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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The emerging role of microplastics in systemic toxicity: Involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS)

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 895, P. 165076 - 165076

Published: June 28, 2023

Language: Английский

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The potential impacts of micro-and-nano plastics on various organ systems in humans

EBioMedicine, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 99, P. 104901 - 104901

Published: Dec. 6, 2023

Humans are exposed to micro-and-nano plastics (MNPs) through various routes, but the adverse health effects of MNPs on different organ systems not yet fully understood. This review aims provide an overview potential impacts and identify knowledge gaps in current research. The summarized results suggest that exposure can lead oxidative stress, inflammation, immune dysfunction, altered biochemical energy metabolism, impaired cell proliferation, disrupted microbial metabolic pathways, abnormal development, carcinogenicity. There is limited human data MNPs, despite evidence from animal cellular studies. Most published research has focused specific types assess their toxicity, while other plastic particles commonly found environment remain unstudied. Future studies should investigate by considering realistic concentrations, dose-dependent effects, individual susceptibility, confounding factors.

Language: Английский

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‘Plasticosis’: Characterising macro- and microplastic-associated fibrosis in seabird tissues

Journal of Hazardous Materials, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 450, P. 131090 - 131090

Published: Feb. 26, 2023

As biota are increasingly exposed to plastic pollution, there is a need closely examine the sub-lethal 'hidden' impacts of ingestion. This emerging field study has been limited model species in controlled laboratory settings, with little data available for wild, free-living organisms. Highly impacted by ingestion, Flesh-footed Shearwaters (Ardenna carneipes) thus an apt these environmentally relevant manner. A Masson's Trichrome stain was used document any evidence plastic-induced fibrosis, using collagen as marker scar tissue formation proventriculus (stomach) 30 Shearwater fledglings from Lord Howe Island, Australia. Plastic presence highly associated widespread and extensive changes to, even loss of, structure within mucosa submucosa. Additionally, despite naturally occurring indigestible items, such pumice, also being found gastrointestinal tract, this did not cause similar scarring. highlights unique pathological properties plastics raises concerns other Further, extent severity fibrosis documented gives support novel, fibrotic disease, which we define 'Plasticosis,'.

Language: Английский

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The potential toxicity of microplastics on human health

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 912, P. 168946 - 168946

Published: Dec. 2, 2023

Language: Английский

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Recent insights into uptake, toxicity, and molecular targets of microplastics and nanoplastics relevant to human health impacts

iScience, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 26(2), P. 106061 - 106061

Published: Jan. 28, 2023

Microplastics and nanoplastics (M-NPLs) are ubiquitous environmentally, chemically, or mechanically degraded plastic particles. Humans exposed to M-NPLs of various sizes types through inhalation contaminated air, ingestion water food, other routes. It is estimated that Americans ingest tens thousands millions particles yearly, depending on socioeconomic status, age, gender. have spurred interest in toxicology because their abundance, nature, ability penetrate bodily cellular barriers, producing toxicological effects cells, tissues, organs, organ systems. The present review paper highlights: (1) current knowledge understanding the detrimental mouse models human cell lines, (2) organelle localization M-NPLs, underlying uptake mechanisms focusing endocytosis, (3) possible pathways involved toxicity, particularly reactive oxygen species, nuclear factor-erythroid factor 2-related 2 (NRF2), Wnt/β-Catenin, Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-kB)-regulated inflammation, apoptosis, autophagy signaling. We also highlight potential role increasing incubation time, spread, transport COVID-19 virus. Finally, we discuss future prospects this field.

Language: Английский

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Polystyrene microplastics promote liver inflammation by inducing the formation of macrophages extracellular traps

Journal of Hazardous Materials, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 452, P. 131236 - 131236

Published: March 21, 2023

Language: Английский

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Impacts of microplastics on immunity

Frontiers in Toxicology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 4

Published: Sept. 27, 2022

Most disposable plastic products are degraded slowly in the natural environment and continually turned to microplastics (MPs) nanoplastics (NPs), posing additional environmental hazards. The toxicological assessment of MPs for marine organisms mammals has been reported. Thus, there is an urgent need be aware harm human immune system more studies about immunological assessments. This review focuses on how produced they may interact with our body, particularly their responses immunotoxicity. can taken up by cells, thus disrupting intracellular signaling pathways, altering homeostasis finally causing damage tissues organs. generation reactive oxygen species mainly mechanisms after MP exposure, which further induce production danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) associate processes toll-like receptors (TLRs) disruption, cytokine production, inflammatory cells. effectively cell membranes or proteins form a protein-corona, combine external pollutants, chemicals, pathogens greater toxicity strong adverse effects. A comprehensive research immunotoxicity effects MPs, including various chemical compositions, shapes, sizes, combined exposure concentrations, worth studied. Therefore, it urgently needed elucidate hazards risks humans that exposed MPs.

Language: Английский

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Gut Microbiota Participates in Polystyrene Microplastics-Induced Hepatic Injuries by Modulating the Gut–Liver Axis

ACS Nano, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 17(15), P. 15125 - 15145

Published: July 24, 2023

Dietary pollution by polystyrene microplastics (MPs) can cause hepatic injuries and microbial dysbiosis. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major polyphenol in green tea, exerts beneficial effects on liver modulating gut microbiota. However, role of microbiota MPs-induced protective effect EGCG have not been clarified. Here, 5 μm MPs were orally administered to mice induce injuries. Subsequently, antibiotic cocktail (ABX) fecal transplant (FMT) experiments performed investigate underlying mechanisms. Additionally, was explore its protection against Our results showed that activated systemic inflammation, promoted fibrosis, altered metabolome; meanwhile, damaged homeostasis disturbing microbiome, promoting colonic impairing intestinal barrier. Notably, reduced abundance probiotics Akkermansia, Mucispirillum, Faecalibaculum while increasing pathogenic Tuzzerella. Interestingly, elimination mitigated inflammation barrier impairment. Moreover, ABX ameliorated but fibrosis. Correspondingly, from MPs-administered induced colonic, systemic, their profibrosis observed. Finally, elevated effectively repressed inflammation. remodeling metabolome also attenuated EGCG. These findings illustrated contributed injuries, could serve as a potential prevention strategy for these adverse consequences.

Language: Английский

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Recent progress of microplastic toxicity on human exposure base on in vitro and in vivo studies

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 903, P. 166766 - 166766

Published: Sept. 2, 2023

Language: Английский

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