Project R-14303

Feasibility study for assessing microplastics via human biomonitoring (Research)

Microplastics (MP) are solid plastic particles <5 mm, consisting of polymers, functional additives, and residual impurities. They originate from the enormous growth of plastic use over the past 70 years and waste released into the environment. MP enter the environment through the progressive fragmentation of plastic litter. These particles are described as secondary MP. Consumer products such as cosmetics and personal care products, cleaning and laundry detergents are also sources of microplastics in the environment and water, and are described as primary MP. The widespread distribution of MP and their biological effects create an urgency in society and among policy bodies to assess the risks of MP to humans and the environment. Reliably measuring the amount and types of MP in human samples as a biomarker of internal exposure is essential to assess human risks. However, developing reliable measurement methods is a significant challenge because of the diversity of shapes, sizes, composition and origin of the particles. Several laboratories are developing promising measurement techniques that may have great value for human biomonitoring studies (HBM). However, this requires a good understanding of the most cost-efficient techniques and the factors involved in collecting, storing and processing biological samples. This study will investigate the feasibility of implementing MP analyses in the next Flemish HBM campaign for young people. An important outcome of the study is a roadmap for the reliable collection, stocking and analysis of human samples for MP. For this purpose, a comparative study between analytical methods will be conducted for the first time.

11 October 2023 - 12 April 2025