title: Microplastic Exposure Assessment in Aquatic Environments: Learning from Similarities and Differences to Engineered Nanoparticles.
abstract: Microplastics (MPs) have been identified as contaminants of emerging concern in aquatic environments and research into their behavior and fate has been sharply increasing in recent years. Nevertheless, significant gaps remain in our understanding of several crucial aspects of MP exposure and risk assessment, including the quantification of emissions, dominant fate processes, types of analytical tools required for characterization and monitoring, and adequate laboratory protocols for analysis and hazard testing. This Feature aims at identifying transferrable knowledge and experience from engineered nanoparticle (ENP) exposure assessment. This is achieved by comparing ENP and MPs based on their similarities as particulate contaminants, whereas critically discussing specific differences. We also highlight the most pressing research priorities to support an efficient development of tools and methods for MPs environmental risk assessment.
authors.affiliation: University of Vienna , Department of Environmental Geosciences and Environmental Science Research Network, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5639-8789
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hüffer
authors.affiliation: University of Vienna , Department of Environmental Geosciences and Environmental Science Research Network, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.|University of Vienna , Research Platform Nano-Norms-Nature, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0197-0116
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Praetorius
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Analytical Chemistry , Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: University of Vienna , Department of Environmental Geosciences and Environmental Science Research Network, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: von der Kammer
authors.affiliation: University of Vienna , Department of Environmental Geosciences and Environmental Science Research Network, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.|University of Vienna , Research Platform Nano-Norms-Nature, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Thilo
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8929-6933
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hofmann
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles; D018570:Risk Assessment