Microplastics

Microplastics

Sources, emissions and environmental risk of microplastics

This project aims to assess the sources, emissions and environmental risk of microplastics to inform effective risk reduction strategies, with a focus on Tokyo Bay.

Organized by Japan Chemical Industry Association

Researchers / Institutional Affiliations

Principal Investigator

  • Wataru Naito
    National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    (AIST ; Japan)

Collaborators

  • Masashi Gamo
    AIST
    Research Institute of Science for Safety and Sustainability
    (RISS; Japan)
  • Kiyotaka Tsunemi
    AIST
    RISS
    (Japan)
  • Hideo Kajihara
    AIST
    RISS
    (Japan)
  • Kyoko Ono
    AIST
    RISS
    (Japan)
  • Isamu Ogura
    AIST
    RISS
    (Japan)
  • Bin-Le Lin
    AIST
    RISS
    (Japan)
  • Xue Mianqiang
    AIST
    RISS
    (Japan)
  • Yuichi Iwasaki
    AIST
    RISS
    (Japan)
  • Yuriko Ishikawa
    AIST
    RISS
    (Japan)
  • Yutaka Kameda
    Chiba Institute of Technology
    (Japan)

Timeline

Underway since March 2023

Additional information

This research project aims to facilitate realistic and effective risk management strategies to mitigate microplastic pollution. The project focuses on analyzing the load and sources of microplastics in Tokyo Bay, and conducting practical risk assessments. Leveraging material flow analysis and precise field data, the researchers’ goal is to quantitatively assess the sources of microplastic pollution in marine environments. A second aim is to quantify the temporal changes in microplastic-related environmental risks and the efficacy of various mitigation measures. The researchers have proposed an environmental risk assessment methodology tailored to the unique characteristics of microplastics, drawing from practical case studies in Tokyo Bay and the latest insights from Japanese and international sources.

Professional Presentations

Ueda K, Iwasaki Y, Uesaka M, Naito W. Which concentration unit should be used for environmental risk assessment of microplastics? 57th Annual Meeting of Japanese Society of Water Environment, Poster Presentation, March 2023, Univ. Ehime, Japan.

Naito W, Iwasaki Y, Ono K, Ogura I. Framework of environmental risk assessment for microplastics and an illustrative example. 57th Annual Meeting of Japanese Society of Water Environment, Oral Presentation, March 2023, Univ. Ehime, Japan.

Ono K, Naito W, Xue M, Tsunemi K, Ogura I. Estimation of Emission and Transfer of Microplastics to Tokyo Bay, Japan by Material Flow Analysis. SETAC EU 33rd Annual Meeting, Dublin, Ireland, April 30-May 4, 2023.

Naito W, Gamo M, Ishikawa Y et al. Quantifying environmental emission and risk of microplastics in a semi-enclosed bay: A Tokyo Bay case study. SETAC EU 33rd Annual Meeting, Dublin, Ireland, April 30-May 4, 2023.

Naito W. Characterizing Composition Profiles and Environmental Risk of Microplastics in Tokyo Bay, 2023 ICCA MARII WORKSHOP, Alexis Royal Sonesta Hotel, Seattle, USA, June 12-14, 2023

Published Papers

Ono K, Naito W, Ogura I, Xue M, Kato E, Uesaka M, Tsunemi K (2023). Estimation of microplastic emission and transfer into Tokyo Bay, Japan, using material flow analysis. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115440

Iwasaki Y, Takeshita K.M, Ueda K, Naito W. Estimating species sensitivity distributions for microplastics by quantitatively considering particle characteristics using a recently created ecotoxicity database. Micropl.& Nanopl. 3, 21 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43591-023-00070-6