A new policy brief delivered to parliament has called for a more robust and comprehensive approach to tackling the ‘hidden crisis’.
Presented by the University of Portsmouth’s Global Plastics Policy Centre, scientists have pointed to steps taken by the US and EU, introducing enforceable targets on microplastics in areas such as wastewater and drinking water. In comparison, the UK is falling behind, with no research funding currently allocated to establish safe exposure limits and potential interventions.
The policy brief pointed to overlooked areas such as air and soil contamination in particular, both of which have only relatively recently been associated with microplastics. A term that refers to tiny particles which have broken away from larger pieces, these have been found deep in the human body, including the brain, and in some of the most remote places on the planet.
‘Microplastic pollution represents a complex, transboundary policy challenge with implications for environmental health, public well-being, and long-term economic resilience. Its diffuse sources and persistence across ecosystems call for a coordinated and forward-looking response,’ said Dr Antaya March, the director of the Global Plastics Policy Centre, told The Guardian. ‘The fact that the evidence is still emerging should not be a reason to delay action. A national roadmap informed by international developments is not only timely but necessary to ensure policy coherence and future readiness.’
‘Microplastic pollution is an escalating threat with potentially irreversible consequences. Without decisive action, the UK’s environment and global leadership will be compromised, with potential impacts to public health. Implementing a robust, forward-looking microplastic policy framework is urgent and essential to protect us, our environment and the economy,’ added Professor Fay Couceiro, of the Microplastics Research Group at the University of Portsmouth.
Image: FlyD / Unsplash
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