• Project number: F 2530
• Institution: Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA)
• Status: Completed Project

Description:

The POLYRISK research project investigated possible health risks that may occur when people inhale tiny plastic particles from the air. These micro- and nanoplastic particles (MNP) can come from textiles, car tyres, or everyday plastic products. To assess these risks, BAuA developed a risk assessment system and examined how much MNP is actually present in different real-life environments.

Together with the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, a new scheme was created to classify MNP according to their potential health risks. A flowchart was developed that explains which test methods are needed for different particle types. Special attention was given to fibre-shaped particles, as their behaviour in the body depends on their length and thickness. The scheme distinguishes three groups: fibre-shaped MNP, granular MNP without specific toxicity, and MNP whose possible effects come from contained or attached harmful chemicals.

In addition, real-life situations were studied where people may inhale MNP: a textile factory with many synthetic fibres in the air, two sports halls with plastic or natural flooring, and a busy urban street. The collected samples were analysed using advanced microscopy and chemical methods, which were further developed and partly automated during the project.

The results show that plastic particles were detectable in all examined environments, including tyre-wear particles that are widespread in outdoor air. However, the measured concentrations were low and clearly below existing dust limit values. In the textile factory, a few critical fibres were found, but their levels were also very low.