The Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health

Annals of Global Health, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 89(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Plastics have conveyed great benefits to humanity and made possible some of the most significant advances modern civilization in fields as diverse medicine, electronics, aerospace, construction, food packaging, sports. It is now clear, however, that plastics are also responsible for harms human health, economy, earth's environment. These occur at every stage plastic life cycle, from extraction coal, oil, gas its main feedstocks through ultimate disposal into The extent these not been systematically assessed, their magnitude fully quantified, economic costs comprehensively counted.The goals this Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Human Health examine plastics' impacts across cycle on: (1) health well-being; (2) global environment, especially ocean; (3) economy; (4) vulnerable populations-the poor, minorities, world's children. On basis examination, offers science-based recommendations designed support development a Global Treaty, protect save lives.This report contains seven Sections. Following an Introduction, Section 2 presents narrative review processes involved production, use, notes hazards environment associated with each stages. 3 describes ocean potential enter marine web result exposure. 4 details health. 5 first-order estimate health-related costs. 6 examines intersection between plastic, social inequity, environmental injustice. 7 Commission's findings recommendations.Plastics complex, highly heterogeneous, synthetic chemical materials. Over 98% produced fossil carbon- oil gas. comprised carbon-based polymer backbone thousands additional chemicals incorporated polymers convey specific properties such color, flexibility, stability, water repellence, flame retardation, ultraviolet resistance. Many added toxic. They include carcinogens, neurotoxicants endocrine disruptors phthalates, bisphenols, per- poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), brominated retardants, organophosphate retardants. integral components many environment.Global production has increased almost exponentially since World War II, time more than 8,300 megatons (Mt) manufactured. Annual volume grown under Mt 1950 460 2019, 230-fold increase, track triple by 2060. More half all ever 2002. Single-use account 35-40% current represent rapidly growing segment manufacture.Explosive recent growth reflects deliberate pivot integrated multinational fossil-carbon corporations produce manufacture plastics. reducing fuels increasing manufacture. two principal factors decreasing demand due increases 'green' energy, massive expansion fracking.Plastic energy-intensive contributes significantly climate change. At present, estimated 3.7% greenhouse emissions, contribution Brazil. This fraction projected increase 4.5% 2060 if trends continue unchecked.The three phases: disposal. In carbon feedstocks-coal, gas, oil-are transformed energy-intensive, catalytic vast array products. Plastic use occurs aspect results widespread exposure contained plastic. constitute largest portion followed fibers construction.Plastic inefficient, recovery recycling rates below 10% globally. 22 waste enters year, much it single-use gigatons accumulated 1950. Strategies controlled uncontrolled landfilling, open burning, thermal conversion, export. Vast quantities exported year high-income low-income countries, where accumulates landfills, pollutes air water, degrades vital ecosystems, befouls beaches estuaries, health-environmental injustice scale. Plastic-laden e-waste particularly problematic.Plastics plastic-associated pollution. contaminate aquatic (marine freshwater), terrestrial, atmospheric environments destination found throughout ocean, including coastal regions, sea surface, deep sea, polar ice. appear resist breakdown could persist decades. Macro- micro-plastic particles identified hundreds species major taxa, consumed humans. Trophic transfer microplastic within them demonstrated. Although themselves (>10 µm) undergo biomagnification, hydrophobic bioaccumulate animals biomagnify webs. amounts fates smaller nanoplastic (MNPs <10 poorly understood, but harm worrying given mobility biological systems. Adverse pollution multiple levels molecular biochemical population ecosystem. MNP contamination seafood direct, though well chemicals. Marine endangers ecosystems upon which depends food, oxygen, livelihood, well-being.Coal miners, workers field who extract suffer mortality traumatic injury, coal workers' pneumoconiosis, silicosis, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary lung cancer. risk leukemia, lymphoma, hepatic angiosarcoma, brain cancer, breast mesothelioma, neurotoxic decreased fertility. Workers producing textiles die bladder interstitial disease rates. toxic metal poisoning, neuropathy, Residents "fenceline" communities adjacent sites experience risks premature birth, low birth weight, asthma, childhood cancer.During disposal, release additives residual monomers people. National biomonitoring surveys USA document population-wide exposures disrupt function births, neurodevelopmental disorders, male reproductive defects, infertility, obesity, renal cancers. Chemical-laden MNPs formed degradation can living organisms, Emerging, albeit still incomplete evidence indicates may cause toxicity physical toxicological effects acting vectors transport bacterial pathogens tissues cells.Infants womb young children populations high plastic-related effects. Because exquisite sensitivity early hazardous children's unique patterns exposure, linked prematurity, stillbirth, defects organs, impairment, impaired growth, Early-life non-communicable diseases later life.Plastic's We 2015 exceeded $250 billion (2015 Int$) globally, alone disability caused PBDE, BPA DEHP $920 Int$). (GHG) emissions equivalent 1.96 dioxide (CO2e) annually. Using US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) cost metric, we annual GHG be $341 Int$).These costs, large they are, certainly underestimate full losses resulting negative All costs-and costs-are externalized petrochemical manufacturing industry borne citizens, taxpayers, governments countries around world without compensation.The adverse economy evenly distributed. disproportionately affect disempowered, marginalized workers, racial ethnic communities, Indigenous groups, women, children, whom had little do creating crisis lack political influence or resources address it. Plastics' harmful keenly felt South, small island states, disenfranchised areas North. Social justice (SEJ) principles require reversal inequitable burdens ensure no group bears disproportionate share those benefit economically bear fair currently costs.It clear sustainable societal injustices.The driver worsening exponential accelerating production. further magnified long persistence environment.The plastics-monomers, additives, processing agents, non-intentionally substances-include amongst number known disruptors, neurotoxicants, persistent organic pollutants. planetary leach out plastics, pollution, disease. efforts reduce must chemicals.To at-risk populations, put end 2040, supports urgent adoption nations strong comprehensive Treaty accord mandate set forth March 2022 resolution United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).International measures needed curb because transcend national boundaries, scale, well-being people poorest nations. Effective implementation will international action coordinated complemented interventions national, regional, local levels.This urges cap targets, timetables, contributions central provision Treaty. recommend inclusion following provisions:The needs extend beyond microplastics litter plastics.The banning severely restricting unnecessary, avoidable, problematic items, items manufactured microbeads.The requirements extended producer responsibility (EPR) make producers, manufacturers products legally financially safety end-of-life management materials sell.The reductions complexity products; health-protective standards additives; requirement non-toxic materials; disclosure components; traceability components. International cooperation essential implementing enforcing standards.The SEJ remedies fill gaps community knowledge advance both distributional procedural equity.This encourages calling exploration listing least pollutants (POPs) Stockholm Convention.This interface Basel London Conventions enhance slow exports least-developed countries.This recommends creation Permanent Science Policy Advisory Body guide Treaty's implementation. priorities would Member States other stakeholders evaluating solutions effective consumption, enhancing recycling, curbing generation waste. assess trade-offs among evaluate safer alternatives monitor transnational export coordinate robust oceanic-, land-, air-based monitoring programs.This investment research crisis. need determine cost-effective context particular proposed solutions. Oceanographic better measure concentrations µm understand distribution fate Biomedical elucidate MNPs.This finds boon stealth threat enormous benefits, linear pay attention design safe near absence recovery, reuse, grave damage, injustices. worsening.While there remain about uncertainties magnitude, available today demonstrates unequivocally severity intervention Manufacture continue. However, reckless ever-increasing unnecessary products, curbed.Global against failure act immense.

