Team Lifespan: January 2021 - June 2024
The ITRC Microplastics Team published their Online Guidance Document in February
2023, geared toward an audience with reasonable scientific understanding, but not microplastic-specific knowledge. The guidance provides information on microplastics and the state of applied science without diving deep into the scientific literature. Online training was offered starting in March 2023.
Visit ITRC's training page for upcoming sessions. Click here to view the Microplastics team fact sheet for more information.
In January of 2023, the Team continued their work on Microplastics with a focus on developing a toolkit to provide resources for environmental professionals to use in communicating microplastic issues to members of the public.
Background
Although microplastics are small — plastic debris less than five millimeters long — they pose one of the largest emerging threats to the global environmental community today. Microplastics have been introduced to the environment over the last 50 years through plastic refuse which has been broken down, and particles in health and beauty products which have entered the waste stream. Because of their small size and pervasiveness in the environment, microplastics, along with any other contaminants which are adhered to the microplastics, are consumed by humans and other organisms. Recent studies have shown their harmful effects on environmental media, due to their chemical nature and persistence.