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 may increase the environmental risks of Cd via promoting Cd uptake by plants: A meta-analysis

Journal of Hazardous Materials, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 448, P. 130887 - 130887

Published: Jan. 30, 2023

Microplastics (MPs) and cadmium (Cd) are widely distributed in soil ecosystems, posing a potential threat to agricultural production human health. However, the coupled effects of MPs Cd soil-plant systems remain largely unknown, especially on large scale. In this study, meta-analysis was conducted evaluate influence plant growth accumulation under contamination conditions. Our results showed that had significantly negative shoot biomass (a decrease 11.8 %) root 8.79 %). also increased shoots roots by 14.6 % 13.5 %, respectively, revealing promote uptake. Notably, polyethylene displayed stronger promoting effect (an increase 29.4 among these MP types. induced (9.75 concentration available slight pH, which may be main driver addition posed physiological toxicity risks plants inhibiting photosynthesis enhancing oxidative damage, directly demonstrating combination with can pose synergetic plants. We further noted altered microbial diversity, likely influencing bioavailability systems. Overall, our study has important implications for combined impacts provides new insights into developing guidelines sustainable use agriculture.

Language: Английский

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Effects of microplastics and nitrogen deposition on soil multifunctionality, particularly C and N cycling

Journal of Hazardous Materials, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 451, P. 131152 - 131152

Published: March 5, 2023

Language: Английский

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The effects of microplastics on heavy metals bioavailability in soils: a meta-analysis

Journal of Hazardous Materials, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 460, P. 132369 - 132369

Published: Aug. 22, 2023

Language: Английский

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Response of peanut plant and soil N-fixing bacterial communities to conventional and biodegradable microplastics

Journal of Hazardous Materials, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 459, P. 132142 - 132142

Published: July 25, 2023

Language: Английский

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Plastic Pollution in Agriculture as a Threat to Food Security, the Ecosystem, and the Environment: An Overview

Agronomy, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(3), P. 548 - 548

Published: March 7, 2024

Plastic products in plant production and protection help farmers increase crop production, enhance food quality, reduce global water use their environmental footprint. Simultaneously, plastic has emerged as a critical ecological issue recent years, its pollution significantly impacted soil, water, plants. Thus, this review examines the multifaceted problems of agriculture risk to security, ecosystem, environment. The study’s objective was present most information on using different agriculture, sources pollution, advantages drawbacks products, strategies for mitigating agriculture. Furthermore, after examining current applications, benefits, adverse effects, risks plants, environment, we addressed requirements technological advancements, regulations, social processes that could contribute our ecosystems. We identified pathways toward more sustainable plastics discussed future research directions.

Language: Английский

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Effects of microplastics pollution on plant and soil phosphorus: A meta-analysis

Journal of Hazardous Materials, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 461, P. 132705 - 132705

Published: Oct. 4, 2023

Language: Английский

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Are biodegradable mulch films a sustainable solution to microplastic mulch film pollution? A biogeochemical perspective

Journal of Hazardous Materials, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 459, P. 132024 - 132024

Published: July 10, 2023

Language: Английский

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Global Responses of Soil Carbon Dynamics to Microplastic Exposure: A Data Synthesis of Laboratory Studies

Environmental Science & Technology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 58(13), P. 5821 - 5831

Published: Feb. 28, 2024

Microplastics (MPs) contamination presents a significant global environmental challenge, with its potential to influence soil carbon (C) dynamics being crucial aspect for understanding C changes and cycling. This meta-analysis synthesizes data from 110 peer-reviewed publications elucidate the directional, magnitude, driving effects of MPs exposure on globally. We evaluated impacts characteristics (including type, biodegradability, size, concentration), properties (initial pH organic [SOC]), experimental conditions (such as duration plant presence) various components. Key findings included promotion SOC, dissolved C, microbial biomass root following addition soils, while net photosynthetic rate was reduced. No were observed respiration shoot biomass. The study highlights that concentration, along other attributes, critically influences responses. Our results demonstrate both nature environment interact shape cycling, providing comprehensive insights guiding strategies mitigating impact MPs.

Language: Английский

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Biochemical and transcriptomic responses of buckwheat to polyethylene microplastics

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 899, P. 165587 - 165587

Published: July 18, 2023

Language: Английский

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