Understanding the Risks of Microplastics: A Social-Ecological Risk Perspective

Kramm, Johanna; Völker, Carolin

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-61615-5_11

Cited by 33 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…The main sources of nano-and microplastic pollution, however, are uncontrolled processes such as abrasion and degradation of larger plastic products and fragments, i.e. secondary sources of anthropogenic origin [12]. These sources include mismanaged plastic waste, either discarded in the environment directly or improperly collected and disposed of in landfills, subsequently reaching the environment by wind-or water-driven transport [13].…”

Section: Sources Emissions and Regulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aquatic Ecotoxicity of Microplastics and Nanoplastics: Lessons Learned from Engineered Nanomaterials

Rist

Hartmann

2017

The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry

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The widespread occurrence of microplastics in the aquatic environment is well documented through international surveys and scientific studies. Further degradation and fragmentation, resulting in the formation of nanosized plastic particles -nanoplastics -has been highlighted as a potentially important issue. In the environment, both microplastics and nanoplastics may have direct ecotoxicological effects, as well as vector effects through the adsorption of co-contaminants. Plastic additives and monomers may also be released from the polymer matrix and cause adverse effects on aquatic organisms. Although limited information regarding the ecotoxicological effects of nano-and microplastics is available at present, their small size gives rise to concern with respect to the adverse effects and dislocation of these particles inside organisms -similar to issues often discussed for engineered nanomaterials. In the same way, transport of co-contaminants and leaching of soluble substances are much debated issues with respect to the ecotoxicology of nanomaterials.In this chapter, we draw on existing knowledge from the field of ecotoxicology of engineered nanomaterials to discuss potential ecotoxicological effects of nanoand microplastics. We discuss the similarities and differences between nano-and microplastics and engineered nanomaterials with regard to both potential effects and expected behaviour in aquatic media. One of the key challenges in ecotoxicology of nanomaterials has been the applicability of current test methods, originally intended for soluble chemicals, to the testing of particle suspensions. This often requires test modifications and special attention to physical chemical characterisation and data interpretation. We present an overview of lessons learned from This chapter has been externally peer-reviewed.

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Section: Sources Emissions and Regulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aquatic Ecotoxicity of Microplastics and Nanoplastics: Lessons Learned from Engineered Nanomaterials

Rist

Hartmann

2017

The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry

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“…Finally, scientific and practice-related foundations for transdisciplinary research are developed, and the impacts of its application on research and cognitive processes are examined [20,21]. Concepts such as ecosystem services (see Mehring et al and Schleyer et al in this issue), (social-ecological) risks (see Völker et al in this issue, [22]), vulnerability [21], resilience or lifestyles [23] are fruitfully integrated. These different approaches stem from the humanities, social, natural and engineering sciences.…”

Section: This Issue)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ecological and biophysical processes like wind systems, ocean currents, or the conditions of resources like soil and water, are impacted by and have impacts on these international resource flows. For example, microplastics and other chemicals are distributed around the world, posing a global risk [22], and invasive species carried by ships or long-distance traffic on land upset local ecosystemic balances [66]. In order to study such interdependencies, social and ecological analyses, including spatial and temporal dimensions, must be combined, considering natural processes (such as ocean currents, wind), technical processes (technologies), and social processes (communication, practices, trade, politics).…”

Section: Global and Transregional Interdependenciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Societal Relations to Nature in Times of Crisis—Social Ecology’s Contributions to Interdisciplinary Sustainability Studies

Kramm

Pichler²,

Schaffartzik³

et al. 2017

Sustainability

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Abstract:During the second half of the 20th century, the crisis of societal relations to nature emerged as the subject of an international scientific, political, and popular debate. Anthropogenic climate change, loss of biodiversity, resource peaks, or local air and water pollution are symptoms of this crisis. Social ecology provides an inter-and transdisciplinary take on sustainability research and is well-equipped to respond to the research challenges associated with this crisis. Social ecology comprises different schools of thought, of which two initiated this special issue on "State of the Art and Future Prospects" for the research field. The approaches to social ecology of the ISOE-Institute for Social-Ecological Research in Frankfurt, Germany, and the Institute of Social Ecology (SEC) in Vienna, Austria are based on a common understanding of the challenges posed by social-ecological crises. In how these social ecologies tackle their research questions, conceptual differences become evident. In this article, we provide an overview of social ecology research as it is conducted in Frankfurt and in Vienna. We discuss how this research responds to the ongoing crisis and conclude by identifying important future prospects for social ecology.

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“…Uncertainties exist regarding the risks these microplastic particles pose to the ecosystems where they persist [50]. Studies have shown that microplastics are ingested by various aquatic organisms including organisms that play a role in human consumption (such as shellfish and fish) [51,52].…”

Section: Case Outlinementioning

confidence: 99%

More Than a Potential Hazard—Approaching Risks from a Social-Ecological Perspective

et al. 2017

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Risks have been classically understood as a probability of damage or a potential hazard resulting in appropriate management strategies. However, research on environmental issues such as pollutants in the aquatic environment or the impacts of climate change have shown that classical management approaches do not sufficiently cover these interactions between society and nature. There have been several attempts to develop interdisciplinary approaches to risk that include natural as well as social science contributions. In this paper, the authors aim at developing a social-ecological perspective on risk by drawing on the concept of societal relations to nature and the model of provisioning systems. This perspective is used to analyze four cases, pharmaceuticals, microplastics, semicentralized water infrastructures and forest management, with regard to risk identification, assessment and management. Finally, the paper aims at developing a perspective on risks which takes into account non-intended side-effects, system interdependencies and uncertainty.

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Understanding the Risks of Microplastics: A Social-Ecological Risk Perspective

Cited by 33 publications

References 42 publications

Aquatic Ecotoxicity of Microplastics and Nanoplastics: Lessons Learned from Engineered Nanomaterials

Aquatic Ecotoxicity of Microplastics and Nanoplastics: Lessons Learned from Engineered Nanomaterials

Societal Relations to Nature in Times of Crisis—Social Ecology’s Contributions to Interdisciplinary Sustainability Studies

More Than a Potential Hazard—Approaching Risks from a Social-Ecological Perspective

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