Phasing-out of legacy brominated flame retardants: The UNEP Stockholm Convention and other legislative action worldwide

Environment International, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 144, P. 106041 - 106041

Published: Aug. 18, 2020

Due to their toxicity and persistence, several families of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) have been listed as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the Stockholm Convention, a multilateral treaty overseen by United Nations Environment Programme. This mandates that parties who signed must take administrative legislative actions prevent environmental impacts POPs pose, both within jurisdictions global environment. The specific BFRs Convention are Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs), Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), Hexabromobiphenyl (HBB), chemicals which therefore be heavily restricted signatories. As an example, EU, hexabromobiphenyl PBDE commercial mixtures, HBCDD almost entirely prohibited terms production use goods. Waste articles containing excess concentrations these similarly disposed manner destroys or irreversible transforms BFR question. In some cases, exemptions for limits defined certain parties: Penta- Octa-BDE can present waste materials recycling until 2030, while Deca-BDE applied aviation automotive applications 2036. However, such very criteria guidelines apply and/or production. Worldwide, China, Japan, India, States America made significant advances regulation POPs, line with provisions Convention. China has established concentration Octa-BDEs electronic It is also currently availing exemption allow not yet ratified regards Deca-BDE. Japan meanwhile classified HBB Penta-/Octa-BDE compounds Class I Specified Chemical Substances virtually prohibits manufacture, import, all applications. India banned trade, HBB, PBDEs, PBDEs electrical Finally, no federal mandate restriction annexes requiring them do so. thirteen states implemented own state-wide on variety retarding various Though worldwide positive step removal POP-BFRs from environment, increased replacement renders legislation only partially effective. lack effective screening mechanisms management facilities means BFR-treated plastics inadvertently recycled remain circulation. rise novel (NBFRs) furthermore hinder methods being developed additives themselves may pose similar issues predecessors owing chemical properties. Thus, restrictions current will result new retardants, turn replaced once again. Further research into development screen hazardous end life utmost importance. coupled pro-active eliminates need using potentially harmful future.

Language: Английский

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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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Endocrine-disrupting chemicals: economic, regulatory, and policy implications

The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 8(8), P. 719 - 730

Published: July 21, 2020

Language: Английский

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Industrial Production of Organophosphate Flame Retardants (OPFRs): Big Knowledge Gaps Need to Be Filled?

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 108(5), P. 809 - 818

Published: Jan. 26, 2022

Language: Английский

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Alternative Plasticizers As Emerging Global Environmental and Health Threat: Another Regrettable Substitution?

Environmental Science & Technology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 56(3), P. 1482 - 1488

Published: Jan. 7, 2022

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVViewpointNEXTAlternative Plasticizers As Emerging Global Environmental and Health Threat: Another Regrettable Substitution?Abdul Qadeer*Abdul QadeerState Key Laboratory of Criteria Risk Assessment, National Engineering for Lake Pollution Control Ecological Restoration, Chinese Research Academy Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China*(A.Q) Email: [email protected]More by Abdul QadeerView Biographyhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7018-4958, Kelly L KirstenKelly KirstenDepartment Geological University Cape Town, 8001, South AfricaMore KirstenView Biography, Zeeshan AjmalZeeshan AjmalCollege Engineering, China Agricultural University, 100083, ChinaMore Ajmal, Xia Jiang*Xia JiangState China*(X.J) Jiang, Xingru ZhaoXingru ZhaoState ZhaoCite this: Environ. Sci. Technol. 2022, 56, 3, 1482–1488Publication Date (Web):January 7, 2022Publication History Received7 December 2021Published online7 January 2022Published inissue 1 February 2022https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.1c08365https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c08365article-commentaryACS PublicationsCopyright © 2022 American Chemical Society. This publication is available under these Terms Use. Request reuse permissions free to access through this site. Learn MoreArticle Views12401Altmetric-Citations36LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF HTML) across all institutions individuals. These metrics regularly updated reflect usage leading up last few days.Citations number other articles citing article, calculated Crossref daily. Find more information about citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score a quantitative measure attention that research has received online. Clicking on donut icon will load page at altmetric.com with additional details score social media presence given article. how calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation abstractCitation referencesMore Options onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InRedditEmail (4 MB) Get e-Alertsclose e-Alerts

Language: Английский

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Uncovering global-scale risks from commercial chemicals in air

Nature, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 600(7889), P. 456 - 461

Published: Dec. 15, 2021

Language: Английский

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Obesity II: Establishing causal links between chemical exposures and obesity

Biochemical Pharmacology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 199, P. 115015 - 115015

Published: April 5, 2022

Language: Английский

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Long-Range Transport, Trophic Transfer, and Ecological Risks of Organophosphate Esters in Remote Areas

Environmental Science & Technology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 55(15), P. 10192 - 10209

Published: July 15, 2021

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) have been a focus in the field of environmental science due to their large volume production, wide range applications, ubiquitous occurrence, potential bioaccumulation, and worrisome ecological health risks. Varied physicochemical properties among OPE analogues represent an outstanding scientific challenge studying fate OPEs recent years. There is increasing number studies focusing on long-range transport, trophic transfer, risks OPEs. Therefore, it necessary conclude pollution status global scale, especially remote areas with vulnerable fragile ecosystems. The present review links together source, fate, behavior areas, integrates occurrence profile data, summarizes risks, finally points out predominant burden organic pollutants areas. Given relatively high contamination level bioaccumulation/biomagnification OPEs, combination sensitivity endemic species more attention should be paid

Language: Английский

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Organophosphate ester pollution in the oceans

Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 3(5), P. 309 - 322

Published: March 23, 2022

Language: Английский

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Assessment of a wide array of organic micropollutants of emerging concern in wastewater treatment plants in Greece: Occurrence, removals, mass loading and potential risks

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 802, P. 149860 - 149860

Published: Aug. 24, 2021

Language: Английский

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