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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Recent advances on the effects of microplastics on elements cycling in the environment

The Science of The Total Environment, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 849, С. 157884 - 157884

Опубликована: Авг. 6, 2022

Язык: Английский

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Global occurrence, drivers, and environmental risks of microplastics in marine environments

Journal of Environmental Management, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 329, С. 116961 - 116961

Опубликована: Дек. 20, 2022

Язык: Английский

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Settling Velocities of Small Microplastic Fragments and Fibers

Environmental Science & Technology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 58(14), С. 6359 - 6369

Опубликована: Март 21, 2024

There is only sparse empirical data on the settling velocity of small, nonbuoyant microplastics thus far, although it an important parameter governing their vertical transport within aquatic environments. This study reports velocities 4031 exemplary microplastic particles. Focusing environmentally most prevalent particle shapes, irregular fragments four different polymer types (9–289 μm) and five discrete length fractions (50–600 common nylon polyester fibers are investigated, respectively. All experiments carried out in quiescent water by using a specialized optical imaging setup. The method has been previously validated order to minimize disruptive factors, e.g., thermal convection or interactions, enable precise measurements individual particles (0.003–9.094 mm/s). Based obtained data, ten existing models for predicting particle's terminal assessed. It concluded that models, which were specifically deduced from larger microplastics, fail provide accurate predictions small microplastics. Instead, approach highlighted as viable option computing across continuum terms size, density, shape.

Язык: Английский

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Influence of mesh selectivity on risk assessment of marine microplastics

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 212, С. 117538 - 117538

Опубликована: Янв. 9, 2025

Язык: Английский

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First assessment of microplastic and artificial microfiber contamination in surface waters of the Amazon Continental Shelf

The Science of The Total Environment, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 839, С. 156259 - 156259

Опубликована: Май 26, 2022

Язык: Английский

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Hitchhiking into the Deep: How Microplastic Particles are Exported through the Biological Carbon Pump in the North Atlantic Ocean

Environmental Science & Technology, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 56(22), С. 15638 - 15649

Опубликована: Окт. 27, 2022

Understanding residence times of plastic in the ocean is a major knowledge gap pollution studies. Observations report large mismatch between load estimates from worldwide production and disposal actual plastics floating at sea surface. Surveys water column, surface to deep sea, are rare. Most recent work, therefore, addressed "missing plastic" question using modeling or laboratory approaches proposing biofouling degradation as main removal processes ocean. Through organic matrices, can affect biogeochemical microbial cycling carbon nutrients. For first time, we provide situ measured vertical fluxes microplastics deploying drifting sediment traps North Atlantic Gyre 50 m down 600 depth, showing that through biogenic polymers be embedded into rapidly sinking particles also known marine snow. We furthermore show contained represent up 3.8% total downward flux particulate carbon. Our results shed light on important pathways regulating transport systems potential interactions with cycle, suggesting microplastic "biological pump".

Язык: Английский

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Influence of Particle Size and Fragmentation on Large-Scale Microplastic Transport in the Mediterranean Sea

Environmental Science & Technology, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 56(22), С. 15528 - 15540

Опубликована: Окт. 21, 2022

Microplastic particles move three-dimensionally through the ocean, but modeling studies often do not consider size-dependent vertical transport processes. In addition, microplastic fragmentation in ocean environments remains poorly understood, despite fragments making up majority of pollution terms number and its potential role mass removal. Here, we first investigate particle size density on large-scale microplastics Mediterranean Sea next analyze how may affect loss plastics. For progressively smaller sizes, are shown to be less likely beached more reach open water. Smaller also generally get mixed deeper, resulting lower near-surface concentrations small their higher total abundance. is dominated by beach-based fragmentation, with ocean-based processes having negligible influence. However, a slow process acting decadal time scales as such does have major influence distribution over periods than 3 years.

Язык: Английский

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Atmospheric microplastic and nanoplastic: The toxicological paradigm on the cellular system

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 259, С. 115018 - 115018

Опубликована: Май 20, 2023

The increasing demand for plastic in our daily lives has led to global pollution. improper disposal of resulted a massive amount atmospheric microplastics (MPs), which further the production nanoplastics (NPs). Because its intimate relationship with environment and human health, microplastic nanoplastic contamination is becoming problem. are microscopic light, they may penetrate deep into lungs. Despite several studies demonstrating abundance air, potential risks remain unknown. small size, characterization presented significant challenges. This paper describes sampling procedures nanoplastics. study also examines numerous harmful effects particles on health other species. There void research toxicity airborne upon inhalation, toxicological future. Further needed determine influence pulmonary diseases.

Язык: Английский

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Refinement of a microfurnace pyrolysis-GC–MS method for quantification of tire and road wear particles (TRWP) in sediment and solid matrices

The Science of The Total Environment, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 874, С. 162305 - 162305

Опубликована: Фев. 18, 2023

Tire and road wear particles (TRWP) are produced by abrasion at the interface of pavement tread surface contain rubber with mineral encrustations. Quantitative thermoanalytical methods capable estimating TRWP concentrations needed to assess prevalence environmental fate these particles. However, presence complex organic constituents in sediment other samples presents a challenge reliable determination using current pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) methodologies. We unaware published study evaluating pretreatment method refinements for microfurnace Py-GC-MS analysis elastomeric polymers including polymer-specific deuterated internal standards as specified ISO Technical Specification (ISO/TS) 20593:2017 ISO/TS 21396:2017. Thus, potential were evaluated Py-GC-MS, chromatography parameter modification, chemical pretreatment, thermal desorption cryogenically-milled tire (CMTT) an artificial matrix field sample. The dimer markers used quantification 4-vinylcyclohexene (4-VCH), marker styrene-butadiene (SBR) butadiene (BR), 4-phenylcyclohexene (4-PCH), SBR, dipentene (DP), natural (NR) or isoprene. resultant modifications included optimization GC temperature mass analyzer settings, along sample potassium hydroxide (KOH) desorption. Peak resolution was improved while minimizing interferences overall accuracy precision consistent those typically observed analysis. initial detection limit approximately 180 mg/kg 10 mg A retained suspended solids also analyzed illustrate applicability towards These should help encourage adoption pyrolysis techniques mass-based measurements both near distant from roadways.

Язык: Английский

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