Biodegradable Bioplastics - Assessing Environmental Risk (BIO-PLASTIC-RISK)

可生物降解的生物塑料 - 评估环境风险 (BIO-PLASTIC-RISK)

• 批准号: NE/V007556/1
• 负责人: Richard Thompson
• 金额: $ 137.92万
• 依托单位: Plymouth University
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2020 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=NE%2FV007556%2F1
• 关键词: Biodegradable; Bioplastics; Assessing; Environmental; Risk

Biodegradable bioplastics (BBPs) are a category of materials that offer considerable potential to reduce the global environmental challenge resulting from the accumulation of end-of-life plastic. BBPs are made from renewable carbon such as plant material (bioplastics) and as a consequence of their molecular structure and resulting properties are regarded to have enhanced rates of biodegradation compared to conventional plastics. Currently only around 1% of plastic production is in the form of bioplastics; driven by the potential advantages demand is growing rapidly. BBPs are already widely used in applications with substantive pathways to the natural environment (agricultural mulch film, textile fibres, beads in cosmetics). Yet our understanding about their fate in the natural environment is poorly understood, because key information on the kinetics of degradation and any potential environmental effects of their breakdown products (fragments and chemical additives) is lacking. Biodegradation has been demonstrated under specific conditions, such as commercial compositing, and there are associated standards, but studies indicate degradation can be slow or incomplete under natural conditions. This ambitious, yet highly tractable, 4-year research proposal brings together internationally recognised polymer scientists, marine and terrestrial biologists and ecotoxicologists from the Universities of Plymouth and Bath together with Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Project Partner Lenzing AG and an Advisory Group including representatives from Government agencies, BBP producers, commercial users (Sainsbury's and Riverford Organic Farms), Water Authorities as well as NGOs. Collectively the team will establish the fate of BBPs in the environment, their effect on organisms and ecosystem function and develop environmental risk assessments. We will characterise BBPs in terms of their composition (chemical structure, additives) as well as features that can be used to assess deterioration (molecular weight, thickness, strength) in the environment. We will then establish the fate of BBPs in marine and terrestrial environments in terms of rates of deterioration as well as the pathways and environmental accumulation of BBPs and their breakdown products. This will inform experiments to examine any associated direct effects of BBP deterioration on marine and terrestrial organisms (animals such as mussels and earthworms and plants such as herbs and grass) and to examine any indirect consequences on ecological and biogeochemical processes. Collectively, these outcomes, together with existing literature, will be used to evaluate how the fate and behaviour of BBPs in the environment relates to hazards in order to conduct a risk assessment to show at what concentration BBPs and their associated chemicals may have an impact on animals, their habitats, and how the ecosystem functions. Estimates of safe levels in soil and water will be derived as well as factors that add uncertainty and indicate priorities for future research.Outcomes in terms of potential risks, will be communicated alongside the benefits of BBPs - so as to provide a balanced perspective and help guide development for the next generation of BBPs. This will be disseminated by publications and stakeholder engagement, including: data sharing with OECD and Defra; a technical stakeholder workshop (industry, government, consultancy, NGOs. etc) and a training event - how to complete a risk assessment for plastics.There has been considerable media attention on plastic pollution and this has translated into an urgent call for action by the public. However, current understanding of the most appropriate actions is less clear and reliable information on the benefits and risks of novel materials such as BBPs, is lacking. Hence, this research is of critical importance to guide changes in commercial practice and policy responses, such as implementation of the 25 year Environment Plan.

