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POLYRISK: Understanding human exposure and health hazard of micro- and nanoplastic contaminants in our environment (POLYRISK)
04/2021-03/2025
Funding programme / funding institution: Europäische Union
Grant number: 964766
Project homepage: https://polyrisk.science/
Project description:
Plastics can be found everywhere in our daily life and are generally quite durable. However, gradually over time tiny plastic fragments. micro- and nanoplastic particles (MNP), can be released. Investigating possible human health effects of MNP is challenging for several reasons. MNP are complex mixtures of diverse shapes and sizes, which can be composed of different polymer types, contain additives (e.g. antioxidants) and several contaminants (e.g. remaining traces of catalysts, traces of monomers and oligomers). How many of these MNP are actually being absorbed into our bodies via inhalation and ingestion? Could they have a negative impact on human health?
The EU-funded POLYRISK project explores these questions by examining human exposure to MNP and their potential toxic effects. POLYRISK considers occupational and consumer exposure and puts a special emphasis on potential adverse effects of MNP on the immune system. POLYRISK furthermore will develop a comprehensive risk assessment framework for MNP and test this framework using selected case studies.
Projekt partners
- Universiteit Utrecht
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
- VU University Medical Center (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und –prüfung
- Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin
- Folkehelseinstituttet, NO
- University Medical Center Utrecht (Universiteit Utrecht)
- National Research & Development Institute for Textiles and Leather
- Agenzia Nazionale per le Nuove Tecnologie, l’Energia e lo Sviluppo economico sostenibile
- IDEAconsult Ltd.
- Health and Environment Alliance
- Fraunhofer-Center für Silizium-Photovoltaik
- European Research Services GmbH
- Umweltbundesamt