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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Recent advances on microplastic aging: Identification, mechanism, influence factors, and additives release

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 889, P. 164035 - 164035

Published: May 18, 2023

Language: Английский

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A comprehensive review of micro- and nano-plastics in the atmosphere: Occurrence, fate, toxicity, and strategies for risk reduction

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 904, P. 166649 - 166649

Published: Sept. 1, 2023

Language: Английский

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Toxicological review of micro- and nano-plastics in aquatic environments: Risks to ecosystems, food web dynamics and human health

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 278, P. 116426 - 116426

Published: May 8, 2024

The increase of micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs) in aquatic environments has become a significant concern due to their potential toxicological effects on ecosystems, food web dynamics, human health. These plastic particles emerge from range sources, such as the breakdown larger waste, consumer products, industrial outputs. This review provides detailed report transmission dangers MNPs environmental behavior, interactions within webs, emphasizing toxic impact marine life. It explores relationship between particle size toxicity, distribution different tissues, process trophic transfer through web. MNPs, once consumed, can be found various organs, including digestive system, gills, liver. Their consumption by lower level organisms facilitates progression up chain, potentially leading bioaccumulation biomagnification, thereby posing substantial risks health, reproduction, behavior species. work also how persistence bioaccumulation, pose biodiversity disrupt relationships. addresses implications for particularly contaminated seafood, highlighting direct indirect pathways which humans are exposed these pollutants. Furthermore, highlights recommendations future research directions, integration ecological, toxicological, health studies inform risk assessments develop mitigation strategies address global challenge pollution environments.

Language: Английский

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Recent advances and future technologies in nano-microplastics detection

Environmental Sciences Europe, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 37(1)

Published: Jan. 8, 2025

The degradation of mismanaged plastic waste in the environment results formation microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs), which pose significant risks to ecosystems human health. These particles are pervasive, detected even remote regions, can enter food chain, accumulating organisms causing harm depending on factors such as particle load, exposure dose, presence co-contaminants. Detecting analyzing NMPs present unique challenges, particularly size decreases, making them increasingly difficult identify. Moreover, absence standardized protocols for their detection analysis further hinders comprehensive assessments environmental biological impacts. This review provides a detailed overview latest advancements technologies sampling, separation, measurement, quantification NMPs. It highlights promising approaches, supported by practical examples from recent studies, while critically addressing persistent challenges characterization, analysis. work examines cutting-edge developments nanotechnology-based detection, integrated spectro-microscopic techniques, AI-driven classification algorithms, offering solutions bridge gaps NMP research. By exploring state-of-the-art methodologies presenting future perspectives, this valuable insights improving capabilities at micro- nanoscale, enabling more effective across diverse contexts.

Language: Английский

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Applications of advanced materials in the pretreatment and rapid detection of small molecules in foods: A review

Trends in Food Science & Technology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 141, P. 104175 - 104175

Published: Sept. 22, 2023

Language: Английский

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Combined effects of cadmium and nanoplastics on oxidative stress, histopathology, and intestinal microbiota in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

Aquaculture, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 569, P. 739363 - 739363

Published: Feb. 15, 2023

Language: Английский

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Occurrence of microplastic pollution in rivers globally: Driving factors of distribution and ecological risk assessment

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 904, P. 165979 - 165979

Published: Aug. 3, 2023

Language: Английский

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Advanced Raman spectroscopy for nanoplastics analysis: Progress and perspective

TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 166, P. 117188 - 117188

Published: July 11, 2023

Language: Английский

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Sulfonate-Modified Polystyrene Nanoparticle at Precited Environmental Concentrations Induces Transgenerational Toxicity Associated with Increase in Germline Notch Signal of Caenorhabditis elegans

Toxics, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11(6), P. 511 - 511

Published: June 6, 2023

Recently, the transgenerational toxicity of nanoplastics has received increasing attention. Caenorhabditis elegans is a useful model to assess different pollutants. In nematodes, possibility early-life exposure sulfonate-modified polystyrene nanoparticle (PS-S NP) causing and its underlying mechanisms were investigated. After at L1-larval stage, inhibition in both locomotion behavior (body bend head thrash) reproductive capacity (number offspring fertilized egg number uterus) was induced by 1-100 μg/L PS-S NP. Meanwhile, after NP, expression germline lag-2 encoding Notch ligand increased not only parental generation (P0-G) but also offspring, inhibited RNA interference (RNAi) lag-2. During formation, LAG-2 activated corresponding receptor GLP-1 suppressed glp-1 RNAi. functioned neurons mediate NP toxicity. NP-exposed insulin peptides INS-39, INS-3, DAF-28, neuronal DAF-7, DBL-1, GLB-10. Therefore, risk inducing through suggested, this mediated activation signal organisms.

Language: Английский

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