Science of the Total Environment Establishes Requirements for Publication of Microplastics Studies
In response to the growing number of papers in microplastics and nanoplastics research, the peer-reviewed journal Science of the Total Environment (STOTEN) has introduced stringent quality control requirements to ensure the integrity and comparability of studies it considered for publication. These guidelines mandate thorough sampling and preparation protocols, spectroscopic confirmation of polymer types, and rigorous data comparison with existing global studies. To further enhance the quality of submissions, the journal also encourages researchers to include a "Limitations" section in their papers, where they can candidly address potential study limitations, contributing to a more transparent and rigorous scientific discourse.
Nano- and Microplastics Detected in Bottled Water Using a New Quantification Process
A recent study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) described a major breakthrough in microplastics quantification. Researchers at Columbia and Rutgers Universities developed a hyperspectral imaging platform, known as stimulated Raman scattering (SRS), with an automated plastic identification algorithm that can differentiate nanoplastics (< 1 micrometer [μm]) from microplastics and estimate concentrations in environmental samples. The research team used bottled water from three different brands as a medium for testing the SRS method. They estimated average micro- and nanoplastic concentrations of approximately 0.00002 particles per liter of bottled water; approximately 90% of the particles were in the nanoplastics size range. There are currently limited studies on nanoplastics, and this new quantification process could help facilitate our understanding of nanoplastics and lead to standardized procedures of this method.
U.S. EPA Releases Draft Method for 6PPD-q
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a draft test method (EPA Method 1634) to measure 6PPD-quinone (6PPD-q) in stormwater and surface waters. The method is currently available for use. 6PPD-q is a degradation byproduct of 6PPD, which is used in tires as a stabilizing additive. 6PPD-q can enter the environment via tire wear particles, which are a recognized category of microplastics. This draft method was published in partnership with EPA Region 10 and Eurofins Environment Testing in Sacramento, California. Widespread availability of this draft method allows stakeholders, such as government entities, Tribes, and other organizations, to provide feedback to the EPA.
Atmospheric Transport of Microplastics Via Hurricanes
A recent study investigated how hurricanes can potentially serve as a pathway for microplastic deposition. Samples of air and rain were collected to analyze for microplastics when Hurricane Larry passed over Newfoundland, Canada in September of 2021. More than 100,000 particles per square meter per day were found during the storm, notably in rural areas that had no significant sources of microplastics. After analyzing the hurricane’s trajectory and conducting polymer type analysis, the researchers concluded that the microplastics may have been ocean-sourced, as Hurricane Larry traveled through the North Atlantic Gyre garbage patch. Hurricanes, known for intense precipitation and sustained high winds, may transport microplastics across oceans faster than oceanic currents and increase deposition amounts to various places, including remote areas.
Regulatory Roundup
U.S. Federal and States
- The Farewell to Foam Act of 2023 was introduced into the U.S. Senate in December 2023 and aims to gradually eliminate the use of single-use plastic foam food service items across the country by 2026. The bill would ban the sale and distribution of expanded polystyrene food service wear, as well as ban loose fill materials like packing peanuts and disposable coolers, excluding those used for medical purposes.
- The Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act was introduced into the U.S. Congress on March 12, 2024. If passed, this bill would require the U.S.EPA to promulgate certain limitations on the discharge of plastic pellets (also known as nurdles) from facilities and sources that make, use, package, or transport them. Plastic pellets are currently not regulated in the U.S.
- The Research of Health Soils Act was introduced into the U.S. Congress in January 2024. The bill would amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 and would allow the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to fund research on potential impacts of microplastics in biosolids applied to farmland.
- Rhode Island’s Plastic Waste Reduction Act went into effect on January 1, 2024. This bill, which was signed into law in 2022, bans retail outlets from providing single-use plastic bags at checkout.
- The New York City Council proposed a local law on February 8, 2024, to ban the sale of laundry pods, dishwasher pods, and sheets using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). PVA forms the dissolvable film on pods that breaks down into microplastics during washing. If approved, the law would go into effect in January 2026.
- In California, Assembly Bill (AB) 2648 was proposed in February 2024 to ban the purchase and sale of single-use plastic bottles by state agencies.
- In California, AB-2214 was amended on March 21, 2024. The bill requires the Ocean Protection Council to establish interagency coordination between various state agencies related to the protection of coastal waters and oceans by March 1, 2025. This interagency collaboration will identify if statutory changes are needed in order to implement the Statewide Microplastics Strategy, which was published by the Ocean Protection Council in February 2022. Any additional changes to the Legislature must be identified and recommended by December 1, 2025.
International
- In November 2023, The Canadian Federal Court in Ottawa ruled against Canada's decision to list plastic items as toxic substances, declaring the measure "unreasonable and unconstitutional." The judge ruled that the classification of plastics was too broad for inclusion in Schedule 1's List of Toxic Substances. The case was brought by the Responsible Plastic Use Coalition and several plastic manufacturers.
Litigation
- A class action lawsuit has been filed against Poland Spring on the basis that the bottled water is not “100 percent natural spring water,” as the bottled water has been found to contain phthalates and microplastics. The filing charges that the BlueTriton Brands has profited from false advertising.
- Thirteen tire manufacturers have asked a U.S. court to dismiss a lawsuit filed by California-based commercial fishing groups that allege 6PPD-q, a degradation byproduct of 6PPD, is killing certain fish species. This is the first lawsuit in the U.S. targeting the use of 6PPD in tires.
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