Toxic impact of plastics chemicals
Exposure to chemicals found in common plastics can increase health risks at all stages of life, new research has found.
The world-first umbrella by 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide international research organisation JBI and 最新糖心Vlogn philanthropic charity Minderoo Foundation has raised concerns about the impacts of plastic-associated chemicals along the entire human life span.
Review of the available evidence found Bisphenol A (BPA), Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can be linked to adverse health outcomes including miscarriage, low birth weights, obesity, blood pressure issues, asthma, bronchitis, precocious puberty, endometriosis, Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
JBI Director of Synthesis Science Associate Professor Edoardo Aromataris and team, working in close collaboration with experts in plastics and plastic associated chemicals from the Minderoo Foundation Dr Sarah Dunlop and Dr Christos Symeonides, analysed 52 systematic reviews featuring about 1.5 million people.
鈥淐onsistent, statistically significant (95 per cent) evidence was found for harm across a wide range of health outcomes for each of the chemical classes,鈥 said Associate Professor Aromataris.
鈥淣one of the plastic-associated chemicals examined in the umbrella review can be considered safe, with multiple harmful health effects linked to each chemical class.鈥
Dr Symeonides said the findings strengthens calls for domestic and international efforts to regulate plastic.
鈥淔rom the water we drink to the products we use, plastics are an inescapable part of modern living,鈥 he said.
"This research categorically proves that none of the examined chemicals 鈥 which are used in plastic items humans around the world interact with every single day 鈥 should be considered safe.
鈥淭his is a red flag for the world. We must minimise our exposure to these plastic chemicals, as well as those that haven鈥檛 yet been assessed for human health outcomes but are known to be toxic.鈥
JBI and Minderoo Foundation applaud the work of the High Ambition Coalition - a group of countries targeting an ambitious, comprehensive treaty that regulates the full lifecycle of plastics and protects human health.
This includes a robust, comprehensive and efficient mechanism to regulate the chemicals used in plastics.
Media Contacts:
Associate Professor Edoardo Aromataris, Director of Synthesis Science, JBI, The 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide. Phone: +61 (8)8313 0124. Email: ed.aromataris@adelaide.edu.au
Dr Sarah Dunlop, Director, Plastics & Human Health, Minderoo Foundation. Email: sarah.dunlop@uwa.edu.au
Rhiannon Koch, Media Officer, The 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide. Phone: +61 (8)8313 4075. Mobile: +61 (0)481 619 997. Email: rhiannon.koch@adelaide.edu.au
Alex Massey, Advocacy & Engagement, Minderoo Foundation. Phone: +61 (8)6460 4949. Mobile: +61 (0)455 351 848. Email: amassey@minderoo.org