可生物降解的生物塑料 (BBP) 是一类材料，具有巨大的潜力，可以减少因报废塑料的积累而造成的全球环境挑战。 BBP 由可再生碳制成，例如植物材料（生物塑料），由于其分子结构和由此产生的特性，与传统塑料相比，被认为具有更高的生物降解率。目前，生物塑料仅占塑料产量的 1% 左右；在潜在优势的推动下，需求正在快速增长。 BBP 已广泛应用于与自然环境有实质性途径的应用（农用地膜、纺织纤维、化妆品中的珠子）。然而，我们对其在自然环境中的命运知之甚少，因为缺乏有关降解动力学及其分解产物（碎片和化学添加剂）的任何潜在环境影响的关键信息。生物降解已在特定条件下得到证实，例如商业复合，并且有相关标准，但研究表明在自然条件下降解可能缓慢或不完全。这项雄心勃勃但高度易于处理的为期 4 年的研究计划汇集了来自普利茅斯大学和巴斯大学的国际公认的聚合物科学家、海洋和陆地生物学家和生态毒理学家以及普利茅斯海洋实验室、项目合作伙伴兰精股份公司和包括政府代表在内的咨询小组机构、BBP 生产商、商业用户（Sainsbury's 和 Riverford 有机农场）、水务部门以及非政府组织。该团队将共同确定 BBP 在环境中的命运、它们对生物体和生态系统功能的影响，并开展环境风险评估。我们将根据 BBP 的成分（化学结构、添加剂）以及可用于评估环境中劣化的特征（分子量、厚度、强度）来表征 BBP。然后，我们将根据恶化速度以及 BBP 及其分解产物的途径和环境积累来确定 BBP 在海洋和陆地环境中的命运。这将为实验提供信息，以检查 BBP 恶化对海洋和陆地生物（贻贝和蚯蚓等动物以及草本植物和草等植物）的任何相关直接影响，并检查对生态和生物地球化学过程的任何间接后果。总的来说，这些结果与现有文献一起将用于评估环境中 BBP 的命运和行为与危害的关系，以便进行风险评估，以显示 BBP 及其相关化学物质的浓度可能对环境产生影响。动物、它们的栖息地以及生态系统如何运作。将得出对土壤和水的安全水平的估计以及增加不确定性并表明未来研究优先事项的因素。潜在风险方面的结果将与 BBP 的好处一起传达 - 以便提供平衡的观点和帮助指导下一代 BBP 的开发。这将通过出版物和利益相关者参与进行传播，包括： 与 OECD 和 Defra 共享数据；技术利益攸关方研讨会（行业、政府、咨询机构、非政府组织等）和培训活动 - 如何完成塑料风险评估。媒体对塑料污染给予了相当多的关注，这已转化为对塑料污染采取行动的紧急呼吁民众。然而，目前对最适当行动的理解尚不清楚，并且缺乏有关 BBP 等新型材料的益处和风险的可靠信息。因此，这项研究对于指导商业实践和政策响应的变化至关重要，例如实施 25 年环境计划。

项目成果

Plastic pollution: the science we need for the planet we want.

• DOI: 10.1042/etls20220019
• 发表时间: 2022-12
• 期刊: Emerging topics in life sciences
• 影响因子: 3.8
• 作者: Winnie Courtene-Jones;N. Clark;Richard C. Thompson

From microbes to ecosystems: a review of the ecological effects of biodegradable plastics.

• DOI: 10.1042/etls20220015
• 发表时间: 2022-09
• 期刊: Emerging topics in life sciences
• 影响因子: 3.8
• 作者: Winnie Courtene-Jones;Ana Martínez Rodríguez;R. Handy

Plastic pollution requires an integrative systems approach to understand and mitigate risk.

塑料污染需要采用综合系统方法来了解和减轻风险。

• DOI: 10.1042/etls20220018
• 发表时间: 2022
• 期刊: Emerging topics in life sciences
• 影响因子: 3.8
• 作者: Courtene-Jones W

Plastic alternatives and substitutes in the packaging sector - A UK consumer perspective

• DOI: 10.1016/j.spc.2024.02.019
• 发表时间: 2024-02-20
• 期刊: SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
• 影响因子: 12.1
• 作者: Nuojua，Sohvi;Pahl，Sabine;Thompson，Richard C.
• 通讯作者: Thompson，Richard C.

Plastics treaty - research must inform action.

塑料条约——研究必须为行动提供依据。

• DOI: 10.1038/d41586-022-02201-0
• 发表时间: 2022
• 期刊: Nature
• 影响因子: 64.8
• 作者: Thompson RC