Seite - 233 - in Freshwater Microplastics - Emerging Environmental Contaminants?

6 Conclusion Increased researchon (micro)plastics hasdeveloped thepicture that (micro)plastic pollution is ubiquitous.Microplastics havebeendetected in rivers inEurope (e.g., Danube, [70]), aswell as in lakes inMongolia [50] and theUSA [59]. They cross state boarders, passing from rivers into lakes, andfinally into the global common, theocean.Theyalsocross theboundariesbetween singleorganisms, accumulating in the foodweb. Froma social-ecological perspective, the risk induces a vibrancy and resonance in socioeconomic, political, andpublic spheres.Thus, the theseswe have presented and their corresponding data clearly identify microplastics as a global risk, leading to the following conclusions regarding further research areas: Basedonanunderstandingof the risksposedbymicroplastics as anunintended side effect of the everydaymodeof societies, the global dimensions of production anddistributionpatternsneed tobe researched inmoredepth. Inmanycountriesof the Global South, a new middle income class with a high demand for plastic products is growing. Relations between the Global North and the Global South need to be addressed more adequately, regarding the production, distribution, consumption, disposal, and leakage into the environment of plastic-packaged products like fast-moving consumer goods. Due to the complexity of the microplastics phenomenon, its assessment is difficult and requires further scientific investigations to establish the evidence in order to properly address the environmental risk. The same holds true for the assessment of the human health risks. This uncertainty impedes riskmanagement decisions, but nevertheless action is required despite a lack of clear evidence, because microplastics are perceived as a threat by society. Therefore, as the complexity of the phenomenon may never be entirely resolved, future research should also focus on the question of how to handle uncertainty and manage complexglobal risks. Althoughit iscommonsensethatplasticsshouldnotbeallowedtoaccumulatein the environment, much less consensus exists regarding the strategies needed to achieve this.AsShaxson [58] points out, the question “Howcanwemakeplastics sustainable?” is just toobroad andunstructured to enable all the interest groups to speak with one voice. Strategies to combat pollution range from reuse, green chemistry, designs for recycling, improvedwastemanagement, standardized label- ing, education, cleaning programs, and sustainable consumption. Not a single strategy is required, but each sector needs to be active. However, current debates show that responsibilities are often shifted elsewhere. Thus, identifying the risk producers isnotstraightforward,assomevoicesdonot regardplasticsas thesource oftheproblembutrather their improperdisposal;othervoicesemphasizethedesign of theplasticmaterial, andyet others target consumerbehavior.Riskmanagement is about the negotiation of evidence and values.We should not stop at symbolic goals, like theG7ActionPlan [71], butmoveon to binding regulations.Research should focus on developing and testing mechanisms to call risk producers to account, for example, with the integration of costs in the benefits, extended pro- ducers’ responsibility, cost of inaction analysis, etc. Understanding theRisks ofMicroplastics:ASocial-EcologicalRiskPerspective 233