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 in Terrestrial Domestic Animals and Human Health: Implications for Food Security and Food Safety and Their Role as Sentinels

Animals, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(4), P. 661 - 661

Published: Feb. 14, 2023

Terrestrial domestic animals are exposed to microplastics, therefore, contaminating the food chain, in case of livestock, or acting as sentinels for human exposure, companion animals. The aim this review was address importance terrestrial on exposure microplastics. Animal products may already show some microplastics contamination, which occur during their lifetime, possibly also compromising productivity, and processing, originating from equipment packaging. Moreover, release animal feces (or manure) leads contamination agricultural fields, with possible impacts internalization plants. Therefore, pose a threat security, safety, by being foreign material found products. Conversely, urban environments, (cats dogs) be relevant exposure. While oral vary pets compared humans, due indiscriminate ingestion chewing licking behaviors, airborne is likely good indicator future studies should both chain environmental

Language: Английский

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Quantification of microfibre release from textiles during domestic laundering

Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 30(15), P. 43932 - 43949

Published: Jan. 21, 2023

Abstract Domestic laundering of textiles is being increasingly recognised as a significant source microfibre pollution. Reliable quantification release necessary to understanding the scale this issue and evaluate efficacy potential solutions. This study explores three major factors that influence microfibres released from domestic textiles: test methodologies, variables, fabric variables. A review different methods presented, highlighting variation in created by using methodologies. reliable reproducible method for quantifying used explore impact variables experimentally. The reproducibility reliability was validated through inter-laboratory trials has informed development European international testing standards. Our results show increasing wash liquor ratio agitation greater mass released, but we found can have on than tested study. However, no single variable appeared dominant influence. Using data obtained assumptions washing load size frequency, were scaled reflect possible annual untreated UK. Depending these values range 6490 tonnes 87,165 discharged UK each year.

Language: Английский

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Microplastic contamination in commercial fish feeds: A major concern for sustainable aquaculture from a developing country

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 267, P. 115659 - 115659

Published: Nov. 1, 2023

Plastic pollution has become a global issue nowadays. Due to the increased population in developing countries, we largely depend on fish from our aquaculture industry meet required protein demand. Though several studies documented plastic ingestion freshwater and marine organisms, very limited have been conducted elucidate microplastic (MP) contamination commercial feed. Therefore, this study was designed identify, quantify, characterize microplastics (MPs) feeds Bangladesh assess possible health risks consuming different feeds. All feed samples were 100 % contaminated with MPs, where mean abundance of MPs ranged between 500 2200 MPs/kg. No significant differences among types (e.g., starter, grower, finisher) observed terms (F = 0.999, p 0.385). This revealed that fiber most dominant shape (90 %), while color red (34 followed by black (31 %) blue (19 %). The 100–1500 µm size class covers 88 total collected samples. Identified polymers polyethylene (PE, 37.71 polyvinyl chloride (PVC, 27.14 polypropylene (PP, 22.08 terephthalate (PET, 13.07 respectively, PE PVC fall under risk category IV V. Pollution load index (PLI) values all <10, indicating I (low risk). highly recommended avoiding materials packaging storing purposes ingredients mills ensure contamination-free for sustainable aquaculture.

Language: Английский

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Microplastics in water, feed and tissues of European seabass reared in a recirculation aquaculture system (RAS)

Chemosphere, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 335, P. 139055 - 139055

Published: May 31, 2023

Plastic particles (PLs) are ubiquitous in aquatic ecosystems, and aquaculture production is susceptible to contamination from external or endogenous sources. This study investigated PL presence water, fish feed body sites of 55 European seabass produced a recirculating system (RAS). Fish morphometric parameters health status biomarkers were determined. A total 372 PLs recovered water (37.2 PL/L), 118 (3.9 PL/g), 422 (0.7 PL/g fish; all analysed). All specimens had at least two the four analysed. Concentrations higher gastrointestinal tract (GIT; 1.0 PL/g) gills (0.8 than liver muscle (0.4 PL/g). concentration GIT was significantly muscle. Black, blue, transparent fibres made man-made cellulose/rayon polyethylene terephthalate most common seabass, while black fragments phenoxy resin feed. The levels polymers linked RAS components (polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride) low, suggesting limited contribution overall found and/or fish. mean size (930 μm) (1047 larger those (647 dorsal (425 μm). Considering sites, bioconcentrated (BCFFish >1), but their bioaccumulation did not occur (BAFFish <1). No significant differences observed oxidative stress between with low (<7) high (≥7) numbers. These findings suggest that mainly exposed MPs through Further monitoring under commercial conditions risk assessment warranted identify potential threats human define mitigating measures.

