Dr. Saija Saarni
Associate Professor of applied environmental geology at the University of Turku, Finland
The modern era is characterised by rapid development and a surge of new innovations, with material science and chemicals at the forefront of this advancement. The associated risks often emerge later. Since the 1970s, awareness has resulted in diverse regulatory actions, such as the banning of DDTs to protect biodiversity, and of asbestos to preserve human health. Coincidentally, several observations of microplastics were reported in the seas during the 1970s. Yet, it was only in 2004 that biologist Richard Thompson coined the term "microplastic" and described the potential risks to plankton ingesting these synthetic particles. Since then, our understanding of the diverse risks associated with microplastics entering natural environments has grown significantly, leading to the development of various initiatives and legislation at both national and international levels such as the EU single-use plastic ban in 20214 targeting the most commonly found plastic products on European beaches (e.g., plastic cutlery, straws and plates).
