Prévention du risque chimique

Les préoccupations liées aux effets potentiels des nanoplastiques sur les organismes de l'environnement ont suscité de nombreux projets de recherche. Bien qu'elles soient composées des mêmes matériaux, les particules nanoplastiques sont beaucoup plus petites et sont donc supposées avoir une interaction plus élevée avec les organismes que les microplastiques, et présentent donc un risque plus élevé.

This online information session will provide an update on the proposed restriction on the placing on the market of intentionally-added microplastics, which was submitted to ECHA’s scientific committees on 11 January 2019. Following the required conformity check, a 6 month public consultation on the proposal started on 20 March. This webinar will introduce the detail of the proposal and clarify the objectives of the public consultation.

Microplastic s are manufactured and used (also termed intentionally added) in many mixtures placed on the market of the European Economic Area (EEA). It is these ‘intentional’ uses of microplastics which are the focus of the analysis and the proposed restriction reported here.

The intent of the proposed restriction is not to regulate the use of polymers generally, but only where they meet the specific conditions that identify them as being microplastics and where their use will result in releases of microplastics to the environment.

In addition to polluting marine environments, which has been widely discussed, concerns raised by intentionally added microplastics may be more relevant for the terrestrial environment and freshwater.