Draft Science Assessment for Plastic Pollution

Adapted from Plastic Pollution: Information Sheet from Government of Canada (2020). Available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/chemical-substances/other-chemical-substances-interest/plastic-pollution.html

Everyone is aware of the negative impact that plastics can have on the environment and health, but few are concerned with the minutiae of the problem. For instance, plastics are categorized into ‘microplastics’ and ‘macroplastics’ based on their size. While details such as this may slip through the cracks of public knowledge, they are important to understanding the scope of the problem.

Earlier this year, the Government of Canada developed a ‘Draft Science Assessment for Plastic Pollution’. The purpose of this document is to detail the current state of plastic pollution and its possible deleterious effects to both human health and the environment.

The assessment was published in the Canada Gazette at the beginning of February, and will remain open for public comment until the beginning of April.

Hopefully, this draft assessment will strengthen the ability of policymakers and government officials to make evidence-informed, scientifically robust decisions regarding the state of plastics in Canada, and will lead to a cleaner, safer environment for all.

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