Table 2 Overview of sources for primary and secondary microplastics in the environment

Primary microplastics

 Specific personal care products containing microplastics as exfoliants/abrasives

 Specific medical applications (e.g. dentist tooth polish)

 Drilling fluids for oil and gas exploration

 Industrial abrasives

 Pre-production plastics, production scrap, plastic regranulate: accidental losses, run-off from processing facilities

Secondary microplastics

 General littering, dumping of plastic waste

 Losses of waste during waste collection, from landfill sites and recycling facilities

 Losses of plastic materials during natural disasters

 Plastic mulching

 Synthetic polymer particles used to improve soil quality and as composting additive

 Abrasion/release of fibres from synthetic textiles

 Release of fibres from hygiene products

 Abrasion from car tyres

 Paints based on synthetic polymers (ship paints, other protective paints, house paint, road paint): abrasion during use and paint removal, spills, illegal dumping

 Abrasion from other plastic materials (e.g. household plastics)

 Plastic items in organic waste

 Plastic coated or laminated paper: losses in paper recycling facilities

 Material lost or discarded from fishing vessels and aquaculture facilities

 Material lost or discarded from merchant ships (including lost cargo), recreational boats, oil and gas platforms