Language: Английский

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Microplastics: Human exposure assessment through air, water, and food

Environment International, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 179, P. 108150 - 108150

Published: Aug. 14, 2023

Microplastics (MP) are plastic particles with dimension up to 5 mm. Due their persistence, global spread across different ecosystems and potential human health effects, they have gained increasing attention during the last decade. However, extent of exposure MP through pathways intake not been elucidated.The objective this review is provide an overview on inhalation, ingestion, dermal contact considering data from open bibliography in air, dust, food, water drinks.A bibliographic search Scopus PubMed was conducted using keywords outdoor indoor food including beverages (n = 521). Articles were sorted by title abstract 213), only studies reporting identification quantification techniques further considered 168). A total 115 articles that include quality assurance control (QA/QC) procedures finally discussed present review. Based concentration available literature, we estimated inhaled dose (ID), dust (DI), daily (EDI) via beverages. Finally, (TDI) both inhalation ingestion routes provided for adults, infants newborns.The concentrations according bibliography. Human air food/drinks consumption revealed drinking waters main sources MP.This study reveals humans constantly exposed MP, environment ingest decisively contribute intake. Additionally, highlight newborns high needed evaluate presence risk vulnerable age-population.

Language: Английский

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Additives of plastics: Entry into the environment and potential risks to human and ecological health

Journal of Environmental Management, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 348, P. 119364 - 119364

Published: Oct. 21, 2023

A steep rise in global plastic production and significant discharge of waste are expected the near future. Plastics pose a threat to ecosystem human health through generation particulate plastics that act as carriers for other emerging contaminants, release toxic chemical additives. Since additives not covalently bound, they can freely leach into environment. Due their occurrence various environmental settings, exert ecotoxicity. However, only 25% have been characterized potential ecological concern. Despite market statistics highlighting substantial burden caused by unrestricted use additives, information on ecotoxicity remains incomplete. By focusing impacts present review aims provide detailed insights following aspects: (i) diversity environment, (ii) leaching from materials, (iii) trophic transfer, (iv) exposure, (v) risks health, (vi) legal guidelines mitigation strategies. These immense value restricting searching eco-friendly alternatives, establishing or revising agencies.

