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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Fungal Enzymes Involved in Plastics Biodegradation

Microorganisms, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 10(6), P. 1180 - 1180

Published: June 8, 2022

Plastic pollution is a growing environmental problem, in part due to the extremely stable and durable nature of this polymer. As recycling does not provide complete solution, research has been focusing on alternative ways degrading plastic. Fungi wide array enzymes specialized degradation recalcitrant substances are very promising candidates field plastic degradation. This review examines present literature for different fungal involved degradation, describing their characteristics, efficacy biotechnological applications. Fungal laccases peroxidases, generally used by fungi degrade lignin, show good results polyethylene (PE) polyvinyl chloride (PVC), while esterases such as cutinases lipases were successfully terephthalate (PET) polyurethane (PUR). Good also obtained PUR proteases ureases. All these isolated from many fungi, both

Language: Английский

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Nanoplastics are potentially more dangerous than microplastics

Environmental Chemistry Letters, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 21(4), P. 1933 - 1936

Published: Nov. 9, 2022

Language: Английский

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Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy to Assess the Degree of Alteration of Artificially Aged and Environmentally Weathered Microplastics

Polymers, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 15(4), P. 911 - 911

Published: Feb. 11, 2023

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) is a spectroscopy technique widely used to identify organic materials. It has recently gained popularity in microplastic (MP) pollution research determine the chemical composition of unknown plastic fragments. However, it could also be evaluate degree ageing MPs collected from environment. In this context, principal aim our been qualitatively natural weathering environmental an Italian freshwater body (the Ofanto River) using ATR-FTIR technology. Furthermore, we compared particles weathered artificial under controlled light and temperature conditions unaltered pristine materials assess results. FTIR spectra were acquired Nicolet Summit (ThermoFisher Scientific) equipped with Everest ATR diamond Crystal plate DTGS KBr detector (wavenumber range 4000-500 cm-1, 32 scans per spectrum, spectral resolution 4 cm-1). The was assessed three different indexes known related changes MPs: Carbonyl Index (CI), Hydroxyl (HI), Carbon-Oxygen (COI). overall results showed that regions reflecting (hydroxyl groups, peaks 3100 3700 alkenes or carbon double bonds, 1600 1680 carbonyl 1690 1810 cm-1) appeared significantly modified calculated for polymers degraded photo thermo displayed general tendency increase time contact irradiation time. Particular enhancements CI PS fragment PE pellet, HI fragments COI observed. Otherwise, following incubation same at constant 45 °C did not further affect particles. Moreover, new unique observed particles, almost all fingerprint region (1500-500 Differences CI, HI, evidenced among morphological MP shapes. On one hand, pellets values ranging 0.05 0.26 mean value 0.17 ± 0.10. Most samples (57%) presented between 0.16 0.30. other slicer modifications lower than (0.05 0.05). This index helps degradation by UV light, increasing enhancing residence Conversely, greater (5.90 2.57) (1.04 0.48) pellets, as well lines, which maximum (11.51). attributed bond vibrations hydroxyl, carboxyl, phenol groups. contrast, frequently C_O bonds found carbohydrates, alkanes, secondary alcohols, ketones. conclusion, characteristics aged ones. interpretation main emphasizes need conduct ecotoxicological experimental studies naturally due unicity their properties, are more helpful understanding effects.

Language: Английский

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Trojan horse in the intestine: A review on the biotoxicity of microplastics combined environmental contaminants

Journal of Hazardous Materials, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 439, P. 129652 - 129652

Published: July 21, 2022

Language: Английский

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Characterization and regulation of microplastic pollution for protecting planetary and human health

Environmental Pollution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 315, P. 120442 - 120442

Published: Oct. 19, 2022

Language: Английский

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Occurrence and characteristics of atmospheric microplastics in Mexico City

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 847, P. 157601 - 157601

Published: July 23, 2022

Language: Английский

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Insights into the removal of microplastics and microfibres by Advanced Oxidation Processes

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 861, P. 160665 - 160665

Published: Dec. 5, 2022

Water treatment plants' effluents are hotspots of microplastics (MPs) and microfibres (MFs) released into the aquatic environment because they were not designed to capture these particles. Special attention should be given MFs, since mainly come from laundry related one main MP shapes detected in water wastewater plants. In this sense, Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) could a feasible solution for tackling MF pollution, however, it is still premature extract conclusions due limited number studies on degradation particles (specifically MFs) using AOPs. This review addresses impacts AOPs MPs/MFs, focusing their efficiency, toxicity, sustainability processes, among other aspects. The points out that polyamide MFs can achieve mass loss >90% by photocatalytic system TiO2. Also, low oxidation MPs (<30 %) conventional Fenton process affects surface MPs. However, Fenton-based processes provide better removal some types MPs, temperatures >100 °C, reaction time ≥ 5 h, initial pH ≤ 3, achieving weight up 96 %. Despite results, operating conditions required ones reported so far full-scale application. Additionally, ozonation plants has increased fragmentation (including MFs), leading new generation More needed toxicity effects intermediates methods analysis employed MPs/MFs effluent standardized compared effectively. Future research focus AOP (power consumption, chemicals consumed operational costs) understanding applicability adapted treatment.

Language: Английский

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Understanding microplastic pollution of marine ecosystem: a review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 31(29), P. 41402 - 41445

Published: July 14, 2023

Language: Английский

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Occurrence and ecological risks of microplastics and phthalate esters in organic solid wastes: In a landfill located nearby the Persian Gulf

Chemosphere, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 332, P. 138910 - 138910

Published: May 10, 2023

Language: Английский

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