Is the Plastics Treaty a solution to microplastics?

We are responsible for 400 billion kilograms of plastic waste every year, 9.5 billion of which ends up in nature. 175 countries are therefore working on the UN Plastics Treaty to address the plastic pollution crisis. The final round of negotiations started at the end of November in Busan, South Korea. They will continue in 2025 as delegates recognised the need for more time to refine their plans. As plastic waste can break down into microplastics, there are concerns for the health of nature, animals, and humans. Dutch newspaper Volkskrant spoke with MOMENTUM researchers Bart Koelmans and Emma Kasteel about the potential dangers of microplastics for human health and the environment.

Microplastics are everywhere

Koelmans explains that microplastics end up everywhere. They are often associated with seas and oceans because that’s where they were first found. “But from calculations we now know that most plastic is probably in the soil”, says Koelmans. Kasteel adds that microplastics are also present in the air we breathe, our food, and our drinking water. “Once it ends up in nature, it is difficult to remove”. The microplastics can then enter our bodies via the lungs and gastrointestinal tract. “We have found microplastics in our blood, liver, brain, placenta, and breast milk”, says Kasteel.

Effects on our health

These microplastics in our bodies may be dangerous. Koelmans notes that there are more and more studies linking microplastics to diseases. They were found in arterial plaques, for example. Nevertheless, we should be careful to draw conclusions about the harmful effects of microplastics for our health, according to Kasteel. A clear causal relationship has not yet been shown between the presence of microplastics and medical problems.

Reducing plastic pollution

The countries involved in the treaty are working on policies to reduce the production of new plastic and make more use of recycled plastics. They also want to cut back on single-use plastics and ban the use of harmful polymers and additives during the production process. Koelmans points out that people also have an important role to play and that changes in behaviour are necessary. “People need to become aware of the materials they are bringing into their homes and how to dispose of them.”