Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Horton, Alice A.

Titel

Plastic pollution: When do we know enough?

Ist Teil von

• Journal of hazardous materials, 2022-01, Vol.422, p.126885-126885, Article 126885

Ort / Verlag

Netherlands: Elsevier B.V

Erscheinungsjahr

2022

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Plastic pollution is one of today’s great environmental challenges. Research addressing the issue of plastic pollution is growing, improving our predictions of risk, and informing the development of long-term solutions and mitigations. Nonetheless, sufficient evidence already exists to show that immediate and widespread action must be taken to reduce plastic release to the environment, and thus limit future harm. Given the cross-sector and multi-stakeholder approach that will be required to address plastic pollution, it is essential that contrasting opinions and misconceptions are tackled with respect to the status of knowledge, relative importance of plastics as an environmental stressor, and measures to reduce or mitigate harm from plastics in the environment. This perspective article lays out some key considerations and recommendations for moving forward with respect to both research and action. [Display omitted] •Public and scientific opinion on plastic pollution often contrast.•Open dialogue and mutual understanding between stakeholders are essential.•Hazards posed by plastics depend on material, environmental and biological factors.•Ongoing research is necessary to address multiple remaining uncertainties.•Sufficient evidence of harm exists to justify action to tackle problem plastics.