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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Detection and characterization of microplastics in the human testis and semen

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 877, P. 162713 - 162713

Published: March 21, 2023

Language: Английский

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Potential Health Impact of Microplastics: A Review of Environmental Distribution, Human Exposure, and Toxic Effects

Environment & Health, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 1(4), P. 249 - 257

Published: Aug. 10, 2023

Microplastics are ubiquitous in the global environment. As a typical emerging pollutant, its potential health hazards have been widely concerning. In this brief paper, we introduce source, identification, toxicity, and hazard of microplastics human. The literature review shows that frequently detected environmental human samples. Humans potentially exposed to through oral intake, inhalation, skin contact. We summarize toxic effects experimental models like cells, organoids, animals. These consist oxidative stress, DNA damage, organ dysfunction, metabolic disorder, immune response, neurotoxicity, as well reproductive developmental toxicity. addition, epidemiological evidence suggests variety chronic diseases may be related exposure. Finally, put forward gaps toxicity research their future development directions. This will helpful understanding exposure risk microplastics.

Language: Английский

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Twenty years of microplastics pollution research—what have we learned?

Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 386(6720)

Published: Sept. 19, 2024

Twenty years after the first publication that used term microplastic, we review current understanding, refine definitions, and consider future prospects. Microplastics arise from multiple sources, including tires, textiles, cosmetics, paint, fragmentation of larger items. They are widely distributed throughout natural environment, with evidence harm at levels biological organization. pervasive in food drink have been detected human body, emerging negative effects. Environmental contamination could double by 2040, wide-scale has predicted. Public concern is increasing, diverse measures to address microplastic pollution being considered international negotiations. Clear on efficacy potential solutions now needed issue minimize risks unintended consequences.

Language: Английский

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Occurrence of microplastics in tap and bottled water, and food packaging: A narrative review on current knowledge

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 865, P. 161274 - 161274

Published: Dec. 29, 2022

Language: Английский

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The Association Between Microplastics and Microbiota in Placentas and Meconium: The First Evidence in Humans

Environmental Science & Technology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 57(46), P. 17774 - 17785

Published: Oct. 21, 2022

Pregnancy and infancy are vulnerable times for detrimental environmental exposures. However, the exposure situation of microplastics (MPs) mother-infant pairs adverse health effect MPs largely unknown. Therefore, we explored MP in placentas meconium samples, potential correlation with microbiota meconium. A total 18 were effectively recruited from Shanghai, China. The study required pregnant women to provide samples. An Agilent 8700 laser infrared imaging spectrometer (LDIR) was applied identify MPs. Microbiota detection identified by 16S rRNA sequencing. Sixteen types found all matrices, polyamide (PA) polyurethane (PU) major identified. detected samples a size 20-50 μm more than 76.46%. At phylum level, both placenta mainly composed Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Firmicutes. We also some significant differences between β-diversity gut composition. Additionally, polystyrene inversely related Chao index microbiota. Polyethylene consistently correlated several genera MPs, PA, PU impacted In conclusion, ubiquitous indicating wide infants. Moreover, our findings may support link high concentration there associations particle 50-100

Language: Английский

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Microplastics: Detection in human samples, cell line studies, and health impacts

Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 101, P. 104204 - 104204

Published: June 28, 2023

Microplastics (MPs) are in all environmental compartments, including atmosphere, terrestrial, and aquatic environments as well marine organisms, foods, drinking water, indoor outdoor environments. MPs can enter the human body through food chain contaminated environment. Ingestion, inhalation, dermal contact routes of their entry into body. Recent studies reporting detection within have raised concern among scientific community knowledge about exposure is still very limited impact on health not well-understood yet. In this review article, we briefly cover reports evidencing MP body, e.g., stool, placenta, lungs, liver, sputum, breast milk, blood. A concise synopsis sample preparation analysis such matrices also provided. This article presents a summary effect cell lines health.

Language: Английский

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Microplastics in human samples: Recent advances, hot-spots, and analytical challenges

TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 161, P. 117016 - 117016

Published: March 11, 2023

Language: Английский

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Overview of analytical methods for the determination of microplastics: Current status and trends

TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 167, P. 117261 - 117261

Published: Sept. 1, 2023

Language: Английский

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Microplastics Derived from Food Packaging Waste—Their Origin and Health Risks

Materials, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 16(2), P. 674 - 674

Published: Jan. 10, 2023

Plastics are commonly used for packaging in the food industry. The most popular thermoplastic materials that have found such applications polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), and polystyrene (PS). Unfortunately, plastic is disposable. As a consequence, significant amounts of waste generated, entering environment, undergoing degradation processes. They can occur under influence mechanical forces, temperature, light, chemical, biological factors. These factors present synergistic or antagonistic effects. result their action, microplastics formed, which undergo further fragmentation decomposition into small-molecule compounds. During process, various additives at plastics' processing stage also be released. Both negatively affect human animal health. Determination negative consequences on environment health not possible without knowing course processes products. In this article, we sources microplastics, causes places formation, transport particles, plastics often production storage, affecting said its

Language: Английский

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