Single-use plastics include items such as plastic bags, straws, water bottles, and many forms of food packaging and the European Commission’s Vice-President of the Executive Cabinet, Frans Timmerman, hinted that the EU may soon be banning them.

The European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) is calling for study topics on nanomaterials which address issues or question relevant to nanomaterials currently on the EU market.

Recent findings by researchers from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Fredonia and journalism organization Orb Media that found that 93% of bottled water showed signs of microplastic contamination, with an average of 10.4 and 314 particles per liter larger and smaller than 100 microns in size, respectively.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has published a resource for those who work with nanomaterials on how to prevent exposures.

The DGCCRF also found other unlisted nanoparticles in 33 products including titanium dioxide, silicon dioxide, iron and zinc oxides.