Category archives: News

Scientific commentary discusses pregnancy- and child-relevant exposure to and impacts of nano- and microplastics: finds 37 studies mostly on plastic particles in food and placental transfer, identifies major knowledge gaps, and advocates policymakers and industry to implement precautionary approaches

Rapid review assesses microplastics impacts on human cells and reports thresholds of effects lower than previously predicted; scientific study finds polystyrene (PS) microplastics to have nephrotoxic potential; reproduction and fertility study with mice reports PS microplastics to affect females more than males

European Commission’s research and innovation magazine features the CUSP Cluster and its five member projects; discusses the current lack of information on micro- and nanoplastics and health; introduces how CUSP projects are working together to generate data, inform policymaking

Research study finds polystyrene microplastics exposure of pregnant mice leads to fetal losses by immune disturbance; book chapter estimates human chemical exposure via seafood contaminated with microplastics

European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) symposium summarizes current approaches for microplastic monitoring; research institutions present results of 4 inter-laboratory microplastic analysis comparison studies; no ‘one-size-fits-all’ analytical method, presenters emphasize need for harmonization; Commission outlines policy needs

Internal meeting sees partners present research progress and efforts across the seven work packages as well as collaborations within CUSP working groups; discuss cross-cutting issues and tasks

First issue of newsletter introduces CUSP cluster’s working groups, new calls for scientific publications, upcoming consortium general meeting in June 2022; highlights profiles of four researchers involved in CUSP projects

New fact sheet introduces AURORA project including its aims, objectives, partner organizations, and answers to common questions; available for download in seven languages

Small study assesses polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polycarbonate (PC) microplastics in human feces; finds PET and PC in all infant stool and in most meconium and adult stool samples; suggests higher exposure of infants than adults

Clinical study investigates 10 microplastic types in human placenta and meconium; detects polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyurethane in the samples; highlights that evaluation and control of potential contamination is crucial