POLYRISK is an EU funded project aimed at understanding human exposure and health hazard of micro- and nanoplastic contaminants in our environment

POLYRISK aims to advance the science and our understanding of how micro and nanoplastic particles in the living environment might be able to impact human health. The outcomes of the projects will be communicated early on with the aim to feed them into current and future EU policies, and support actions envisaged under the European Green Deal in relation to plastic pollution – helping to ensure that human health is protected, today and in the future.

HEAL is a project partner and leads the work package on communication, dissemination and engagement for policy impact.

The consortium consists of 15 partners from seven European countries.

Project objectives:

  • Analytical methods to quantify external and internal MNP exposure (incl. nano-sized);
  • High-exposure, real-life studies that elucidate MNP risks in scenarios where they are expected to first arise and to be the most problematic for humans;
  • Hazard assessment with immunotoxicological effect concentration data from in vitro testing that focuses on the information-rich, cost-effective, animal-free testing that gets to the crux of the toxic effects that prelude chronic disease (leaving expensive and unnecessary in vivo testing out).
  • An Integrated Approach to Testing and Assessment (IATA) and a novel human risk assessment framework for MNP

Resources from the POLYRISK  project: