Parties involved: RIVM RWS Waterboards Deltares RIWA KWR NVWA Rikilt Universities Imares NIOZ IVM Stakeholders ngo’s In search of microplastics Anja Verschoor The Netherlands Outline Introduction Sources and prioritization Standardisation issues Introduction Health/ecological effects Abrasion, obstruction, inflammation Chemical toxicity Transfer in food chain Economic effects Medical costs, fishery, water treatment Quick scan and prioritization of microplastic sources Aim: Select relevant, feasible or urgent land-based sources for further investigation and potential measures. Selection of sources Based on: • National Emission registration • Results expert meeting (n=21) • Literature, internet Discharge to surface water Industry Sewage Sewage sludges sludges Oil refineries Energy sector Traffic and transport Discharge to sewer Stormwater overflows Discharge to air Waste disposal Trade, services and government Transboundary transfers Rainwater drains Sewer Deposition /run-off Untreated sewage Air Surface water Consumers Construction Effluent STP Deposition Agriculture Nature Discharge to soil Agricultural and natural soils Run-off and leaching Transboundary rivers Legend Sources Compartment Discharge Legend Transfer Transboundary input Prioritization Multi Criteria Analysis: 1.volume of the emission, 2.Essentiality of the source, 3.Possibility of quick win measures, 4.Social perception of risk 5.Choices for consumers Results Towards a definition of microplastics • Legal certainty • Level playing field • Consistent monitoring • Transparent Risk assessment • High protection level for man and environment Elements of microplastic definition 1. Chemical composition 2. Physical state: solid 3. Size 4. Solubility 5. Persistence Questions 1. Should organic-inorganic hybrid polymers (for example silicone) be considered as a potential source of microplastic? 2. Should semi-solids be considered as microplastics? 3. How should the presence of microplastic particle be expressed: in number or mass? 4. Is there a need for a lower size boundary? 5. Is there a need for a seamless connection with nano-materials definition? 6. Which tests can be done to study the degradability of microplastics? 7. What are the costs and benefits of the suggested options? This year: 1. Elaborate on detergents, pants and car tyre particles 2. Facilitate discussion about definition and harmonisation of montoring and analytical methods for microplastics. 3. Collect new data and evaluate existing data in order to develop a risk assessment framework (TRAMP project) Acknowledgements: Leon de Poorter , Erwin Roux, Bert Bellert, Ruud Peters Willie Peijnenburg, Joke Herremans, Charles Bodar Lex Oosterbaan, Louisa Crijns.