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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Appraisal of potential toxic elements pollution, sources apportionment, and health risks in groundwater from a coastal area of SE China

Journal of Environmental Management, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 377, P. 124691 - 124691

Published: Feb. 27, 2025

Language: Английский

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A Review of the Status, Effects, Prevention, and Remediation of Groundwater Contamination for Sustainable Environment

Water, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 15(20), P. 3662 - 3662

Published: Oct. 19, 2023

Most water systems that support ecosystems and feed humans are depleted or stressed. Aquifer characteristics, topography, subsurface activities, climate, geochemical processes regulate groundwater availability, a reliable source of fresh water. Globally, agriculture, industries, the domestic sector three major sectors consume vast quantities freshwater resources. Further anthropogenic such as soil leaching, acid rain, fertilizer, pesticides, mining, other industrial resulted in release organic inorganic pollutants affected global In India, is used huge quantities, resulting depletion 1 to 2 m year. Low-income countries face many issues related pollution, availability safe minimal. 2019, deaths due unsafe sanitation accounted for 2.2% total deaths, amounting 1.2 million people’s deaths. India recorded 6.6% 2019. China around 90.41% 60.4% utilization agricultural purposes, respectively. 2020, utilized nutrients (nitrate phosphate) crop growth enhance yield, highest nitrate phosphate concentrations groundwater. Remediating contaminants from different sources requires knowledge their concentration, behavior, cycling, degradation pathways. According safety guidelines, limiting optimizing pesticide waste disposal, empty container disposal can reduce contamination. The present study summarized various sectors, potential contamination impacts on human health environment, preventive measures, mitigation methods overcome pollution.

Language: Английский

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Investigating underground water salinity in east coastline of Tamil Nadu, India and improving its quality through solar assisted desalination

Urban Climate, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 49, P. 101440 - 101440

Published: Feb. 11, 2023

Language: Английский

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Groundwater susceptibility assessment using the GIS based DRASTIC-LU model in the Noyyal river area of South India

Urban Climate, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 49, P. 101464 - 101464

Published: Feb. 24, 2023

Language: Английский

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Monolith floatable dual-function solar photothermal evaporator: efficient clean water regeneration synergizing with pollutant degradation

Materials Horizons, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11(20), P. 5081 - 5093

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Meeting the growing demands of attaining clean water regeneration from wastewater and simultaneous pollutant degradation has been highly sought after.

Language: Английский

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Integrated machine learning–based model and WQI for groundwater quality assessment: ML, geospatial, and hydro-index approaches

Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 30(18), P. 53862 - 53875

Published: March 3, 2023

The demands upon the arid area for water supply pose threats to both quantity and quality of social economic activities. Thus, a widely used machine learning model, namely support vector machines (SVM) integrated with indices (WQI), was assess groundwater quality. predictive ability SVM model assessed using field dataset from Abu-Sweir Abu-Hammad, Ismalia, Egypt. Multiple parameters were chosen as independent variables build model. results revealed that permissible unsuitable class values range 36 27%, 45 36%, 68 15% WQI approach, method SVM-WQI respectively. Besides, shows low percentage excellent compared WQI. trained all predictors mean square error (MSE) 0.002 0.41; models had higher accuracy reached 0.88. Moreover, study highlighted can be successfully implemented assessment (0.90 accuracy). resulting in sites indicates is influenced by rock-water interaction effect leaching dissolution. Overall, ML give an understanding assessment, which may helpful future development such areas.

Language: Английский

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Enhanced performance of oxygen vacancy-rich In-TiO2 materials for electrocatalytic urea synthesis via a relay catalysis strategy

Chemical Engineering Journal, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 485, P. 150052 - 150052

Published: Feb. 28, 2024

Language: Английский

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Driving mechanism of groundwater quality and probabilistic health risk quantification in the central Yinchuan Plain

Environmental Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 261, P. 119728 - 119728

Published: Aug. 2, 2024

Language: Английский

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Electroactive microorganism-assisted remediation of groundwater contamination: Advances and challenges

Bioresource Technology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 377, P. 128916 - 128916

Published: March 20, 2023

Language: Английский

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