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

---

Autism spectrum disorder at the crossroad between genes and environment: contributions, convergences, and interactions in ASD developmental pathophysiology

Molecular Autism, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 11(1)

Published: Sept. 10, 2020

The complex pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder encompasses interactions between genetic and environmental factors. On the one hand, hundreds genes, converging at functional level on selective biological domains such as epigenetic regulation synaptic function, have been identified to be either causative or risk factors autism. other exposure chemicals that are widespread in environment, endocrine disruptors, has associated with adverse effects human health, including neurodevelopmental disorders. Interestingly, experimental results suggest an overlap regulatory pathways perturbed by mutations factors, depicting convergences interplays susceptibility toxic insults. pervasive nature chemical poses pivotal challenges for neurotoxicological studies, agencies, policy makers. This highlights emerging need developing new integrative models, biomonitoring, epidemiology, experimental, computational tools, able capture real-life scenarios encompassing interaction chronic mixture substances individuals' backgrounds. In this review, we address intertwined roles lesions Specifically, outline transformative potential stem cell coupled omics analytical approaches increasingly single resolution, tools experimentally dissect pathogenic mechanisms underlying disorders, well improve developmental neurotoxicology assessment.

Language: Английский

---

Endocrine Disruptor Chemicals and Children’s Health

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 24(3), P. 2671 - 2671

Published: Jan. 31, 2023

We are all exposed to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) starting from embryonic life. The fetus and child set up crucial developmental processes allowing adaptation the environment throughout life: they extremely sensitive very low doses of hormones EDCs because developing organisms. Considering origin well-being diseases, every adult organism expresses consequences in which it developed. molecular mechanisms through main manifest their effects potential association with endocrine disorders, such as diabetes, obesity, thyroid disease alteration adrenal hormones, will be reviewed here. Despite 40 years having passed since first study on EDCs, little is yet known about them; therefore, our purpose take stock situation establish a point for further studies. Since there plenty evidence showing that exposure may adversely impact health adults children altered function-suggesting link endocrinopathies-it essential this context bear mind what already disruptors deepen knowledge rules conduct aimed at limiting EDCs' negative effects. during COVID-19 pandemic an increase disruptor has been reported, also useful address new phenomenon better understanding its basis consequences.

Language: Английский

---

Perinatal Exposure to Phthalates: From Endocrine to Neurodevelopment Effects

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 22(8), P. 4063 - 4063

Published: April 14, 2021

Phthalates, as other endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), may alter the homeostasis and action of hormones signaling molecules, causing adverse health outcomes. This is true especially for infants, who are both more exposed sensitive to their effects. Phthalates particularly harmful when exposure occurs during certain critical temporal windows development, such prenatal early postnatal phases. also interfere with neuroendocrine systems (e.g., thyroid hormone or metabolism), disruption neuronal differentiation maturation, increasing risk behavioral cognitive disorders (ADHD autistic behaviors, reduced mental, psychomotor, IQ emotional problems). Despite studies being needed better understand role these substances, plenty evidence suggests impact phthalates on system development function. review aims update knowledge consequences neonatal perinatal phthalates.

Language: Английский

---

Environmental exposures associated with elevated risk for autism spectrum disorder may augment the burden of deleterious de novo mutations among probands

Molecular Psychiatry, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 27(1), P. 710 - 730

Published: May 17, 2021

Although the full aetiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is unknown, familial and twin studies demonstrate high heritability 60-90%, indicating a predominant role genetics in development disorder. The genetic architecture ASD consists complex array rare common variants all classes variation usually acting additively to augment individual risk. relative contribution heredity persists despite selective pressures against classic autistic phenotype; phenomenon thought be explained, part, by incidence spontaneous (or de novo) mutations. Notably, environmental exposures attributed as salient risk factors for may play causal emergence deleterious novo variations, with several ASD-associated agents having significant mutagenic potential. To explore this hypothesis, review article assesses published epidemiological data evidence derived from assays mutagenicity, both vivo vitro, determine likely such augmenting liability ASD. Broadly, these were observed elicit genomic alterations through one or combination of: (1) direct interaction material; (2) impaired DNA repair; (3) oxidative damage. However, phenotype cannot determined without further analysis. comprehensive prospective birth cohorts genome sequencing essential forming causal, mechanistic account mutations that links exposure, genotypic alterations, phenotypic consequences.

