Closing the gap between micro- and nano plastics science and policy

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are increasingly being identified across environmental matrices, the food chain, and drinking water, with documented effects on human health, yet policy on how to translate this evidence into pollution-reduction action lags well behind the pace at which the underlying data are being generated. This Comment synthesizes the current state of environmental MNP data collection across oceanic, freshwater, and cryospheric matrices, showing that ocean surveys currently offer the most robust field datasets, while lake, river, soil, food, and polar measurements remain comparatively sparse and methodologically heterogeneous. Building on this assessment, we outline a forward-looking research and policy agenda for translating improved data into action once more comprehensive datasets become available. This agenda spans three interconnected priorities: advancing analytical precision and ecosystem-level research, from reference materials and machine-learning-assisted detection to toxicology and biogeochemical impacts; harmonizing global policy frameworks, including regulatory standards, extended producer responsibility, and the emerging Global Plastics Treaty; and addressing the equity and governance trade-offs that arise when translating MNP science into practice, particularly through a One Health lens that links environmental, plant, animal, and human health. Together, these sections aim to bridge the gap between what we currently know about MNP occurrences in the environment, the more broadly documented human health evidence, and what must be done, scientifically and politically, to manage the risks they pose.