Action 46: Primary micro plastics
Action Title: Evaluate all products and processes that include primary micro plastics and act, if appropriate, to reduce their impact on the marine environment.
Lead Party(ies): Belgium, Germany and Netherlands with assistance of Sweden, Austria , Seas at Risk
HIS ACTION IS ALSO LINKED TO ACTION 47 AND ACTION 52
What is the issue?
Microplastics are found in a range of marine and freshwater environments, including the water column, sediments, and biota. The microplastics sources include preproduction pellets, cosmetics, abrasive cleaning agents, rubber infill on artificial sports fields, road runoff of car tyre wear, laundry fibres, and paints. The highest concentrations of microplastics are found in industrialized and urbanized areas, particularly around harbours. Many marine species, including those consumed by humans, contain microplastics.
What has OSPAR Done?
OSPAR has published an assessment of land‐based inputs of microplastics into the marine environment, identifying the sources and pathways of microplastics reaching the marine environment as well as the potential costs and impacts on both environment and humans.
Final outputs and published reports
ACTION COMPLETED BUT FURTHER STEPS TO BE CONSIDERED IN NEXT RAP
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Assessment document of land-based inputs of microplastics in the marine environment
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OSPAR is taking a step by step approach on microplastics beginning with microbeads in cosmetics followed by pre-production pellets and then moving on to address other sources of microplastics.
