“In March 2022, scientists confirmed they had found microplastics in human blood for the first time”. This rather alarming fact is taken directly from a BBC article and you can be sure that, if these plastics are within us, then they are definitely in many other species that we share our planet with too.
We all know the issue of plastic is huge – we have seen numerous images on the news and in social media, of plastics being washed up on beaches around the world and turning up in the bellies of starving birds, fish and mammals.
In 2014 a study concluded that there were 250,000 tons of floating plastic debris in the oceans and that, even then, this number was increasing. Not only is this impacting directly on wildlife, but these very same plastics have been shown to be connected to diseases in humans and in reductions in fertility rates in people around the world.
Micro and Nano plastics
The term microplastics refers to pieces of plastic which are smaller than 0.5mm in diameter, which is roughly equivalent to a grain of rice. While, nano plastics are far smaller, at just 100 nanometres or less.
In Dec 2023, a published paper looked at the impact of micro and nano plastics, specifically on their impact on reproductive systems. They concluded that the plastic particles which enter our bodies via skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion, target reproductive systems by disturbing cell development.
Indeed, another study looking at the trends of reproductive systems, analysed the sperm counts in the 20th and 21st century. Their analysis showed that in 1973, sperm counts had fallen on average by 1.2% but post 2000, this rate of decline had increased by 2.6%. The researchers state that “this world-wide [reproductive] decline is continuing in the 21st century at an accelerated pace”.
These studies clearly show that plastics are causing not only a fertility crisis, but they are also impacting us through other diseases. Studies show that plastics are increasing rates of diabetes, respiratory system issues, low birth rates, neuro toxicity and cancer, to name but a few.
One study reported the link between Parkinsons Disease and Dementia, as a direct result of exposure to plastics. This 2023 study found that “Nano plastics interact with a particular protein that is naturally found in the brain, creating changes linked to Parkinson’s disease and some types of Dementia”.
Our world is full of plastic, and it is estimated that by the year 2050, plastic will be found in the digestive tract of 99% of all sea bird species! Mammals including us, are also at risk with approximately, 63,000–430,000 tonnes of micro plastics, entering farmlands annually through sewage sludge applications.
What is in the plastic?
There are more than 10,000 chemicals identified as plastic additives and 2,400 have been classified as detrimental to marine and terrestrial eco systems. 1,000 of these chemicals are identified as endocrine disruptors which lead to endocrine difficulties, including insulin release and growth and developmental abnormalities. Many of the chemicals within our systems are able to cross the blood brain barrier, leading to multiple issues in our health and reproduction. There are specific endocrine disrupting chemicals now found to have the ability to cross the placenta, from mother to child, resulting in infant abnormalities and low birth rates.
So where does it stop?
Plastic is a byproduct of the fossil fuel industry, with over 99% of plastic made from chemicals sourced from fossil fuels. In 2019 the production and incineration of plastic produced 850 million metric tons of greenhouse gases. It is estimated that, if allowed to continue at this rate, this will rise to a staggering 2.8 billion metric tonnes by 2050!
Since 1950, 90% of all the plastic produced has never been recycled. This is, in part, due to the difficulty in recycling mixed materials although other factors also play a role. The point is, that plastic is still being produced and if we are to halt the plastic problem in our world, we need to cut it off at the source. If your bath is overflowing and the plug is blocked, you don’t keep scooping the water out with a bucket, you turn off the tap first!
We too must turn off the source of the plastic in the first instance. Big corporations must invest in innovative solutions to this problem and commit to reducing their reliance on fossil fuels.
But we have a voice too and should demand better from these companies and support sustainable ways out of this crisis. Our planet deserves our support in this, we are in this together and need to strive for a plastic-free future for all our sakes.
Nancy Lund
Action
38 Degrees are calling on Steve Barclay, Environment Secretary, to ban all single-use packaging for eat-in sales at restaurants, cafés and bars to help tackle the current environmental, climate and plastic crises. Please consider signing their petition.
References
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220512-the-chemicals-that-linger-for-decades-in-your-blood
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230327-how-pollution-is-causing-a-male-fertility-crisis
https://academic.oup.com/humupd/article/29/2/157/6824414
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/11/231117181023.htm
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969723048830#bbb0090
https://litterbase.awi.de/interaction_detail
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2022.1084236/full