Risks of Plastic Debris: Unravelling Fact, Opinion, Perception, and Belief

Researcher and media alarms have caused plastic debris to be perceived as a major threat to humans and animals. However, although the waste of plastic in the environment is clearly undesirable for aesthetic and economic reasons, the actual environmental risks of different plastics and their associated chemicals remain largely unknown. Here we show how a systematic assessment of adverse outcome pathways based on ecologically relevant metrics for exposure and effect can bring risk assessment within reach. Results of such an assessment will help to respond to the current public worry in a balanced way and allow policy makers to take measures for scientifically sound reasons.

• Publication year

  2017

• Venue

  Environmental Science and Technology

• Publication date

  2017-10-03

• Fields of study

  Medicine, Engineering, Environmental Science

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.1021/acs.est.7b02219PMID 28971682PMCID 5677762
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

• Nanoplastics in the aquatic environment

  2018cited by this paper
• Reducing Uncertainty and Confronting Ignorance about the Possible Impacts of Weathering Plastic in the Marine Environment

  2017cited by this paper
• Advancing the quality of environmental microplastic research

  2017cited by this paper
• Using Numerical Model Simulations to Improve the Understanding of Micro-plastic Distribution and Pathways in the Marine Environment

  2017cited by this paper
• Fate of nano- and microplastic in freshwater systems: A modeling study.

  2017cited by this paper
• Three Lessons for the Microplastics Voyage.

  2017cited by this paper
• Microplastics are not important for the cycling and bioaccumulation of organic pollutants in the oceans—but should microplastics be considered POPs themselves?

  2017cited by this paper
• The Effect of Microplastic on the Uptake of Chemicals by the Lugworm Arenicola marina (L.) under Environmentally Relevant Exposure Conditions

  2017cited by this paper
• Quantitative Adverse Outcome Pathways and Their Application to Predictive Toxicology.

  2017cited by this paper
• Plastic and Human Health: A Micro Issue?

  2017cited by this paper
• Ups and Downs in the Ocean: Effects of Biofouling on Vertical Transport of Microplastics

  2017cited by this paper
• Addressing the Issue of Microplastics in the Wake of the Microbead-Free Waters Act-A New Standard Can Facilitate Improved Policy.

  2017cited by this paper
• Emission of microplastics and potential mitigation measures : Abrasive cleaning agents, paints and tyre wear

  2016cited by this paper
• Plastic debris and policy: Using current scientific understanding to invoke positive change

  2016cited by this paper
• Regulatory assessment of chemical mixtures: Requirements, current approaches and future perspectives.

  2016cited by this paper
• Presence of microplastics and nanoplastics in food, with particular focus on seafood

  2016cited by this paper
• Eco-epidemiology of aquatic ecosystems: Separating chemicals from multiple stressors.

  2016cited by this paper
• Definition and use of Solution-focused Sustainability Assessment: A novel approach to generate, explore and decide on sustainable solutions for wicked problems.

  2016cited by this paper
• Microplastic exposure studies should be environmentally realistic

  2016cited by this paper
• Microplastic as a Vector for Chemicals in the Aquatic Environment: Critical Review and Model-Supported Reinterpretation of Empirical Studies

  2016cited by this paper
• Relative importance of microplastics as a pathway for the transfer of hydrophobic organic chemicals to marine life.

  2016cited by this paper
• CRED: Criteria for reporting and evaluating ecotoxicity data

  2016cited by this paper
• Interactions between microplastics and phytoplankton aggregates: Impact on their respective fates

  2015cited by this paper
• Epistemology of contaminants of emerging concern and literature meta-analysis.

  2015cited by this paper
• Microplastics in sediments: A review of techniques, occurrence and effects.

  2015cited by this paper
• Losing sight of science in the regulatory push to ban microbeads from consumer products and industrial use

  2015cited by this paper
• Guidance for the prognostic risk assessment of nanomaterials in aquatic ecosystems.

  2015cited by this paper
• Methodology Used for the Detection and Identification of Microplastics—A Critical Appraisal

  2015cited by this paper
• Questions of size and numbers in environmental research on microplastics: methodological and conceptual aspects

  2015cited by this paper
• Nanoplastics in the Aquatic Environment. Critical Review

  2015cited by this paper
• Sources, fate and effects of microplastics in the marine environment: part 2 of a global assessment

  2015cited by this paper
• Defining an exposure–response relationship for suspended kaolin clay particulates and aquatic organisms: Work toward defining a water quality guideline for suspended solids

  2015cited by this paper
• Species sensitivity distributions for engineered nanomaterials.

  2015cited by this paper
• Plastic Pollution in the World's Oceans: More than 5 Trillion Plastic Pieces Weighing over 250,000 Tons Afloat at Sea

  2014cited by this paper
• Trend in global black carbon emissions from 1960 to 2007.

