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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Effects of microplastics’ physical and chemical properties on aquatic organisms: State-of-the-art and future research trends

TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 166, P. 117192 - 117192

Published: July 11, 2023

Language: Английский

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Microplastic pollution and its implicated risks in the estuarine environment of Tamil Nadu, India

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 861, P. 160572 - 160572

Published: Nov. 29, 2022

Language: Английский

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Lanternfish as bioindicator of microplastics in the deep sea: A spatiotemporal analysis using museum specimens

Journal of Hazardous Materials, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 487, P. 137125 - 137125

Published: Jan. 6, 2025

Language: Английский

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Microplastic contamination in fish: Critical review and assessment of data quality

Food Control, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 153, P. 109939 - 109939

Published: June 15, 2023

Although the ingestion of microplastics by fish has been investigated extensively over last 50 years, quality these studies is questionable due to lack standard methods for sampling, extraction, and identification microplastics. This review aims provide reliable results microplastic occurrence in sourced from 104 published articles through a rigorous assessment data quality. A scoring system was performed assess ten assurance/quality control criteria including sampling methods, sample size, processing storage, laboratory preparation, clean air conditions, negative controls, positive target component, treatment polymer identification. We found that 59 out had scores ≤10, only two are identified with higher than 15, demonstrating urgent need improve reliability digestion studies. Particularly, five criteria, namely, method, an average score less 1 attention improvement future also revealed considered here originated mainly countries, i.e., China (23%), Iran (8%), Thailand (5%), Turkey (4%), Indonesia (4%). Among studies, major type polyethylene, size range 0–1 mm. The most frequently reported colour shape were blue fibre, respectively.

Language: Английский

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Effects of microplastics in aquatic environments on inflammatory bowel disease

Environmental Research, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 229, P. 115974 - 115974

Published: April 23, 2023

Language: Английский

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Microplastics evidence in yolk and liver of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), a pilot study.

Environmental Pollution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 337, P. 122589 - 122589

Published: Sept. 19, 2023

The potential toxicity of microplastics is a growing concern for the scientific community. loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) particularly inclined to accidently ingest plastic and microplastic due its long-life cycle features. possible transfer from female eggs should be investigated. present study investigated presence in yolk liver samples evaluating number melanomacrophages hepatic tissue as biomarker impact on embryonic health status. biometric parameters histological analysis 27 48 embryos (from two different nests respectively) at 30 stage development were analyzed. Raman Microspectroscopy was performed identify after alkaline digestion (10% KOH) portion 5 developmental per nest. Microplastics found turtles late first time. All smaller than μm made polymers colors suggesting their diverse origins. A total 21 microplastics, with dimensions lower μm, between (11 10 respectively). Only shape categories identified: spheres fragments. most frequent observed polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (31.5%, 21.1% 15.8% Despite showing higher (15 6 respectively), positive correlation only (r = 0.863 p < 0.001) liver. This result may suggest that could exert some effects tissues. Future studies investigate this aspect relation other stress biomarkers.

Language: Английский

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A review on the presence of microplastics in environmental matrices within Southeast Asia: elucidating risk information through an analysis of microplastic characteristics such as size, shape, and type

Water Emerging Contaminants & Nanoplastics, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 3(2)

Published: April 19, 2024

Microplastics’ ecotoxicological potential in almost all ecosystems makes them a global environmental issue. This review evaluates Southeast Asian microplastic contamination data from 2013 to 2023. evaluation examined 285 research publications Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect, mostly on sediment water matrices. Based their size, shape, polymer type, risks hazards countries, this analysis assesses pollution biota, sediment, water, other The majority microplastics region are small (46%) large (32%). Within the biota matrix, (SMP) (LMP) dominated. Fibers predominated matrices, particularly matrix. Polyethylene emerged as most abundant type (22%), found four Despite being less abundant, polyurethane polyamide have high hazard scores, raising ecological concerns due detrimental effects According analyzed data, countries face significant levels sediments, However, there noticeable discrepancies indicating progress research, with coming Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines little information literature regarding East Timor, Laos, Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia.

Language: Английский

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Pervasiveness of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract of some selected fish species from Turag River alongside the capital city of Bangladesh

Emerging contaminants, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 10(3), P. 100309 - 100309

Published: Feb. 8, 2024

Microplastics (MPs) are synthetic contaminants that have received global attention due to their ubiquitous occurrence, extreme durability, and capacity harm ecosystems human health. This study investigated the occurrence of MPs in three fish species (Channa striata, Puntius sophore Anabas testudineus) collected from two locations (Ashulia Bridge Mirpur Road) Turag River, which flows alongside Dhaka city, Bangladesh. abundance (items/individuals) was highest Channa striata (3.8 ± 0.6) Ashulia area lowest (1.8 0.4) Road area. Fiber found be most dominant (89–93%) form followed by fragments (21–35%), films (0–26%) foams (0–5%). The color blue (69–83%), then red (20–33%), black (11–14%), green (8–20%), purple (6–8%). majority (56–71%) assessed were <0.5 mm size, 0.5–1.0 (29–33%) 1–5 (38–53%). ATR-FTIR examination revealed specific polymer varieties - PP (40%), PS (30%) LDPE (30%). results this provided a baseline pollution one major protein sources freshwater fishes raised concern on public health particularly who consume urban waterways.

Language: Английский

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Case report of plastic nurdles pollution in Galicia (NW Atlantic) following the Toconao's spill in December 2023: The VIEIRA Collaborative

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 203, P. 116442 - 116442

Published: May 7, 2024

Plastic nurdles pose a significant environmental threat due to recurrent accidental spills into marine ecosystems. This report examines the nurdle pollution over 1498 km of Galician coastline (Spain) following spill 25 t Northwest Atlantic after loss six containers from Toconao vessel in December 2023. accident highlights urgent need for proactive, effective measures maritime transport prevent and mitigate such catastrophes. The complexity dispersion challenges evaluation their fate at sea, potential long-term consequences on ecosystem food web remain uncertain yet be investigated. also presents VIEIRA collaborative underscores critical role citizen-led initiatives responding disasters, advocates efficient policy reforms, involving cross-border collaboration. Furthermore, we call greater international cooperation underpin regulatory frameworks address growing hazard plastic worldwide.

Language: Английский

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