Plastics in the environment in the context of UV radiation, climate change and the Montreal Protocol: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2023

Marcel A K Jansen; Anthony L Andrady; Janet F Bornman; Pieter J Aucamp; Alkiviadis F Bais; Anastazia T Banaszak; Paul W Barnes; Germar H Bernhard; Laura S Bruckman; Rosa Busquets; Donat-P Häder; Mark L Hanson; Anu M Heikkilä; Samuel Hylander; Robyn M Lucas; Roy Mackenzie; Sasha Madronich; Patrick J Neale; Rachel E Neale; Catherine M Olsen; Rachele Ossola; Krishna K Pandey; Irina Petropavlovskikh; Laura E Revell; Sharon A Robinson; T Matthew Robson; Kevin C Rose; Keith R Solomon; Mads P Sulbæk Andersen; Barbara Sulzberger; Timothy J Wallington; Qing-Wei Wang; Sten-Åke Wängberg; Christopher C White; Antony R Young; Richard G Zepp; Liping Zhu

doi:10.1007/s43630-024-00552-3

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Plastics in the environment in the context of UV radiation, climate change and the Montreal Protocol: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2023

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

Plastics in the environment in the context of UV radiation, climate change and the Montreal Protocol: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2023

Marcel A K Jansen, Anthony L Andrady, Janet F Bornman, Pieter J Aucamp, Alkiviadis F Bais, Anastazia T Banaszak, Paul W Barnes, Germar H Bernhard, Laura S Bruckman, Rosa Busquets, …

Photochemical & photobiological sciences

2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43630-024-00552-3

PMID: 38512633

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Abstract

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.

Details

Title: Plastics in the environment in the context of UV radiation, climate change and the Montreal Protocol: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2023
Authors/Creators: Marcel A K Jansen - University College Cork
Anthony L Andrady - North Carolina State University
Janet F Bornman - Murdoch University, Food Futures Institute
Pieter J Aucamp - Ptersa Environmental Consultants, Pretoria, South Africa
Alkiviadis F Bais - Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Anastazia T Banaszak - Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Paul W Barnes - Loyola University New Orleans
Germar H Bernhard - Biospherical Instruments
Laura S Bruckman - Case Western Reserve University
Rosa Busquets - Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kingston University London, Kingston Upon Thames, UK
Donat-P Häder - Friedrich-Alexander University, Möhrendorf, Germany
Mark L Hanson - University of Manitoba
Anu M Heikkilä - Finnish Meteorological Institute
Samuel Hylander - Linnaeus University
Robyn M Lucas - University of Canberra
Roy Mackenzie - Hôpital Intercommunal de Créteil
Sasha Madronich - Colorado State University
Patrick J Neale - Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Rachel E Neale - School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
Catherine M Olsen - Frazer Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
Rachele Ossola - Colorado State University
Krishna K Pandey - Indian Academy of Wood Science, Bengaluru, India
Irina Petropavlovskikh - NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory
Laura E Revell - University of Canterbury
Sharon A Robinson - University of Wollongong
T Matthew Robson - University of Helsinki
Kevin C Rose - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Keith R Solomon - University of Guelph
Mads P Sulbæk Andersen - University of Copenhagen
Barbara Sulzberger - Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology
Timothy J Wallington - Center for Sustainable Systems, School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Qing-Wei Wang - Institute of Applied Ecology
Sten-Åke Wängberg - University of Gothenburg
Christopher C White - Exponent
Antony R Young - King's College London
Richard G Zepp - ORD/CEMM, US Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, GA, USA
Liping Zhu - Donghua University
Publication Details: Photochemical & photobiological sciences
Publisher: Springer Nature
Identifiers: 991005651567807891
Copyright: © 2024. The Author(s).
Murdoch Affiliation: Food Futures Institute
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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61 Record Views

31 Times Cited - Web of Science

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Collaboration types: Industry collaboration; Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.60 Herbicides, Pesticides & Ground Poisoning; 3.60.2078 Microplastics
Web Of Science research areas: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Biophysics; Chemistry, Physical
ESI research areas: Biology & Biochemistry