2024-10-30 19:32:00
From the lungs to the kidneys, even in the blood, Microplastics are found almost everywhere of the human body. Although scientists still don’t know for sure what the real impact they have on health is, numerous specialists have raised alarm bells.
In this sense, plastic microparticles (less than 5 millimeters) have been detected in the air, water, food, packaging, synthetic fabrics, tires and cosmetics. Daily, humans ingest them through inhalation or skin contact.
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“The man of 2024 contains plastic in practically all organs of his body (…) and it will probably be even worse for children born in 2040,” he said. Fabienne Lagarderesearcher at the Le Mans Institute of Molecules and Materials in France, during a recent hearing with French lawmakers. In recent years, scientists have found them in the lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, but also in the placenta and blood.
Furthermore, several studies highlight the correlation between microplastics – even nanoplastics, 1,000 times smaller – and health problems. Among the most recent, the one published in March on New England Journal of Medicine demonstrates an association between the accumulation of these particles in blood vessels and a greater risk of heart attack and death among some people with atherosclerosis.
Microplastics: unknown and dangerous
“Research on microplastics is multiplying and identifying itself very worrying health effects. A recent meta-analysis of 2,000 animal studies showed that microplastics appear to affect fertility, be linked to an increased risk of cancer or affect respiratory health,” he explained to AFP the teacher Tracey Woodrufffrom the University of California.
For Woodruff, director of a program on reproductive health and the environment, these data constitute a “warning signal”. Added to this is the “discovery of microplastics in numerous parts of the body, including the brain, the testicles and even the fetus through the placenta”, which worries specialists even more.
To date it has not been possible to establish a cause and effect relationship between human exposure to these complex cocktails of polymers and chemical additives, to which other contaminants can be added through a “Trojan horse” effect. Regarding the impact of microplastics, Many unknowns remain about the role of shape, size, type of plastic or additive.
Most studies were conducted in the laboratory, sometimes on human cells or with animal models, which are considered a limitation by some observers. But animal studies examine “biological systems very similar to humans” and “animal data have been used for decades to identify carcinogenic or reproductive toxic substances,” Woodruff said.
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Of the more than 16,000 chemicals used or found in commercialized plastic, more than a quarter knew the risksaccording to a “coalition of scientists for effective treatment of plastic”. These include “infertility, obesity and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and numerous tumors”, specifies a note published this year. However, the level of exposure to microplastics remains uncertain.
A shocking report from the NGO World Wildlife Fund (WWF) estimated in 2019 that a person ingests and inhales up to 5 grams of plastic per week, the equivalent of a credit card. However, there are those who have contested the results and methodology of this study and numerous scientific works they quote lower or very different figuresaccording to the regions of the world.
Research on microplastics and health, which began in the early 2000s, must continue, although according to experts it is already leading to concrete actions. “Despite the topic being recent and the limitations identified, There are dangers related to oral exposure and inhalation“he highlighted Muriel Mercier-Boninresearch director of the French National Institute for Agricultural, Food and Environmental Research, during the hearing before the French Parliament.
Governments, regulators and manufacturers are key, because “the most important thing is to strengthen measures to limit plastic production and pollution,” according to Woodruff. Individually, reducing exposure is a “precautionary principle”indicate several specialists, who advise avoiding plastic bottles, not heating food in plastic containers, favoring clothing made of natural fibers or ventilating the house.
Are bioplastics really the wonderful alternative to petroplastics?
Alternatives to petrochemical-based plastic, made from everything from banana leaves to tomato peels, are emerging, especially for food packaging. But There are still doubts about its degree of biodegradability and compostabilityas well as its impact on the environment.
Of biological origin means this It is produced with less fuel and uses non-fossil agricultural productssuch as sugar cane waste, corn or wheat starch. These bio-based plastics, mainly used in packaging, represent less than 1% of global plastic production.
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However, labs around the world are increasingly creating new plastics derived from tomato peels or banana leaves. The French chemical company Arkemafor example, it promotes PBAT, made from castor oil, used to make sports shoes and car interiors. Bananatex is a biodegradable fabric made from banana leaves developed by a Swiss brand and its Taiwanese partners.
However, “What is of biological origin does not necessarily have to be 100%” of natural materials, he warned Christophe Doukhi de Boissoudypresident of the French association of compostables of biological origin. In Europe, the minimum requirement of 50% to be considered organically derived “will increase to 60% in January 2025,” he added.
The generic term “bioplastic” can be confusing, as it can mean both organic and compostable: Definition varies by country. But in Europe the term is well defined: a bioplastic is a polymer of biological origin and compostable, both in the soil and industrially.
Not all bioplastics degrade completely under natural conditions. Some, like PLA (polylactic acid), must be industrially composted at temperatures between 35 and 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit). PLA, one of the most developed bioplastics currently used in textiles or food packaging, was originally of fossil origin, but is now produced from fermented plant biomass (corn, beetroot or sugarcane).
“What alarms us is the speed at which China advances in its legislation to convert packaging to PLA, with the aim of moving away from petrochemical plastic, while Europe stagnates“, he specifies Frederic Van Gansberghefounder of the Belgian bioplastics company Futerro, which has a factory in China and plans to open one in France in 2026.
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In his “Atlas of plastic”, the art Heinrich Bull Foundation estimates that most plastics of biological origin They are not completely biodegradable or compostable and “they really avoid the problem.”
TO Nathalie Gontarddirector of research at the National Institute of Agriculture, Food and the Environment of France, plastic of biological origin “It provides absolutely no use” because these polymers do not degrade under natural conditions, but rather fragment into micro and then nanoplastics. “What matters is biodegradability under natural conditions,” he said.
“Biodegradable” is not well definedargued, as some use it for materials that degrade completely within a few months or years, while others refer to much longer periods. The environmental benefit of bio-based plastic is that it reduces the plastics sector’s CO2 emissions, but experts warn that caution needs to be exercised.
“Further demand for land to grow bio-based plastic feedstock could lead to increased demand changes in land use or deforestation“, warned the OECD, which in turn can increase CO2 emissions. “With the development of bioplastics, we shift the burden of production of these materials onto agricultural land which should primarily serve to feed the population,” he insisted . Pauline Debrabandereof Zero Waste NGO.
AFP
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Egradable and can still contribute to environmental pollution. The complexities surrounding biodegradability mean that while bioplastics are often marketed as environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional plastics, the reality is more nuanced.
Although bioplastics can reduce reliance on fossil fuels, they may still pose significant ecological challenges if not properly disposed of or recycled. For instance, if a bioplastic product is compostable but ends up in a landfill where conditions are not suitable for breaking it down, it could persist in the environment much like conventional plastic.
In addition, there is ongoing concern regarding the competition for agricultural resources. The production of bioplastics can divert crops from food production, raising ethical and sustainability issues. This is particularly pressing in regions where food security is already a challenge.
Ultimately, the quest for viable alternatives to traditional plastics is ongoing. The impending regulatory changes and increasing consumer awareness may drive innovation in the bioplastics sector. However, achieving truly sustainable packaging solutions requires careful consideration of the entire lifecycle of these materials—from production and use to disposal and recycling.
As the conversation around plastic pollution continues to evolve, it remains essential for consumers, manufacturers, and policymakers to work together, fostering a holistic approach to reducing plastic waste and its associated health risks. Awareness and education about the environmental impacts of plastics and the potential of bioplastics can lead toward more sustainable choices in packaging and consumer goods.