project name of Nano2Plast. Predicted environmental concentrations and distributions between environmental compartments were calculated using these models for various microplastics. The microplastics model will be used with an open-source model of a regional-scale river, and integrated into BETR Global, an open-source, global-scale multimedia contaminant fate model.

    Further details are available here.

    Professional Presentations

    Praetorius A, McLeod M. Fate and transport models for nano- and microplastics. SETAC Europe SciCon 30th Annual Meeting, May 2020, online. Available here

    Published Papers

    Domercq P, Praetorius A, MacLeod M. The Full Multi: An open-source framework for modelling the transport and fate of nano- and microplastics in aquatic systems. Environmental Modelling & Software, Volume 148, 2022, 105291, ISSN 1364-8152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2021.105291. Available here.

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