The Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health

Annals of Global Health, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 89(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 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.

Язык: Английский

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The structure and assembly mechanisms of plastisphere microbial community in natural marine environment

Journal of Hazardous Materials, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 421, С. 126780 - 126780

Опубликована: Июль 30, 2021

Язык: Английский

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Is microplastic an oxidative stressor? Evidence from a meta-analysis on bivalves

Journal of Hazardous Materials, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 423, С. 127211 - 127211

Опубликована: Сен. 15, 2021

Язык: Английский

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Global meta-analysis of microplastic contamination in reservoirs with a novel framework

Water Research, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 207, С. 117828 - 117828

Опубликована: Ноя. 1, 2021

Язык: Английский

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Impact of Plastic Particles on the Horizontal Transfer of Antibiotic Resistance Genes to Bacterium: Dependent on Particle Sizes and Antibiotic Resistance Gene Vector Replication Capacities

Environmental Science & Technology, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 56(21), С. 14948 - 14959

Опубликована: Май 3, 2022

Plastic particles impact the propagation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in environmental media, and their perturbation on horizontal gene transfer (HGT) ARGs is recognized as a critical influencing mechanism. However, studies concerning influence mechanisms plastic HGT were limited, particularly for effect particle sizes ARG vector-associated mechanisms. This study explored polystyrene (PS) with 75, 90, 100, 1000, 10000 nm (via transformation) mediated by pUC19, pSTV29, pBR322 plasmids into Escherichia coli cells. PS ≤100 impacted transformation ARGs, but large (1000 nm) showed no obvious effects. Effects three vastly distinct. For pUC19 high replication capacities, was monotonously promoted. pSTV29 low suppressing effects observed. attributed to two competing The enhancing mechanism that direct interaction membrane lipids indirect associated bacterial oxidative stress response induced pore formation cell increased permeability, thus plasmid entrance. inhibiting interfered inside E. coli, decreasing tranformation. deepened our understanding dissemination contamination.

Язык: Английский

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Recent analytical techniques, and potential eco-toxicological impacts of textile fibrous microplastics (FMPs) and associated contaminates: A review

Chemosphere, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 326, С. 138495 - 138495

Опубликована: Март 22, 2023

Язык: Английский

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Spatio-temporal distribution of microplastics in water and sediment samples of the Plankenburg river, Western Cape, South Africa

Environmental Pollution, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 323, С. 121303 - 121303

Опубликована: Фев. 15, 2023

Microplastic (MPs) pollution has become a subject of environmental concern due to its wide ubiquity in the environment. Microplastics are possible sources other hazardous chemicals aquatic organisms their composition and sorption properties. In this study, MPs occurrence water sediment samples Plankenburg River, Western Cape, South Africa was investigated. The physicochemical characterization river done onsite. 30 L were collected filtered 10 triplicates through 250 μm mesh onsite using metal bucket. An additional 12 sample 4 20 laboratory. extraction from laboratory by density separation. Sediment also at selected sites, oven-dried microplastics Sampling conducted over four seasons - spring, summer, autumn, winter. classified visual observation Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR). seasonal distribution surface varied across all sites. However, spring had highest (5.13 ± 6.62 MP/L) least, autumn (1.52 2.54 MP/L). observed (1587.50 599.32 MP/kg). Fibres most dominant microplastic particle type (shape), with size range 500-1000 different infrared spectroscopic analysis confirmed polymer be polyethylene. This study provides an understanding River system gives baseline for future monitoring assessment African freshwater systems.

Язык: Английский

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Beyond microbeads: Examining the role of cosmetics in microplastic pollution and spotlighting unanswered questions

Journal of Hazardous Materials, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 476, С. 135053 - 135053

Опубликована: Июнь 27, 2024

The presence of microplastics in cosmetics and personal care products (C&PCPs) has been increasingly the public eye since early 2010s. Despite increasing research into potential environmental health effects microplastics, most to date on C&PCPs investigated "rinse-off" products, while impacts "leave-on" have largely neglected, despite these being purchased greater volumes often having two or more microplastic ingredients their formulations(CosmeticsEurope, 2018b). This review aims synthesize current knowledge C&PCPs, assessing human discussing regulatory implications. lack studies leave-on is significant, suggesting a severe gap regarding in, emissions from, C&PCPs. There noticeable (eco)toxicological consequences exposure from As result, significant aspects contamination may be overlooked legislations emerging globally (including European Commission), which intend restrict use but focus rinse-off only. highlights for decision-making, particularly as alternatives are considered during phase-out periods spotlights need sufficient monitoring alternatives, avoid unforeseen consequences.

Язык: Английский

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Distribution and Seasonal Variation of Microplastics in Tallo River, Makassar, Eastern Indonesia

Toxics, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 9(6), С. 129 - 129

Опубликована: Июнь 1, 2021

Attention towards microplastic (MP) pollution in various environments is increasing, but relatively little attention has been given to the freshwater-riverine environment. As biggest city eastern Indonesia region, Makassar can be a potential source of MP its riverine area. This study aimed determine spatial trends, seasonal variation, and characteristics MPs water sediment Tallo River, as main river Makassar. Water samples were collected using neuston net corer. The contained with an abundance ranging from 0.74 ± 0.46 3.41 0.13 item/m3 16.67 20.82 150 36.06 item/kg for samples, respectively. River was higher dry season tended increase lower segment. Fragments (47.80–86.03%) lines (12.50–47.80%) predominant shapes, while blue (19.49–46.15%) transparent (14.29–38.14%) most dominant color. Polyethylene polypropylene common polymers found river. Actions prevent area are needed before becomes more severe future.

Язык: Английский

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Changes of the physicochemical properties of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from Microcystis aeruginosa in response to microplastics

Environmental Pollution, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 315, С. 120354 - 120354

Опубликована: Окт. 7, 2022

Язык: Английский

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