Microplastics are ubiquitous in the natural environment. This report synthesises the current state of knowledge on the sources, fate and risks of microplastics pollution. It then focuses on two sources of microplastics pollution, textile products and vehicle tyres, due to their substantial contribution to global microplastics emissions and currently largely absent policy frameworks to mitigate them.

Microplastics are ubiquitous in the natural environment. This report synthesises the current state of knowledge on the sources, fate and risks of microplastics pollution. It then focuses on two sources of microplastics pollution, textile products and vehicle tyres, due to their substantial contribution to global microplastics emissions and currently largely absent policy frameworks to mitigate them. Several best practices and technological solutions can be implemented along the lifecycle of textile products and vehicle tyres to mitigate releases to the environment. The report proposes policy insights on measures and strategies that could help minimise microplastics emitted unintentionally from products and their potential impacts on human health and ecosystems.

Microplastics are ubiquitous in the natural environment. This report synthesises the current state of knowledge on the sources, fate and risks of microplastics pollution. It then focuses on two sources of microplastics pollution, textile products and vehicle tyres, due to their substantial contribution to global microplastics emissions and currently largely absent policy frameworks to mitigate them. Several best practices and technological solutions can be implemented along the lifecycle of textile products and vehicle tyres to mitigate releases to the environment. The report proposes policy insights on measures and strategies that could help minimise microplastics emitted unintentionally from products and their potential impacts on human health and ecosystems.

While plastics are extremely useful materials for modern society, plastics production and waste generation continue to increase with worsening environmental impacts despite international, national and local policy responses, as well as industry commitments. The first of two reports, this Outlook intends to inform and support policy efforts to combat plastic leakage.

Microplastics Pollution and Worldwide Policies on Plastic Use discusses microplastic pollution and global policies developed to tackle the problem. It details the mechanisms of microplastics occurrence, sources, and impacts. It then offers a comprehensive overview of the various policies created by specific countries in Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Africa to address plastics use and minimize its effects. Describes microplastics pollution found worldwide in drinking water and food chains. Addresses policies implemented in Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Africa and details local policies for various countries within each region, including requirements and penalties for non-compliance. Explains the mission and vision of global organizations such as the United Nations, G7, World Economic Forum, World Bank, and Lisbon Treaty. This book is aimed at academics, industrial professionals, policy makers, and general readers interested in the mitigation of microplastic pollution.

Plastics provide multiple benefits to society, but their lifecycle − from feedstock extraction and polymer production to use and disposal − contributes to pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss. Current policies are inadequate to meaningfully alter trends in plastic flows and related pollution. This report provides insights into the potential environmental benefits and economic consequences of different levels of international policy ambition towards ending plastic pollution by 2040. Based on the quantification of the main drivers of plastics production and use, waste and pollution, the report provides projections of the plastics lifecycle, waste generation and treatment, as well as related leakage to the environment. The report presents and contrasts a range of policy scenarios with varying levels of ambition in terms of the stringency, lifecycle scope and geographical coverage of policies implemented. Its findings can inform a critical stage of international negotiations to develop a legally binding agreement to end plastic pollution.

In recent years, a wide variety of new chemicals have continued to be developed as a result of industrial development and associated anthropogenic activities. The microbial contaminants in the environment, more precisely, antibiotic-resistant genes/bacteria produced as a result of mutation due to antibacterial drugs, are also considered emerging contaminants and specifically called emerging microbial contaminants such as sapoviruses, Waddlia chondrophila and Streptococcus parauberis. Additionally, pharmaceuticals and personal care products are a diverse group of compounds that include ibuprofen, diclofenac, triclosan, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory agents, steroidal hormones and active ingredients in soaps, detergents and perfumes which could find their way into food materials, are tagged as emerging contaminants. Given this, Emerging Contaminants in Food and Food Products discusses issues around the emerging contaminants in food and food products. Different types of contaminants, such as biological, chemical, organic, inorganic and microbial contaminants in foods, ways of detecting them and regulations surrounding global food safety, are all covered. Key features: Discusses all the categories of contaminants in food and food products. Biological, chemical, organic, inorganic and microbial contaminants. Provides full information on emerging food contaminants, their effect on human and animal health, and how it affects global food security and emerging technological applications in solving this global problem. Gives detection and prevention strategies and guideline policies on emerging contaminants of foods. Brings into account global perspectives on food contaminants and health implications. This volume will serve as an information hub of emerging contaminants for scientists/researchers and professionals globally. This book is a good collection of independent chapters, which presents full insights into the study of emerging contamination in food and the effects of these contaminants in humans and animals.

This book examines the critical issue of environmental pollutants produced by the textiles industry. Comprised of contributions from environmental scientists and materials and textiles scientists, this edited volume addresses the environmental impact of microplastics, with a particular focus on microfibres released by textiles into marine and freshwater environments. The chapters in Part I offer environmental perspectives focusing on the measurement of microplastics in the environment, their ingestion by small plankton and larger filter feeders, the effects of consuming microplastics, and the role of microplastics as a vector for transferring toxic contaminants in food webs. Written by environmental and material scientists, the chapters in Part II present potential solutions to the problem of microplastics released from textiles, discussing parameters of influence, water treatment, degradation in aquatic environments, textile end-of-life management, textile manufacturing and laundry, and possible policy measures. This is a much needed volume which brings together in one place environmental research with technical solutions in order to provide a cohesive and practical approach to mitigating and preventing environmental pollution from the textiles industry going forward. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of environmental conservation and management, environmental pollution and environmental chemistry and toxicology, sustainability, as well as students and scholars of material and textiles science, textile engineering and sustainable manufacturing.

Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2022-566/