Plastics in the environment in the context of UV radiation, climate change and the Montreal Protocol: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2023
Open accessAbstract
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.
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UV-radiation-induced photo-oxidation contributes to the formation of smaller plastic particles from macroplastics and removal of plastics from the environment.
“UV-radiation-induced photo-oxidation contributes to the formation of smaller plastic particles from macroplastics and removal of plastics from the environment [114].”
Toxicity of UV-radiation-degraded MNPs can be partially attributed to increased leaching of additives.
“Toxicity of UV-radiation-degraded MNPs can be partially attributed to increased leaching of additives [114].”
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“The most recent Quadrennial Assessment [13] included a projection of the intensity of UV radiation at the Earth’s surface throughout the twenty-first century, which was based on an earlier EEAP assessment [14] and a study by another group [15].”
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“However, this estimate cannot be generalised, since it only applies to one size of PE and PP fragments, and relies on rates extrapolated from laboratory exposures [130].”
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“Toxicity of UV-radiation-degraded MNPs can be partially attributed to increased leaching of additives [114].”
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- Authors
- Jansen, M. A. K., Andrady, A. L., Bornman, J. F., Aucamp, P. J., Bais, A. F., Banaszak, A. T., Barnes, P. W., Bernhard, G. H., Bruckman, L. S., Busquets, R., Häder, D.-P., Hanson, M. L., Heikkilä, A. M., Hylander, S., Lucas, R. M., Mackenzie, R., Madronich, S., Neale, P. J., Neale, R. E., Olsen, C. M., Ossola, R., Pandey, K. K., Petropavlovskikh, I., Revell, L. E., Robinson, S. A., Robson, T. M., Rose, K. C., Solomon, K. R., Andersen, M. P. S., Sulzberger, B., Wallington, T. J., Wang, Q.-W., Wängberg, S.-Å., White, C. C., Young, A. R., Zepp, R. G., & Zhu, L.
- Affiliations
- University College Cork (IE)
- North Carolina State University (US)
- Murdoch University (AU)
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (GR)
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (MX)
- Loyola University New Orleans (US)
- Biospherical Instruments (United States) (US)
- Case Western Reserve University (US)
- Kingston University London (GB)
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (DE)
- University of Manitoba (CA)
- Finnish Meteorological Institute (FI)
- Linnaeus University (SE)
- Australian National University (AU)
- Instituto de Biodiversidad de Ecosistemas Antárticos y Subantárticos (CL)
- Colorado State University (US)
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (US)
- The University of Queensland (AU)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (US)
- University of Canterbury (NZ)
- University of Wollongong (AU)
- University of Helsinki (FI)
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (US)
- University of Guelph (CA)
- University of Copenhagen (DK)
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (CH)
- University of Michigan (US)
- University of Gothenburg (SE)
- Exponent (United States) (US)
- King's College London (GB)
- Environmental Protection Agency (US)
- Donghua University (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Jansen, Marcel A. K.
- Bornman, Janet F.
- ORCID
- Jansen, Marcel A. K.
- Andrady, Anthony L.
- Bornman, Janet F.
- Aucamp, Pieter J.
- Bais, Alkiviadis F.
- Banaszak, Anastazia T.
- Barnes, Paul W.
- Bernhard, Germar H.
- Bruckman, Laura S.
- Busquets, Rosa
- Hanson, Mark L.
- Heikkilä, Anu M.
- Hylander, Samuel
- Lucas, Robyn M.
- Mackenzie, Roy
- Madronich, Sasha
- Neale, Patrick J.
- Olsen, Catherine M.
- Ossola, Rachele
- Petropavlovskikh, Irina
- Revell, Laura E.
- Robinson, Sharon A.
- Robson, T. Matthew
- Rose, Kevin C.
- Solomon, Keith R.
- Andersen, Mads P. Sulbæk
- Sulzberger, Barbara
- Wallington, Timothy J.
- Wängberg, Sten-Åke
- White, Christopher C.
- Young, Antony R.
- Zepp, Richard G.
- Zhu, Liping
- Venue
- Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences
- Published
- 2024-03-21
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 629-650
- ISSN
- 1474-905X (ISSN-L)
- 1474-9092
- OpenAlex
- W4393045863
- Cited by
- 83
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2026: 44 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 10
- FWCI
- 8.29
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Research Online (University of Wollongong) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- DiVA (Linnaeus University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- DORA Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Insight (University of Cumbria) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- NOAA Institutional Repository (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Research Repository (Kingston University London) (submittedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja (submittedVersion)
- Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- University of Canterbury Research Repository (University of Canterbury) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Murdoch University
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Polymers and Plastics › Polymer Science and PVC
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Keywords
- solar ultraviolet radiation, climate change, plastic degradation, microplastics, nanoplastics, plastic leaching, plastic pollution, weathering, plastic alternatives, Montreal Protocol, environmental risk assessment
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Plastics, Ultraviolet Rays, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Ecosystem, Climate Change
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