What do we know about the effects of microplastics and nanomaterials on health and the environment? The French National Research Agency (ANR) and the French National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (Anses) organised an online scientific meeting on Thursday 20 May 2021, attended by over 500 people, to take stock of the advances made by research projects. Watch the videos of the presentations and round table.
The use of plastic materials and nanomaterials in a variety of everyday products results in the release of large quantities of micro- and nano-particles into the environment. The behaviour of these particles and their potential impact on health and ecosystems is the subject of research, particularly within projects funded by the ANR and Anses, to better understand the interactions involved and assess the health risks.
The online scientific meeting organised by the ANR and Anses on 20 May 2021 was designed to present the results of projects and encourage exchanges between scientific communities, environmental associations, professional organisations and public decision-makers on this emerging research topic. The day was organised around two sessions: "Sources, characterisation and behaviour in the environment" and "Effects on organisms and ecosystems".
It provided an opportunity to discuss a wide range of research issues, including sources of exposure to these particles; monitoring their presence in the environment; their effects on ecosystems and human health (ecotoxicological impacts on marine organisms, impacts of microplastics in food, impacts of maternal exposure to gold nanoparticles, for example); and the design of innovative, sustainable and safer nanomaterials. The conference also included a presentation of the OPECST's work on "Plastic pollution: a time bomb?" and a round-table discussion on "Micro/nano: between futility and utility".