Life Cycle Assessment of Microplastics Reveals Their Greater Environmental Hazards than Mismanaged Polymer Waste Losses

Concern about microplastic pollution sourced from mismanaged plastic waste losses to drainage basins is growing but lacks relevant environmental impact analyses. Here, we reveal and compare the environmental hazards of aquatic macro- and microplastic debris through a holistic life cycle assessment approach. Compared to polymeric debris, microplastics, especially smaller than 10 mu m, exhibit higher freshwater ecotoxicity enhanced by watersheds' high average depth and low water temperature. High microplastic concentration within drainage basins can also cause air pollution regarding particulate matter formation and photochemical ozone formation. The environmental drawbacks of plastic mismanagement are then demonstrated by showing that the microplastic formulation and removal in drinking water treatment plants can pose more than 7.44% of the total ecotoxicity effect from plastic wastes' (microplastics') whole life cycle. Specifically, these two life cycle stages can also cause more than 50% of the plastic wastes' life cycle ecotoxicity effect related to organic chemical emissions. Therefore, reducing environmentally harmful plastic losses through advanced plastic waste recycling, collection, and effective microplastic removal technologies needs future investigation.

Automated summary

This study compares the environmental hazards of aquatic macro- and microplastic debris using a holistic life cycle assessment approach. The results show that microplastics, especially those smaller than 10μm, exhibit higher freshwater ecotoxicity in drainage basins. Additionally, high microplastic concentrations can lead to air pollution through particulate matter formation and photochemical ozone formation. The study also highlights the environmental drawbacks of plastic mismanagement, particularly the microplastic formulation and removal in drinking water treatment plants, which contribute significantly to the overall ecotoxicity effect of plastic waste.