  2014cited by this paper
• Activist Science and Technology Education

  2014cited by this paper
• A demonstration of the necessity and feasibility of using a clumsy decision analytic approach on wicked environmental problems

  2013cited by this paper
• Effects of nanopolystyrene on the feeding behavior of the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis L.)

  2012cited by this paper
• Publication bias: what are the challenges and can they be overcome?

  2012cited by this paper
• Making ecosystem reality checks the status quo

  2012cited by this paper
• Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming

  2011cited by this paper
• Meditations on the ubiquity and mutability of nano-sized materials in the environment.

  2011cited by this paper
• A comparison of scope for growth (SFG) and dynamic energy budget (DEB) models applied to the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis)

  2011cited by this paper
• Principles and Methods for the Risk Assessment of Chemicals in Food

  2011cited by this paper
• Adverse outcome pathways: A conceptual framework to support ecotoxicology research and risk assessment

  2010cited by this paper
• Book Reviews

  2009cited by this paper
• Species sensitivity distributions for suspended clays, sediment burial, and grain size change in the marine environment

  2008cited by this paper
• :The Honest Broker: Making Sense of Science in Policy and Politics

  2008cited by this paper
• Complex mixture toxicity for single and multiple species: Proposed methodologies

  2005cited by this paper
• Mixture toxicity and its modeling by quantitative structure‐activity relationships

  2003cited by this paper
• A systematic approach for evaluating the quality of experimental toxicological and ecotoxicological data.

  1997cited by this paper

• Machine-Learning-Accelerated Prediction of Water Quality Criteria for Microplastics

  2026cites this paper
• Interplay between microplastics and natural organic matter in association with environmental processes

  2026cites this paper
• The Mitochondrial Battleground: A Review of Microplastic-Induced Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Pathways in Human Health

  2026cites this paper
• A probabilistic risk framework for microplastics integrating uncertainty across toxicological and environmental variability: Development and application to marine and freshwater ecosystems.

  2026cites this paper
• Combined Exposure of Microplastics and Climate Warming Affects the Bacteria-Driven Macrophyte Litter Decomposition in an Urban Lake

  2026cites this paper
• Do microplastics pose health hazard?: A laboratory study by Oreochromis niloticus

  2026cites this paper
• An experimental study on microplastic settling velocities in different water environments: Which factors shape the settling process?

  2025cites this paper
• Not just a corridor: Hydrodynamic traps and fiber risk in the Kuroshio extension.

  2025cites this paper
• Risk assessment of tire wear in the environment - a literature review.

  2025cites this paper
• A Review of Processes and Models for the Export of Microplastics From Terrestrial to Aquatic Systems

  2025cites this paper
• Scientists’ mental models of microplastics: insights into expert perceptions from an exploratory comparison of research methods

  2025cites this paper
• Emissions of water-soluble polymers from household products to the environment: a prioritization study

  2025cites this paper
• Yüzey suları ve sedimentlerde mikroplastiklerin toksisite ve risk değerlendirmesi: Güncel yaklaşımlar ve sınırlamalar

  2025cites this paper
• Microplastic Bioaccumulation and Oxidative Stress in Key Species of the Bulgarian Black Sea: Ecosystem Risk Early Warning

  2025cites this paper
• Mapping Microplastics in Zarivar Lake's Water Column, Western Iran: A Study on Abundance, Composition, and Ecological Risk Assessment

  2025cites this paper
• Understanding the co-adsorption mechanism between nanoplastics and neonicotinoid insecticides from an atomistic perspective

  2025cites this paper
• Динамика аккумуляции микропластика в пресноводных экосистемах России: пространственно-временные закономерности и экологические последствия

  2025cites this paper
• Accelerating microplastic analysis with machine learning: Utilizing multi-layer perceptron (MLP) for classification of hyperspectral data

  2025cites this paper
• Trailing the flow: source, fate and sink of microplastics in global rivers

  2025cites this paper
• Increasing our understanding of coastal microplastics and mesoplastics: a comparison of sampling methodologies using volunteer researchers

  2025cites this paper
• Aquaculture in the crossroad of microplastic contamination.

  2025cites this paper
• Plastic pollution in mangrove ecosystems: A global meta-analysis.

  2025cites this paper
• The wheel of time: The environmental dance of aged micro- and nanoplastics and their biological resonance

  2025cites this paper
• A brief history of microplastics effect testing: Guidance and prospect.

  2025cites this paper
• Advancing water quality model intercomparisons under global change: perspectives from the new ISIMIP water quality sector

  2025cites this paper
• Fabrication of low-cost ceramic microfiltration membranes with controllable pore size distribution using nanometer attapulgite for gravity-driven filtration of microplastic-contaminated roofing rainwater.

