Human Consumption of Microplastics

Cox, Kieran; Covernton, Garth A.; Davies, Hailey L.; Dower, John F.; Juanes, Francis; Dudas, Sarah E.

doi:10.1021/acs.est.9b01517

Cited by 1,568 publications

(906 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Although these figures are subject to a large range of variation, it is thought that they probably underestimate the total ingested microplastic load; however, any consequent health effects are presently unknown. 76 Definitive evidence that microplastics are getting into human bodies is provided by their presence in human stools, although the study was small, with only eight volunteers being sampled from Europe, Japan and Russia. 77 However, the matter of whether the ingestion of microplastics is harmful to humans remains largely unresolved, and for example, in an EU Report, it is concluded that there is no hard evidence for harmful effects on humans or the environment, except in small pockets, 78 while another EU report emphasises the need to obtain better evidence on which to base policy regarding microplastics.…”

Section: Environmental and Human Health Effects Of Plastic Pollutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solving the plastic problem: From cradle to grave, to reincarnation

Rhodes¹

2019

Science Progress

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Plastic packaging accounts for 36% of all plastics made, but amounts to 47% of all plastic waste; 90% of all plastic items are used once and then discarded, which corresponds to around 50% of the total mass of plastics manufactured. Evidence for the ubiquity of microplastic pollution is accumulating rapidly, and wherever such material is sought, it seems to be found. Thus, microplastics have been identified in Arctic ice, the air, food and drinking water, soils, rivers, aquifers, remote maintain regions, glaciers, the oceans and ocean sediments, including waters and deep sea sediments around Antarctica, and within the deepest marine trenches of the Earth. They have also been detected in the bodies of animals, including humans, and as being passed along the hierarchy of food chains, up to marine top predators. Evidence has also been presented that microplastics are able to cross different life stages of mosquito that use different habitats -larva (feeding) to pupa (non-feeding) to adult terrestrial (flying) -and therefore can be spread from aquatic systems by flying insects. The so-called 'missing plastic problem' appears to be, in part, due to limitations in sampling methods, that is, many of the very small microplastic particles may simply escape capture in the trawl nets that are typically employed to collect them, but have been evidenced in grab-sampling experiments. Moreover, it is simply not possible to measure entirely through the vast, oceanic volumes of the oceans. It can, however, be concluded with some confidence that the majority of the plastic is not located at the sea surface, and indeed, several different sinks have been proposed for microplastics, including the sea floor and sediments, the ocean column itself, ice sheets, glaciers and soils. The treatment of land with sewage sludge is also thought to make a significant contribution of microplastics to soil. A substantial amount of airborne microparticulate pollution is created by the abrasion of tyres on road surfaces (and other 'non-exhaust' sources), meaning that even electric vehicles are not 'clean' in this regard, despite their elimination of tailpipe PM 2.5 and PM 10 emissions. The emergence of nanoplastics in the environment poses a new set of potential threats, although any impacts on human health are not yet known, save, as indicated from model studies. While improved design, manufacture, collection, reuse, repurposing and reprocessing/recycling of plastic items are necessary, overwhelmingly, a Article Rhodes 219 curbing in the use of plastic materials in the first place is demanded, particularly from single-use packaging. However, plastic pollution is just one element in the overall matrix of a changing climate ('the world's woes') and must be addressed as part of an integrated consideration of how we use all resources, fossil and otherwise, and the need to change our expectations, goals and lifestyles. In this effort, the role of deglobalisation/relocalisation may prove critical: thus, food and other necessities might be produced more on...

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Section: Environmental and Human Health Effects Of Plastic Pollutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solving the plastic problem: From cradle to grave, to reincarnation

Rhodes¹

2019

Science Progress

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“…While plastics can provide benefits such as prolonging the lifetime of food products, and thereby indirectly contribute to water and fuel use reductions, the vast majority of single use plastics are not effectively recycled, and ultimately may contaminate the environment. A recent study found that an average American consumes 39000–52000 microplastic particles of plastic per year …”

Section: Where Will the Field Of Macromolecules Go Over The Next 20–3mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A recent study found that an average American consumes 39000-52000 microplastic particles of plastic per year. [126] These recent challenges offer new opportunities for the field. Companies are commercializing new processes for polymer recycling and new products based on recycled polymers.…”

Section: Does the Field Of Macromolecules Encompass Service Tools Or mentioning

confidence: 99%

Reflections on the Evolution of Smart Polymers

Gillies

2019

Israel Journal of Chemistry

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Since Staudinger's recognition that polymers were long chain molecules with covalent bonds between repeating units, the field has evolved tremendously. In addition to their many structural roles, polymers have been developed to exhibit “smart” stimuli‐responsive behavior. This article will describe the evolution of selected classes of smart polymers including those responsive to changes in pH, temperature, light, and mechanical stimuli, as well as self‐immolative polymers and their application in drug delivery, sensors, and actuators. It will also highlight key advancements in polymer chemistry that enabled rapid progress over the past ∼20 years. Whether the key achievements were predictable will be discussed, and the extent to which polymer science remains an independent science versus a service tool will be addressed. Finally, some possibilities for the evolution of the field over the next 20–30 years will be described.

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“…These ubiquitous environmental contaminants have recently been featured in the media, making national headlines after a study estimated that adults consume tens of thousands of marine microplastics each year (Cox et al 2019). Despite the attention, current scientifi c consensus suggests that there are few to no known human health risks associated with the consumption of microplastics.…”

Section: A Call To Include Indirect Effects Of Marine Microplastics Imentioning

confidence: 99%

Learned Discourses: Timely Scientific Opinions

2019

Integr Envir Assess & Manag

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Human Consumption of Microplastics

Cited by 1,568 publications

References 23 publications

Solving the plastic problem: From cradle to grave, to reincarnation

Solving the plastic problem: From cradle to grave, to reincarnation

Reflections on the Evolution of Smart Polymers

Learned Discourses: Timely Scientific Opinions

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