Language: Английский

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Synthetic Antioxidants as Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Indoor Environments: Knowns and Unknowns

Environmental Science & Technology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 57(51), P. 21550 - 21557

Published: Dec. 12, 2023

Synthetic antioxidants, including synthetic phenolic antioxidants (SPAs), amine (AAs), and organophosphite (OPAs), are essential additives for preventing oxidative aging in various industrial consumer products. Increasing attention has been paid to the environmental contamination caused by these chemicals, but our understanding of is generally limited compared other emerging contaminants such as plasticizers flame retardants. Many people spend a significant portion (normally greater than 80%) their time indoors, meaning that they experience widespread persistent exposure indoor contaminants. Thus, this Perspective focuses on problem The wide application commercial products demonstrated toxicity make them an important family concern. However, knowledge gaps still need be bridged: novel related transformation identified environments, different dust sampling strategies should employed evaluate human contaminants, geographic scope research broadened, partition coefficients among media investigated.

Language: Английский

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Micro- and nano-plastics in the atmosphere: A review of occurrence, properties and human health risks

Journal of Hazardous Materials, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 465, P. 133412 - 133412

Published: Jan. 9, 2024

Language: Английский

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Micro(nano)plastics in the Human Body: Sources, Occurrences, Fates, and Health Risks

Environmental Science & Technology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 5, 2024

The increasing global attention on micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) is a result of their ubiquity in the water, air, soil, and biosphere, exposing humans to MNPs daily basis threatening human health. However, crucial data body, including sources, occurrences, behaviors, health risks, are limited, which greatly impedes any systematic assessment impact body. To further understand effects we must identify existing knowledge gaps that need be immediately addressed provide potential solutions these issues. Herein, examined current literature behaviors body as well risks. Furthermore, identified key resolved comprehensively assess Additionally, complexity lack efficient analytical methods main barriers impeding investigations necessitating development standard unified method. Finally, highlighted for interdisciplinary studies from environmental, biological, medical, chemical, computer, material scientists fill drive research. Considering inevitability occurrence exposure MNPs, more urgently required enhance our understanding negative

Language: Английский

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Microplastic-mediated new mechanism of liver damage: From the perspective of the gut-liver axis

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 919, P. 170962 - 170962

Published: Feb. 13, 2024

Language: Английский

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Comparing the effects and mechanisms of exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics with different functional groups on the male reproductive system

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 922, P. 171299 - 171299

Published: Feb. 27, 2024

Language: Английский

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Assessment of human dermal absorption of flame retardant additives in polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics using 3D human skin equivalent models

Environment International, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 186, P. 108635 - 108635

Published: April 1, 2024

To overcome ethical and technical challenges impeding the study of human dermal uptake chemical additives present in microplastics (MPs), we employed 3D skin equivalent (3D-HSE) models to provide first insights into bioavailability polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDEs) MPs; evaluated different factors influencing percutaneous absorption PBDEs under real-life exposure scenario. were bioavailable varying degrees (up 8 % dose) permeation was evident, albeit at low levels (≤0.1 dose). While polymer type influenced release from studied MPs skin, less important driving PBDEs. The absorbed fraction strongly correlated (r

Language: Английский

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Unravelling the microplastic contamination: A comprehensive analysis of microplastics in indoor house dust

Indoor and Built Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 33(8), P. 1519 - 1541

Published: April 17, 2024

Microplastics (MPs), measuring less than 5 mm, have been causing environmental concerns in aquatic ecosystems, and work has done indoor environments, where humans spend most of their lives. This finding revealed a diverse range MPs within house dust samples. These encompassed fibres, fragments, foams, pellets films. Due to the ubiquity textile-based items, fibres are common MP. The different colours like black, red, blue, yellow, white brown. study there were substantial differences MP sizes across households. average size was 178.87–3713.99 µm. One hundred eighteen particles identified as MPs. 22 types MPs, shedding light on these materials’ extensive sources applications everyday household items. environments raise about potential human exposure underscore need for further research into health implications. found samples low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, high-density polyethylene polystyrene. Carbon, nitrogen, fluorine, sodium, sulphur, potassium, calcium, zinc, oxygen magnesium elements all Compared with active sampling, slightly more

Language: Английский

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