TY - JOUR
T1 - Plastics in the environment in the context of UV radiation, climate change and the Montreal Protocol: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2023
AU - Jansen, Marcel
AU - Andrady, Anthony
AU - Bornman, Janet
AU - Aucamp, Pieter
AU - Bais, Alkiviadis
AU - Banaszak, Anastazia
AU - Barnes, Paul
AU - Bernhard, Germar
AU - Bruckman, Laura
AU - Busquets, Rosa
AU - Häder, Donat
AU - Hanson, Mark
AU - Heikkilä, Anu
AU - Hylander, Samuel
AU - Lucas, Robyn
AU - Mackenzie, Roy
AU - Madronich, Sasha
AU - Neale, Patrick
AU - Neale, Rachel
AU - Olsen, Catherine
AU - Ossola, Rachele
AU - Pandey, Krishna
AU - Petropavlovskikh, Irina
AU - Revell, Laura
AU - Robinson, Sharon
AU - Robson, Matthew
AU - Rose, Kevin
AU - Solomon, Keith
AU - Andersen, Mads P Sulbæk
AU - Sulzberger, Barbara
AU - Wallington, Timothy
AU - Wang, Qing-Wei
AU - Wängberg, Sten-Åke
AU - White, Christopher
AU - Young, Antony
AU - Zepp, Richard
AU - Zhu, Liping
N1 - T. Matthew Robson, UK National School of Forestry, University of Cumbria, Ambleside, UK and Faculty of Biological & Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland.
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PY - 2024/3/21
Y1 - 2024/3/21
N2 - This Assessment Update by the Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) considers the interactive effects of solar UV radiation, global warming, and other weathering factors on plastics. The Assessment illustrates the significance of solar UV radiation in decreasing the durability of plastic materials, degradation of plastic debris, formation of micro- and nanoplastic particles and accompanying leaching of potential toxic compounds. Micro- and nanoplastics have been found in all ecosystems, the atmosphere, and in humans. While the potential biological risks are not yet well-established, the widespread and increasing occurrence of plastic pollution is reason for continuing research and monitoring. Plastic debris persists after its intended life in soils, water bodies and the atmosphere as well as in living organisms. To counteract accumulation of plastics in the environment, the lifetime of novel plastics or plastic alternatives should better match the functional life of products, with eventual breakdown releasing harmless substances to the environment.
AB - This Assessment Update by the Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) considers the interactive effects of solar UV radiation, global warming, and other weathering factors on plastics. The Assessment illustrates the significance of solar UV radiation in decreasing the durability of plastic materials, degradation of plastic debris, formation of micro- and nanoplastic particles and accompanying leaching of potential toxic compounds. Micro- and nanoplastics have been found in all ecosystems, the atmosphere, and in humans. While the potential biological risks are not yet well-established, the widespread and increasing occurrence of plastic pollution is reason for continuing research and monitoring. Plastic debris persists after its intended life in soils, water bodies and the atmosphere as well as in living organisms. To counteract accumulation of plastics in the environment, the lifetime of novel plastics or plastic alternatives should better match the functional life of products, with eventual breakdown releasing harmless substances to the environment.
U2 - 10.1007/s43630-024-00552-3
DO - 10.1007/s43630-024-00552-3
M3 - Journal Article
SN - 1474-905X
JO - Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
JF - Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
ER -