The interactive roadmap can be used above or downloaded as a PDF file. Please click on the various interactive elements on page 3 to learn more about the MOMENTUM solution routes.

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs, plastic particles <5 mm) are increasingly present in our environment, our food, and even our bodies. While knowledge gaps remain around the human health risks of micro- and nanoplastics, there is growing urgency to identify and implement strategies to minimize potential health impacts.

The Dutch ZonMw/Health Holland project MOMENTUM 1.0 (2021–2024) laid the foundation for understanding and addressing these risks. The follow-up project MOMENTUM 2.0 (https://www.zonmw.nl/nl/subsidie/momentum-20-0) builds on that work and refined the comprehensive roadmap that outlines long-term solution routes, which are strategic pathways aimed at reducing human exposure to micro- and nanoplastics and their associated health risks.

In MOMENTUM 1.0, three solution routes were identified. In MOMENTUM 2.0, the route focused on ‘Safe by (bio)degradation’ has been phased out, and a new, essential route has been introduced: ‘Public Perception and Behaviour Change’. Together with the ongoing routes, ‘Environmental Quality Standards (EQS)’ and ‘Improving Materials and Product Properties’, these three solution routes form the focus of the current roadmap.

Each solution route contributes to the overarching goal of minimizing the human health impact of exposure to micro- and nanoplastics. The infographic illustrates the solution routes by highlighting progress made, milestones achieved, existing knowledge gaps, and the steps needed moving forward. The three routes are interconnected and linked to key external stakeholders, including policymakers, scientists, and industry partners, ensuring that scientific insights translate into real-world impact.

For more information or questions about this infographic, please contact Anniek de Jong – Anniek.deJong@deltares.nl.

Acknowledgement: We gratefully acknowledge financial support from ZonMw  [Grant ID 4580012310002].