Government calls for further research on microplastics

In its response to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee’s report on the environmental impact of microscopic plastic particles, the UK government has said that it will review the impact of these pollutants on human health.

The report, published in August, found that there was evidence of significant harm to the marine environment and called for more research into human health as microplastics are found frequently in seafood such as shellfish and oysters.

On 3 September the government announced that it planned to ban the sale and manufacture of cosmetics and personal care products containing microbeads.