Microplastics and nanoplastics, collectively referred to as MNPs, are synthetic polymer particles that come from both the intentional manufacture of small plastic particles (eg, glitter) and the breakdown of larger plastic items.
This report collates existing information on micro- and nanoplastics in soil, water, and air. The findings show that MNPs are now recognised as global pollutants and are widespread across all environmental domains. MNPs interact with organisms from all levels of food webs, including humans. However, uncertainties remain about their impacts.
It is found that, overall, the state of knowledge is medium/unresolved. The report recommends establishing routine and coordinated MNP monitoring programmes across air, water and soils to improve our knowledge of how much MNPs are in the environment, the different MNP particle types and to what extent organisms and people are likely to be exposed to them.
This report complements the Ministry for the Environment’s commissioned stocktake of 55 environmental attributes covering air, terrestrial, soil, freshwater, and estuaries and coastal waters domains.
Microplastics and nanoplastics, collectively referred to as MNPs, are synthetic polymer particles that come from both the intentional manufacture of small plastic particles (eg, glitter) and the breakdown of larger plastic items.
This report collates existing information on micro- and nanoplastics in soil, water, and air. The findings show that MNPs are now recognised as global pollutants and are widespread across all environmental domains. MNPs interact with organisms from all levels of food webs, including humans. However, uncertainties remain about their impacts.
It is found that, overall, the state of knowledge is medium/unresolved. The report recommends establishing routine and coordinated MNP monitoring programmes across air, water and soils to improve our knowledge of how much MNPs are in the environment, the different MNP particle types and to what extent organisms and people are likely to be exposed to them.
This report complements the Ministry for the Environment’s commissioned stocktake of 55 environmental attributes covering air, terrestrial, soil, freshwater, and estuaries and coastal waters domains.