  2025cites this paper
• Non-selective feeding on microplastics in the acorn barnacle Amphibalanus amphitrite: the implications in assessing barnacles as global microplastics bioindicators

  2025cites this paper
• The potential of microplastics acting as vector for triclosan in aquatic environments.

  2025cites this paper
• Polystyrene microplastics cross the murine intestine and induce inflammatory cell death after phagocytosis by human monocytes and neutrophils

  2025cites this paper
• Pesticide, Veterinary Medicines, and Microplastics: Bipartite and Tripartite Interactions Drive the Transformation of Albendazole and Pyraclostrobin in Agricultural Soils

  2025cites this paper
• Assessment of Microplastic Pollution and Ecological Implications in the Tropical Marine Parks of Pulau Payar and Pulau Songsong, Malaysia

  2025cites this paper
• Reimagining Florida's Plastic Policies and Co-Developing Management Alternatives

  2025cites this paper
• Quantifying the Effect of Dietary Microplastics on the Potential for Biological Uptake of Environmental Contaminants and Polymer Additives.

  2025cites this paper
• Microplastics hot spots at the South Iberian Margin

  2025cites this paper
• Natural Pyrolusite-Catalyzed Ozonation for Nanoplastics Degradation

  2025cites this paper
• Bridging Circular Design Strategies and Natural Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites: A Preliminary Conceptual Framework

  2025cites this paper
• Traffic-related micro- and nanoplastics in air increase total and differential white blood cell counts in healthy young adults.

  2025cites this paper
• From Spat to Adult: Investigating Microplastic Accumulation in Crassostrea hongkongensis of Varying Sizes.

  2025cites this paper
• Development of biaxial evaluation matrix combining clean coast index (CCI) and Z-score: a case study of Philippine coastal sites

  2025cites this paper
• Marine microplastic pollution & misinformation in the public sphere: a systematic review

  2024cites this paper
• The interaction between plastics and microalgae affects community assembly and nutrient availability

  2024cites this paper
• Plastic Pollution in Paradise: Analyzing Plastic Litter on Malta’s Beaches and Assessing the Release of Potentially Toxic Elements

  2024cites this paper
• Microplastics in freshwater ecosystems: A significant force of disrupting health and altering trophic transfer patterns by reduced assimilation efficiency of aquatic organisms

  2024cites this paper
• Evaluating microplastic particles as vectors of exposure for plastic additive chemicals using a food web model

  2024cites this paper
• Micro(nano)plastics as Emerging Pollutants in Global Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems: A Bibliometric Analysis

  2024cites this paper
• Beyond surface: Unveiling ecological and economic ramifications of microplastic pollution in the oceans

  2024cites this paper
• Unveiling the Molecular Mechanisms of Size-Dependent Effect of Polystyrene Micro/nano-plastics on Chlamydomonas reinhardtii through Proteomic Profiling.

  2024cites this paper
• How can there be an economic transition to a green ecosystem by adapting plastic-to-fuel technologies through renewable energy?

  2024cites this paper
• White Stork Pellets: Non-Invasive Solution to Monitor Anthropogenic Particle Pollution

  2024cites this paper
• Seasonal Distribution, Characterization, Indexing and Risk Assessment of Micro- and Nanoplastics in Coastal Sediments: a Case Study from Istanbul

  2024cites this paper
• Microplastics in fish species from the eastern Guangdong: Implications to Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) and human health.

  2024cites this paper
• Probabilistic risk assessment of microplastics in Tai Lake, China.

  2024cites this paper
• Polystyrene Plastic Particles Result in Adverse Outcomes for Hyalella azteca When Exposed at Elevated Temperatures

  2024cites this paper
• Abundance of microplastics at and near a shellfish aquaculture farm: An eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) transplant study.

  2024cites this paper
• Source-specific probabilistic risk assessment of microplastics in soils applying quality criteria and data alignment methods.

  2024cites this paper
• Addressing data gaps in deriving aquatic life ambient water quality criteria for contaminants of emerging concern: Challenges and the potential of in silico methods.

  2024cites this paper
• Source of plastic contamination of the rivers ending to the Gorgan Bay, southeast of the Caspian Sea, Iran

  2024cites this paper
• Perspectives on Plastic Waste Management: Challenges and Possible Solutions to Ensure Its Sustainable Use

  2024cites this paper
• Microplastics versus natural mineral particles. How to create and test them while maintaining environmental relevance.

  2024cites this paper
• River plastic transport affected by tidal dynamics

  2024cites this paper
• Microplastics in seafood: Consumer preferences and valuation for mitigation technologies.