Language: Английский

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Microplastics contamination in fish feeds: Characterization and potential exposure risk assessment for cultivated fish of Bangladesh

Heliyon, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 9(9), P. e19789 - e19789

Published: Sept. 1, 2023

Fish feed is becoming an increasingly vital source of nourishment for farmed fish, which are mainly coming from marine fish and agricultural sources. Anthropogenic particles, such as microplastics, abundant in both byproducts that utilized to make feed. This study investigated whether could be a microplastic contamination, revealed 20 weeks adult tilapia might consume up 268.45 ± 1.438 particles via where finisher type feeds were found mostly contributory this number. The microplastics initially observed with stereomicroscope FESEM-EDS. Polymeric composition was determined polypropylene (PP), nylon-6 (NY-6), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), (PE), high- low-density (HDPE, LDPE), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polycarbonate (PC), poly (PVAc), urethane (PU) chloride (PVC) by FTIR. Results also the size all ranged 14 μm 4480 μm, 550 45.45 11,600 56.1 particles/kg FESEM-EDS data demonstrated overlook surface along attachment heavy metals onto Pb, Ni, Co create additional health risks.

Language: Английский

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Current status of the direct detection of microplastics in environments and implications for toxicological effects

Chemical Engineering Journal Advances, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14, P. 100449 - 100449

Published: Jan. 13, 2023

Microplastics (MPs) have received much more attention as a novel breed of pollutant due to their tiny size and difficulty degrade in natural conditions. MPs are produced from primary sources that purposefully engineered be small magnitude subsequently discharged into the earth after usage, like resin pellets seen microplastic factory spills. can also by secondary such breakdown macro debris particles, or dust released during wear tear artificial garments, tires, brake pads. Since rivers meander through municipalities cities, well transporting effluent plastic-related enterprises other sewer pollutants them, which automatically causes MP's contamination river intimately tie land environment. Current reports suggest amount plastic trash upstream watershed positively correlated waste river. While there currently several sensing approaches for today, still restrictions lengthy times, an elevated false rate, costly apparatus make detecting microplastics environments difficult. Direct, quick, effective, precise techniques direly required enhance environmental This study focused on current analysis methods detection MPs. Direct MP pollution water sedimentary outlined. Finally, toxic impacts aquatic life living organisms discussed.

Language: Английский

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Microplastic and PTFE contamination of food from cookware

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 929, P. 172577 - 172577

Published: April 18, 2024

Microplastics are a prolific environmental contaminant that have been evidenced in human tissues. Human uptake of microplastic occurs via inhalation airborne fibres and ingestion microplastic-contaminated foods beverages. Plastic PTFE-coated cookware food contact materials may release micro- nanoplastics into during preparation. In this study, the extent to which non-plastic, new plastic old releases microplastics prepared is investigated. Jelly used as simulant, undergoing series processing steps including heating, cooling, mixing, slicing storage replicate preparation undertaken home kitchens. Using non-plastic did not introduce simulant. Conversely, using resulted significant increases contamination. comprised PTFE, polyethylene polypropylene particulates fibrous particles, ranging 13-318 μm. Assuming meal was daily per prescribed methodology, be contributing 2409-4964 annum homecooked food. The health implications ingesting remains unclear.

Language: Английский

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Occurrence of microplastics and metals in European seabass produced in different aquaculture systems: Implications for human exposure, risk, and food safety

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 929, P. 172535 - 172535

Published: April 18, 2024

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants of increasing concern as they may cause adverse effects and carry other contaminants, which potentially compromise human health. Despite occurring in aquatic ecosystems worldwide, the knowledge about MP presence different aquaculture systems their potential impact on seafood products is still limited. This study aimed to determine levels MPs water, feed, European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) from three relevant estimate exposure metals through consumption. The recirculating system (RAS) had highest occurrence water feed. followed system's with RAS-farmed fish presenting load, both gastrointestinal tract (GIT) muscle, by pond-, cage-farmed fish. MPs' characteristics across samples remained consistent, predominant recovered particles falling within size range. were visually characterized chemically identified micro-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (μFTIR). Most these fibres composed man-made cellulose PET. GIT significantly higher than muscle for pond- fish, bioconcentration factors >1 indicated farmed seabass. Metal concentrations below permissible limits, posing low intake risks consumers according available health-based guidance values estimated dietary scenarios.

Language: Английский

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Microplastic-Contaminated Feed Interferes with Antioxidant Enzyme and Lysozyme Gene Expression of Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) Leading to Hepatopancreas Damage and Increased Mortality

Animals, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 12(23), P. 3308 - 3308

Published: Nov. 26, 2022

Microplastic pollution can interfere with aquatic animal health and nonspecific immunity, increasing the potential for pathogen infection in crustaceans. However, long-term effects of microplastics on crustacean immunity are less understood, especially regarding their toxicity Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Effects high-density polyethylene (HDPE-MPs) feed mortality rate, hepatopancreas, immune system gene expression presented. The LC50 at day 28 HDPE-MP exposure was determined as 3.074% feed. A significant upregulation superoxide dismutase (SOD) glutathione peroxidase (GPx) genes observed that were fed 0.1 0.5% HDPE-MP; then, they downregulated significantly, except SOD 0.1% HDPE-MP. lysozyme (LYZ) upregulated significantly 0.5, 1, 3% 7 days HDPE-receiving groups least 14 days. Significant histopathological changes hepatopancreas treatment groups. score each lesion correlated increase concentration. This study shows ingestion HDPE alter damage shrimp.

Language: Английский

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