Work

Regulatory frameworks need to distinguish persistent from transient plastic fragments

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Plastic particles below a diameter of 5 mm are often grouped together under the label ‘microplastics’ in current Environmental Impact Assessment protocols, regardless of their environmental half-life. We argue for a fundamental shift in nomenclature and regulatory frameworks: microplastics should be regulated according to degradability, with separate categories for transient and persistent particles. Plastic particles below a diameter of 5 mm are often grouped together under the label ‘microplastics’ in current Environmental Impact Assessment protocols, regardless of their environmental half-life. This Comment argues that microplastics should be regulated according to degradability, with separate categories for transient and persistent particles.

Source: Communications Earth & Environment

DOI: 10.1038/s43247-026-03837-w

Author: Mirko Cucina

Institution: Istituto per il Sistema Produzione Animale in Ambiente Mediterraneo

Language: English

Topic: Microplastics and Plastic Pollution

Subfield: Pollution

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,490