Micro plastics A new challenge for the water industry?

1. Micro plastics A new challenge for the water industry? Greet De Gueldre – Aquafin/EUREAU Michaël Bentvelsen - UVW/EUREAU Stockholm World Water Week 2013

2. Stockholm WWW 3 Sep 2013 WS - Cooperation to Prevent Harmful Chemicals in the Water Cycle Contamination of marine and coastal environment by plastic waste emerging problem worldwide Macro plastics • 60-80 (95)% of marine litter • 8 million pieces/day globally (UNEP) • 10-28million tonnes/year • 600 000 tonnes on bed of NorthSea • Plastic soups • Great Pacific GarbagePatch • (Charles Moore , 1997)

3. Contamination of marine and coastal environment by plastic waste emerging problem worldwide Macro plastics Micro plastics Degradation/ fragmentation • recent studies (US, UK, BE, NL, MICRO, CLEANSEA): • micro plastics accumulate on beaches, water column, sea floor • real distribution not clear, different sources • more close to densely populated areas and areas receiving sewage Stockholm WWW 3 Sep 2013 WS - Cooperation to Prevent Harmful Chemicals in the Water Cycle

4. Contamination of marine and coastal environment by plastic waste emerging problem worldwide Micro plastics • Plastic bouillons • NorthSea • recent studies (US, UK, BE, NL, MICRO, CLEANSEA): • micro plastics accumulate on beaches, water column, sea floor • real distribution not clear, different sources • more close to densely populated areas and areas receiving sewage Stockholm WWW 3 Sep 2013 WS - Cooperation to Prevent Harmful Chemicals in the Water Cycle

5. Micro plastics –What are they Really? Synthetic polymer particles 1µm - 5 mm nanoparticles • Polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terefthalate (PET), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polypropylene (PP), polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE, teflon), polyester, polyamide (PA, nylon), acryl, ... • Chemically inert macromolecules • Contain additives and residual monomers (bisphenol A, ftalates) • Often also dyes, flame retardants, surfactants • Possibly also adsorption of micro pollutants Stockholm WWW 3 Sep 2013 WS - Cooperation to Prevent Harmful Chemicals in the Water Cycle

6. Micro plastics –What are they Really? Secondarysources Primarysources Pre-production pellets (nurdles) Synthetic polymer particles 1µm - 5 mm nanoparticles Degradation plastic litter Washingsyntheticclothes Personal care products Wear of tires, … Stockholm WWW 3 Sep 2013 WS - Cooperation to Prevent Harmful Chemicals in the Water Cycle

7. RECENT studies suggest harmful impacts on humans and coastal and marine ecosystems • Ingestion an accumulation in tissues and cells • Micro plastics already found in all marine trophical levels • Effects under studyUS: polystyrene particles have negative impact on photosynthesis of green algae • Small nano plastics can be absorbed in human stomach and gut and end up in human lymphe, heart and blood vessels, causing inflammation or changes in gene expression • Nano polystyrene was shown to be transported through the placenta to the embryo • Increase of chemical risk • Adsorption, transport and release of chemicals/priority pollutants • Lack of knowledge on consequences Stockholm WWW 3 Sep 2013 WS - Cooperation to Prevent Harmful Chemicals in the Water Cycle

8. WWTPs and stormwater overflows are considered to be inland source of micro plastics More studies Data!!! 2,4 mg/person/day (NL) Treated water 1 (AUS) up to 10-20 (NL) particles/litre 1 900 particles/garment/wash (UK) > 100 fibres/litrewastewater 90% accumulated in sludge Sludge ExtrapolationforFlanders 2,3 billionlitres effluent/day = 46 billionparticles/day = MUCH??? Yearlycost of treatment = 0,7 EUR/m3 + 0,15-0,30 EUR/m3for PP + … ??? Stockholm WWW 3 Sep 2013 WS - Cooperation to Prevent Harmful Chemicals in the Water Cycle

9. Micro plastics currently high on the European agenda • MSFD (2008/56/EC) – criteria and indicators for targets and measures for GES • Descriptor 10: Properties and quantities of marine litter do not cause harm to the coastal and marine environment. • … • 10.1. Characteristics of litter in the marine and coastal environment • — Trends in the amount of litter washed ashore and/or deposited on coastlines, including analysis of its composition, spatial distribution and, where possible, source (10.1.1) • — Trends in the amount of litter in the water column (including floating at the surface) and deposited on the sea- floor, including analysis of its composition, spatial distribution and, where possible, source (10.1.2) • — Trends in the amount, distribution and, where possible, composition of micro-particles (in particular micro- plastics) (10.1.3) • 10.2. Impacts of litter on marine life • — Trends in the amount and composition of litter ingested by marine animals (e.g. stomach analysis) (10.2.1). • … Stockholm WWW 3 Sep 2013 WS - Cooperation to Prevent Harmful Chemicals in the Water Cycle

10. Micro plastics currently High on the European agenda • EC launched study on link between wastewater and micro plastics beginning 2012 • EC green paper/consultation on plastic waste in the environment (2013) • Answer on question on micro plastics in personal care products: restrict or forbid • Answer on other actions to reduce marine litter: plastic litter does not belong in the wastewater • HELCOM Copenhagen ministerial declaration in preparation (2013) • Concern related to micro plastics will probably be reflected in the final version Stockholm WWW 3 Sep 2013 WS - Cooperation to Prevent Harmful Chemicals in the Water Cycle

11. Source control can solve large part of the problem • Water sector in favour of actions • To make problem with micro plastics visible to the public, the policy makers and the chemical (cosmetics) industry • To apply precautionary principle on micro plastics in personal care products • Take action to restrict/forbid, we don’t need them • Together with scientists, NGOs Stockholm WWW 3 Sep 2013 WS - Cooperation to Prevent Harmful Chemicals in the Water Cycle

12. NGO’s can be very effective in putting the problem on the agenda • Active campaign initiated by Dutch NGOs in Dutch media (television, internet, newspapers) (2012) • To have a complete ban of micro plastics in personal care products • With petition to force EC action Stockholm WWW 3 Sep 2013 WS - Cooperation to Prevent Harmful Chemicals in the Water Cycle

13. NGO’s can be very effective in putting the problem on the agenda • Caused a lot of fuss in the Netherlands • Some retailers will no longer sell products with plastic ingredients • Important producer decided to stop using micro plastics in personal care products half 2013 in the Netherlands and by end 2015 worldwide • Questions were asked in the Dutch parliament • Resolution of Dutch parliament (Nov 2012): negotiate with cosmetics industry to use alternative products • Ministerial statement (Dec 2012): reduce litter in sewage by source control and awareness raising • The Netherlands will ask EU MS en EC for an European-wide ban on the use of micro plastics in personal care products. Stockholm WWW 3 Sep 2013 WS - Cooperation to Prevent Harmful Chemicals in the Water Cycle

14. Micro plasticsA new challenge for the water industry? • Problem raised but still hard to quantify • Cause for concern globally, Europe-wide, regionally • Micro plastics in urban wastewater already on the political agenda • WWTPs are not a source but rather a pathway for micro plastics • Precautionary principle should be applied to one important source • Avoid micro plastics in cosmetics/personal care products Stockholm WWW 3 Sep 2013 WS - Cooperation to Prevent Harmful Chemicals in the Water Cycle

15. Thank you for your attention!