Reliable scientific data show that micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are widely dispersed in the environment and have been detected in air, water, soil, and food (FPF reported). Humans are exposed to MNPs through many routes, including inhalation, drinking water, and via the food chain. This includes exposure to thousands of plastic chemicals, including many that are of concern. An important normative value of the European Union is the precautionary principle, which states that lack of scientific certainty should not stand in the way of preventing potential harm to human health.
From 2021 to 2025, the five EU Horizon 2020-funded projects within the CUSP research cluster (AURORA, IMPTOX, PlasticsFatE, PlasticHeal, and POLYRISK) have investigated MNPs’ effects on the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems, placenta and early-life health, immune system, and genomic integrity (FPF reported).
A final output of the CUSP cluster is the CUSP Research Roadmap, which was published on October 30, 2025. This document provides a structured overview of current knowledge, research gaps, and targeted recommendations for a comprehensive regulatory risk assessment considering the research progress made across the CUSP projects. By identifying priority areas and addressing key uncertainties, it advances risk assessment and supports evidence-based decision-making to safeguard both the environment and human health.
Specifically, the Research Roadmap combines key results of the five CUSP projects and highlights five transversal themes: analytical methods and representative materials, exposure and hazard assessment, risk assessment frameworks, and mitigation measures. For each theme, the authors provide the current state of knowledge, key knowledge gaps and challenges, as well as immediate (0–2 years), mid- (2–5 years), and long-term (>5 years) research needs.
The Roadmap emphasizes that plastics pose a complex, scientific, societal, and policy challenge requiring interdisciplinary approaches, stakeholder involvement, and capacity building. While more evidence is needed, precautionary measures such as limiting unnecessary MNP exposure, establishing guidelines for food and water, raising awareness, and improving monitoring could already be implemented now. To be effective, the authors explain that mitigation strategies should also consider unintended consequences, such as new risks potentially introduced by alternatives like biodegradable plastics. Aligning health, sustainability, and circular economy goals is also identified as essential to ensure that today’s solutions do not create tomorrow’s problems. This can be done by making reliable scientific evidence the foundation for effective and lasting policy, the authors say.
Previous publications from across the CUSP cluster are available on the resources page of their website, in the CUSP Zenodo community, and across the websites of the five projects.
The CUSP Research Roadmap was launched at a webinar on October 31, 2025, and the recording of the event and presented slides are available.
References
CUSP (October 30, 2025). “CUSP Research Roadmap.”
CUSP (October 30, 2025). “New roadmap outlines future research needs on micro- and nanoplastics and health.”
