Plastic ingestion as an evolutionary trap: Toward a holistic understanding

Science, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 373(6550), P. 56 - 60

Published: July 1, 2021

Human activities are changing our environment. Along with climate change and a widespread loss of biodiversity, plastic pollution now plays predominant role in altering ecosystems globally. Here, we review the occurrence ingestion by wildlife through evolutionary ecological lenses address fundamental question why living organisms ingest plastic. We unify evolutionary, ecological, cognitive approaches under trap theory identify three main factors that may drive ingestion: (i) availability plastics environment, (ii) an individual's acceptance threshold, (iii) overlap cues given natural foods plastics.

Language: Английский

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Fish Ingest Microplastics Unintentionally

Environmental Science & Technology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 55(15), P. 10471 - 10479

Published: July 23, 2021

Microplastics (size of plastic debris <5 mm) occur in various environments worldwide these days and cause detrimental effects on biota. However, the behavioral responses fish to microplastics feeding processes are not well understood. In present study, juveniles from four species two common shapes were used explore responses. We found swallowing-feeding ingested more pellets than filtering- sucking-feeding fish. With high-definition high-speed observational experiments, we that all did actively capture microfibers; instead, they passively sucked microfibers while breathing. Surprisingly, showed a rejective behavior, which was spontaneously coughing up mixed with mucus. Nevertheless, some still gastrointestinal tracts gills fish, abundances increased presence food. Our findings reveal phenomenon ingest inadvertently rather intentionally. also provide insights into pathways via enter potential strategies assess future ecological risk food safety related microplastics.

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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Microplastic in fish – A global synthesis

Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 31(4), P. 753 - 771

Published: Sept. 20, 2021

Language: Английский

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Microplastics pollution and risk assessment in water bodies of two nature reserves in Jilin Province: Correlation analysis with the degree of human activity

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 799, P. 149390 - 149390

Published: Aug. 1, 2021

Language: Английский

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Recent advances on the transport of microplastics/nanoplastics in abiotic and biotic compartments

Journal of Hazardous Materials, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 438, P. 129515 - 129515

Published: July 2, 2022

Language: Английский

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The Burden of Microplastics Pollution and Contending Policies and Regulations

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 19(11), P. 6773 - 6773

Published: June 1, 2022

The relationship between humans and plastics has become intricate due to their versatile nature low production cost. Plastics generation surpassed that of other manufactured products, which, coupled with the prevailing poor waste management systems, makes it a serious problem for terrestrial aquatic environments as its final destination. Their extensive presence continued pose significant threat, not only ecosystem but also approximately 3 billion people relying on livelihood. Even more disturbing were recent findings these in food drinking water evidence human exposure, long-term health effects which are largely unknown. This ubiquitous phenomenon over time put under critical observation, leading development many local international policies, resolutions, directives aimed at addressing reversing menace. review provided first snapshot global governance strategies currently mitigating plastic pollution, limitations, future directions. revealed several aspects microplastics (MPs) pollution be overlooked policy formulation, laxity implementation, an apparent lack indices ascertain impact regulations. Furthermore, there is no regulation MPs contamination funding research into alternatives. This, therefore, necessitates need well-coordinated approach national levels scale up policies all countries translate them from paper measurable, holistic, realizable actions will address forms pollution.

Language: Английский

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An overview of the effects of nanoplastics on marine organisms

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 831, P. 154757 - 154757

Published: March 24, 2022

Language: Английский

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Depolymerization within a Circular Plastics System

Chemical Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 124(5), P. 2617 - 2650

Published: Feb. 22, 2024

The societal importance of plastics contrasts with the carelessness which they are disposed. Their superlative properties lead to economic and environmental efficiency, but linearity puts climate, human health, global ecosystems at risk. Recycling is fundamental transitioning this linear model into a more sustainable, circular economy. Among recycling technologies, chemical depolymerization offers route virgin quality recycled plastics, especially when valorizing complex waste streams poorly served by mechanical methods. However, exists in interlinked system end-of-life fates, complementarity each approach key environmental, economic, sustainability. This review explores recent progress made five commercial polymers: poly(ethylene terephthalate), polycarbonates, polyamides, aliphatic polyesters, polyurethanes. Attention paid not only catalytic technologies used enhance efficiencies also interrelationship other systemic constraints imposed Novel polymers, designed for depolymerization, concisely reviewed terms their underlying chemistry potential integration current plastic systems.

Language: Английский

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Field measurements reveal exposure risk to microplastic ingestion by filter-feeding megafauna

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 13(1)

Published: Nov. 1, 2022

Abstract Microparticles, such as microplastics and microfibers, are ubiquitous in marine food webs. Filter-feeding megafauna may be at extreme risk of exposure to microplastics, but neither the amount nor pathway microplastic ingestion well understood. Here, we combine depth-integrated data from California Current Ecosystem with high-resolution foraging measurements 191 tag deployments on blue, fin, humpback whales quantify plastic rates routes exposure. We find that baleen predominantly feed depths 50–250 m, coinciding highest measured concentrations pelagic ecosystem. Nearly all (99%) is predicted occur via trophic transfer. predict fish-feeding less exposed than krill-feeding whales. Per day, a krill-obligate blue whale ingest 10 million pieces microplastic, while likely ingests 200,000 microplastic. For species struggling recover historical whaling alongside other anthropogenic pressures, our findings suggest cumulative impacts multiple stressors require further attention.

Language: Английский

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