Project Description
Microplastics are small plastic particles <5mm in size, which have over the past decade been increasingly detected in almost every environment on Earth, including some of the most remote places such as deep sea trenches, polar ice and the Himalayas. This project, along with several other projects carried out by our group, focuses on the occurrence and toxicity of microplastics in the environment. Our principal aim is to identify the types of microplastics in the environment and their sources, so that appropriate mitigation strategies can be implemented to reduce microplastics pollution.
Project Personnel and Beneficiaries
Academics, water industry professionals, environmental and health regulators.
Outcomes to Date
Our work on microplastics has identified microfibres from laundry washing machines and rubber from tire and road wear particles as the primary microplastics in water and air. In most cases, the concentrations of microplastics detected were below health concern, but with rapidly increasing plastic use, minimal recycling, and long persistence of plastics in the environment, it is likely that they will become a health concern in the future. Source control (eg, by installing microfibre filters on washing machines and dryers for example) is key to reducing this type of pollution, and there is now a strong evidence base to support regulatory action.
Project Significance
Microplastics are distributed globally, as a consequence of human activity. There are still many knowledge gaps on the sources, occurrence and toxicity of microplastics. This project will build a more comprehensive picture on microplastics in the environment, enabling science-based decision making to reduce global microplastic contamination.