Microplastics are ubiquitous in the natural environment. This report synthesises the current state of knowledge on the sources, fate and risks of microplastics pollution. It then focuses on two sources of microplastics pollution, textile products and vehicle tyres, due to their substantial contribution to global microplastics emissions and currently largely absent policy frameworks to mitigate them.

Microplastics are ubiquitous in the natural environment. This report synthesises the current state of knowledge on the sources, fate and risks of microplastics pollution. It then focuses on two sources of microplastics pollution, textile products and vehicle tyres, due to their substantial contribution to global microplastics emissions and currently largely absent policy frameworks to mitigate them. Several best practices and technological solutions can be implemented along the lifecycle of textile products and vehicle tyres to mitigate releases to the environment. The report proposes policy insights on measures and strategies that could help minimise microplastics emitted unintentionally from products and their potential impacts on human health and ecosystems.

Microplastics are ubiquitous in the natural environment. This report synthesises the current state of knowledge on the sources, fate and risks of microplastics pollution. It then focuses on two sources of microplastics pollution, textile products and vehicle tyres, due to their substantial contribution to global microplastics emissions and currently largely absent policy frameworks to mitigate them. Several best practices and technological solutions can be implemented along the lifecycle of textile products and vehicle tyres to mitigate releases to the environment. The report proposes policy insights on measures and strategies that could help minimise microplastics emitted unintentionally from products and their potential impacts on human health and ecosystems.

Plastics provide multiple benefits to society, but their lifecycle − from feedstock extraction and polymer production to use and disposal − contributes to pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss. Current policies are inadequate to meaningfully alter trends in plastic flows and related pollution. This report provides insights into the potential environmental benefits and economic consequences of different levels of international policy ambition towards ending plastic pollution by 2040. Based on the quantification of the main drivers of plastics production and use, waste and pollution, the report provides projections of the plastics lifecycle, waste generation and treatment, as well as related leakage to the environment. The report presents and contrasts a range of policy scenarios with varying levels of ambition in terms of the stringency, lifecycle scope and geographical coverage of policies implemented. Its findings can inform a critical stage of international negotiations to develop a legally binding agreement to end plastic pollution.

While plastics are extremely useful materials for modern society, plastics production and waste generation continue to increase with worsening environmental impacts despite international, national and local policy responses, as well as industry commitments. The first of two reports, this Outlook intends to inform and support policy efforts to combat plastic leakage.

In recent years, a wide variety of new chemicals have continued to be developed as a result of industrial development and associated anthropogenic activities. The microbial contaminants in the environment, more precisely, antibiotic-resistant genes/bacteria produced as a result of mutation due to antibacterial drugs, are also considered emerging contaminants and specifically called emerging microbial contaminants such as sapoviruses, Waddlia chondrophila and Streptococcus parauberis. Additionally, pharmaceuticals and personal care products are a diverse group of compounds that include ibuprofen, diclofenac, triclosan, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory agents, steroidal hormones and active ingredients in soaps, detergents and perfumes which could find their way into food materials, are tagged as emerging contaminants. Given this, Emerging Contaminants in Food and Food Products discusses issues around the emerging contaminants in food and food products. Different types of contaminants, such as biological, chemical, organic, inorganic and microbial contaminants in foods, ways of detecting them and regulations surrounding global food safety, are all covered. Key features: Discusses all the categories of contaminants in food and food products. Biological, chemical, organic, inorganic and microbial contaminants. Provides full information on emerging food contaminants, their effect on human and animal health, and how it affects global food security and emerging technological applications in solving this global problem. Gives detection and prevention strategies and guideline policies on emerging contaminants of foods. Brings into account global perspectives on food contaminants and health implications. This volume will serve as an information hub of emerging contaminants for scientists/researchers and professionals globally. This book is a good collection of independent chapters, which presents full insights into the study of emerging contamination in food and the effects of these contaminants in humans and animals.