Language: Английский

---

Male autism spectrum disorder is linked to brain aromatase disruption by prenatal BPA in multimodal investigations and 10HDA ameliorates the related mouse phenotype

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Aug. 7, 2024

Male sex, early life chemical exposure and the brain aromatase enzyme have been implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In Barwon Infant Study birth cohort (n = 1074), higher prenatal maternal bisphenol A (BPA) levels are associated with ASD symptoms at age 2 diagnosis 9 only males low genetic pathway activity scores. Higher BPA predictive of cord blood methylation across CYP19A1 promoter I.f region (P 0.009) gene mediates 0.01) link between brain-derived neurotrophic factor methylation, independent replication. suppressed expression vitro vivo. mice exposed to mid-gestation or knockout ASD-like behaviors structural functional changes. 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10HDA), an estrogenic fatty alleviated these features reversed detrimental neurodevelopmental expression. Here we demonstrate that is impaired function ASD-related abnormalities may be reversible through postnatal 10HDA intervention.

Language: Английский

---

Trimester-specific effect of maternal co-exposure to organophosphate esters and phthalates on preschooler cognitive development: The moderating role of gestational vitamin D status

Environmental Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 251, P. 118536 - 118536

Published: March 3, 2024

Language: Английский

---

Associations between a mixture of phenols and phthalates and child behaviour in a French mother–child cohort with repeated assessment of exposure

Environment International, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 156, P. 106697 - 106697

Published: June 18, 2021

Synthetic phenols and phthalates can interfere with biological pathways involved in brain development. Despite the high within-subject temporal variability of urinary concentrations observed for their metabolites, studies investigating effects on child behaviour often relied a limited number spot biospecimens to assess exposure. Besides, majority did not consider mixture effects.To study combined effect prenatal exposure synthetic using repeated measurements.We assessed 12 phenols, 13 phthalate 2 non-phthalate plasticizer metabolites pools multiple urine samples (median = 21 per individual pool) collected at two distinct time points during pregnancy 416 mother-child pairs from French SEPAGES cohort. Child was evaluated years Behaviour Checklist 1.5-5 (CBCL). Associations between biomarkers externalizing internalizing scores were studied adjusted Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS) regressions holdout validation (100 repetitions).The positive WQS indexes associated both whole population, indicating greater risk behavioural problems. Stratification sex suggested stronger associations girls than boys. On average, increased by 3.67 (95% CI: 1.24, 6.10) 2.47 (95 %CI: 0.60, 4.33) respectively, an increase one tertile index, compared 1.70 -0.42, 3.81) 1.17 -0.50, 2.84) Main contributors bisphenol A (weight 18%), triclosan (17%) monoethyl (MEP, 15%) score MEP (19%), mono-benzyl (MBzP, 19%) mono-n-butyl (MnBP, 16%) score.Our results suggest adverse utero behaviour, mainly girls. Public health consequences may be substantial due widespread population these compounds.

Language: Английский

---

Endocrine Disruptor Compounds—A Cause of Impaired Immune Tolerance Driving Inflammatory Disorders of Pregnancy?

Frontiers in Endocrinology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: April 12, 2021

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are prevalent and ubiquitous in our environment have substantial potential to compromise human animal health. Amongst the chronic health conditions associated with EDC exposure, dysregulation of reproductive function both females males is prominent. Human epidemiological studies demonstrate links between exposure infertility, as well gestational disorders including miscarriage, fetal growth restriction, preeclampsia, preterm birth. Animal experiments show EDCs administered during gestation, or either parent prior conception, can interfere gamete quality, embryo implantation, placental development, consequences for offspring viability It has been presumed that operate principally through hormone-regulated events reproduction but effects on maternal immune receptivity pregnancy also implicated. modulate innate adaptive arms system, alter inflammatory responses, generation regulatory T (Treg) cells critical tolerance. Effects complex likely exerted by steroid hormone-dependent hormone-independent pathways. Thus, better understand how impact pregnancy, it imperative consider immune-mediated mechanisms affected EDCs. This review will describe evidence several modify elements response relevant discuss disrupt tolerance required robust placentation optimal development.

Language: Английский

---

Early life environmental factors associated with autism spectrum disorder symptoms in children at age 2 years: A birth cohort study

Autism, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 26(7), P. 1864 - 1881

Published: Jan. 11, 2022

Mounting evidence finds that early life environmental factors increased the probability of autism spectrum disorder. We estimated prospective associations between and disorder symptoms in children at age 2 years a population-derived birth cohort, Barwon Infant Study. Autism strongly predicted diagnosis by 4 (area under curve = 0.93; 95% CI (0.82, 1.00)). After adjusting for child’s sex time behavioural assessment, markers socioeconomic disadvantage, such as lower household income lone parental status; maternal health factors, including younger age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, higher gestational weight gain prenatal stress; alcohol; air pollutant exposures, particulate matter < 2.5 µm birth, child secondhand tobacco smoke exposure 12 months, dampness/mould home heating with oil, kerosene or diesel heaters postnatal. Lower indexes area, later order, depression, smoking frequency had dose-response relationship symptoms. Future studies on should consider reasons disparity combined impact multiple through common mechanistic pathways. Lay abstract indicates contribution aim to report lifestyle alcohol μm depression

Language: Английский

---