Exposing the Human Health Impact of Plastic Chemicals with the World-first Plastic Health Map
A team of scientists at the Minderoo Foundation in Australia has created a groundbreaking database known as the Plastic Health Map. This database compiles more than 3,500 studies dating back to the 1960s, focusing on the impact of plastic chemicals on human health. The team of experts from Minderoo Foundation meticulously reviewed over 100,000 scientific papers from various journals to create this interactive, open-access tool.
Without an existing health monitoring for these plastic chemicals, according to Minderoo, the Plastic Health Map offers a comprehensive overview of studies conducted over several decades. It serves as a tool to aid our transition toward a world where plastic is both more sustainable and devoid of toxic substances. This resource amalgamates data from over 3,500 primary studies conducted between 1960 and 2022. Researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and anyone interested can easily explore this data via a user-friendly dashboard.
The Plastic Health Map highlights both accumulating evidence and significant research gaps. Marcus Gover, Director (Plastics) of Minderoo Foundation, recommends a precautionary approach to regulating these chemicals and emphasizes the importance of ongoing health monitoring for new and existing plastic compounds to safeguard human well-being.
This database primarily concentrates on plastic chemicals to which consumers are commonly exposed, including polymers, plasticizers, flame retardants, bisphenols, and PFAS. Users can filter the extensive scientific literature by the type of plastic exposure, country, and health outcomes.
The aim of the Plastic Health Map is to enhance our understanding of the emerging issue of plastic chemical exposure and to inform potential regulatory changes. It also serves as a valuable resource for scientists, helping them identify research opportunities and priorities for the future.
The database spans studies from the 1960s onwards, a period when large-scale plastic production and pollution began to surge, making human exposure to plastic materials inevitable. Given the vast quantity of plastic materials currently in use and the lack of information regarding their potential health impacts, this research project was initiated to systematically map existing research.
The studies included in the database reveal that we are exposed to plastic chemicals through inhalation, ingestion, and skin contact. Children are particularly vulnerable, as they can be exposed prenatally through the placenta and postnatally through breast milk.
The research conducted with the Systematic Evidence Map methodology highlights significant gaps in our knowledge, including the following:
– Less than 30% of over 1,500 mapped chemicals have been thoroughly studied for their impact on human health.
– Many classes of chemicals lack research on their effects on human health.
– Substitution chemicals, which are increasingly used to replace restricted additives, have not been adequately studied.
– The impact of micro- and nanoplastics on human health has not been addressed in any of the screened studies.
– Very few studies have been conducted in low-income countries, where populations may face heavy exposure to plastic waste.
This research project is discussed in an article published in Environment International, where the authors call for a “paradigm shift in chemical regulation.” They emphasize the need to test all new plastic chemicals for safety before introducing them into consumer products, and they advocate ongoing monitoring of these chemicals in human biospecimens to evaluate health effects over generations. Professor Sarah Dunlop, Head of Plastics and Human Health at Minderoo Foundation, underscores the shocking extent of the research gaps and the necessity for ensuring the safety of new plastic chemicals in consumer products.
Source: minderoo.org
