Scientists say there is enough evidence to agree global action on microplastics

Science has provided more than enough evidence to inform a collective, global approach to combating the continued spread of plastic pollution, according to a new report.

Write in the journal ScienceAn international group of experts says the need for global action to tackle all forms of plastic debris and microplastics has never been more pressing.

It is clear that existing national legislation alone is not enough to address the challenge, they say, and the UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution – which will undergo its fifth round of deliberations in November 2024 – presents a “tangible opportunity” for joint international action.

But for such a treaty to be truly effective, it must commit to reducing plastic production overall and take steps to reduce emissions and releases of microplastic particles throughout the plastic’s life cycle. Failure to do so, the researchers add, could result in “a high risk of irreversible environmental damage.”

The paper was written to mark the 20th anniversary of the very first study, also published in the journal Scienceto coin the term microplastics to describe the microscopic fragments of plastic present in our ocean.

Both studies were led by Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS, Director of the International Marine Litter Research Unit at the University of Plymouth and Coordinator of the Coalition of Scientists for an Effective Plastics Treaty.

It was co-authored by experts in marine biology, sustainability, environmental psychology, global plastics policy and risk assessment from: the University of Plymouth, Bangor University (UK); EA-Earth Action (Switzerland); the University of Vienna (Austria); the University of Wollongong (Australia); and Wageningen University (the Netherlands).

Professor Thompson said: “After 20 years of research, there is clear evidence of the harmful effects of microplastic pollution on a global scale. This includes physical harm to wildlife, damage to societies and crops, and a growing body of evidence of harm to humans. Added to this is the fact that microplastics are persistent contaminants and once in the environment, it is virtually impossible to remove them.”

“There are still unknowns, but in the 20 years since our first study, the amount of plastic in our oceans has increased by around 50%, which only further underscores the urgent need for action.”

Since the first study was published in 2004, approximately 7,000 research studies have been conducted on microplastics, providing considerable evidence on their sources and impacts as well as potential solutions.

Microplastics have been found all over the world, in more than 1,300 aquatic and terrestrial species, in the foods and drinks we consume, and in many tissues and organs of the human body.

With emissions of microplastics into the environment estimated at 40 megatonnes per year, a figure that could double by 2040, predictions indicate the potential for large-scale environmental damage over the next century.

Sabine Pahl, Professor of Urban and Environmental Psychology at the University of Vienna and Honorary Professor at the University of Plymouth, added: “Plastic pollution is entirely caused by human activities. Therefore, we need research into perceptions of the risks and benefits of plastic and other drivers of policy support and change, incorporating a social science perspective.”