  2024cites this paper
• Recent advances in nanotechnology-based modifications of micro/nano PET plastics for green energy applications.

  2024cites this paper
• Unfolding the science behind policy initiatives targeting plastic pollution

  2023cites this paper
• The emergence of microplastics: charting the path from research to regulations

  2023cites this paper
• The environmental fate of nanoplastics: What we know and what we need to know about aggregation.

  2023cites this paper
• Introducing an “invisible enemy”: A case study of knowledge construction regarding microplastics in Japanese Wikipedia

  2023cites this paper
• Microplastics toxicity, detection, and removal from water/wastewater.

  2023cites this paper
• Distribution of microplastics in freshwater systems in an urbanized region: A case study in Flanders (Belgium).

  2023cites this paper
• Potential risk of co-occurrence of microplastics and chlorinated persistent organic pollutants to coastal wetlands: Evidence from a case study.

  2023cites this paper
• On the probability of ecological risks from microplastics in the Laurentian Great lakes.

  2023cites this paper
• Extraction and concentration of nanoplastic particles from aqueous suspensions using functionalized magnetic nanoparticles and a magnetic flow cell

  2023cites this paper
• Pearl Farming Micro-Nanoplastics Affect Oyster Physiology and Pearl Quality.

  2023cites this paper
• Plastic Emissions from Mulch Film and Abatement Measures — a Model-Based Assessment for Germany

  2023cites this paper
• Microplastic burden in marine benthic invertebrates depends on species traits and feeding ecology within biogeographical provinces

  2023cites this paper
• Comparison of concentration, shape, and polymer composition between microplastics and mesoplastics in Japanese river waters.

  2023cites this paper
• A Critical Assessment of Microplastics in Molluscan Shellfish with Recommendations for Experimental Protocols, Animal Husbandry, Publication, and Future Research

  2023cites this paper
• Analysis of micro- and nanoplastics in wastewater treatment plants: key steps and environmental risk considerations

  2023cites this paper
• Exploring the influence of sediment motion on microplastic deposition in streambeds.

  2023cites this paper
• Shape- and polymer-considered simulation to unravel the estuarine microplastics fate.

  2023cites this paper
• Abundance, characteristics, and ecological risks of microplastics in the riverbed sediments around Dhaka city.

  2023cites this paper
• Accumulation and exposure classifications of plastics in the different coastal habitats in the western Philippine archipelago.

  2023cites this paper
• Bacterial Interactions with Nanoplastics and the Environmental Effects They Cause

  2023cites this paper
• Effects of Shape and Size on Microplastic Atmospheric Settling Velocity.

  2023cites this paper
• In situ effects of microplastics on the decomposition of aquatic macrophyte litter in eutrophic shallow lake sediments, China.

  2023cites this paper
• Tidal dynamics limit river plastic transport

  2023cites this paper
• Microplastics as heavy metal vectors in the freshwater environment: Distribution, variations, sources and health risk

  2023cites this paper
• Tackling microplastics pollution in global environment through integration of applied technology, policy instruments, and legislation.

  2023cites this paper
• Urbanization and population resources affect microplastic concentration in surface water of the River Ganga

  2023cites this paper
• Enhanced membrane fouling by microplastics during nanofiltration of secondary effluent considering secretion, interaction and deposition of extracellular polymeric substances.

  2023cites this paper
• Partial and Temporal Variations in Concentration of Micro Plastic in Drinking Water of Al-Hilla River

  2023cites this paper
• A multi-taxonomic, trait-based framework for assessing macroplastic vulnerability.

  2023cites this paper
• The importance of discourse when discussing microplastic pollution with oyster stakeholders in Massachusetts, USA

  2023cites this paper
• Combined Toxicities of Di-Butyl Phthalate and Polyethylene Terephthalate to Zebrafish Embryos

  2023cites this paper
• Polyethylene Microplastic Particles Alter the Nature, Bacterial Community and Metabolite Profile of Reed Rhizosphere Soils

  2023cites this paper
• Marine plastic: The solution is bigger than removal

  2023cites this paper
• New insights into the distribution, potential source and risk of microplastics in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

  2023cites this paper
• Quantifying Plastic Waste and Microplastic Contamination in African Aquatic Systems: An Imperative for Sustainable Waste Management

  2023cites this paper
• Effects of microplastic exposure on the early developmental period and circadian rhythm of zebrafish (Danio rerio): A comparative study of polylactic acid and polyglycolic acid.

  2023cites this paper
• Microplastic in mangroves: A worldwide review of contamination in biotic and abiotic matrices.

  2023cites this paper
• Accumulation, Depuration, and Biological Effects of Polystyrene Microplastic Spheres and Adsorbed Cadmium and Benzo(a)pyrene on the Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

  2022cites this paper