Chloe Zhang
Plastics are a contemporary societal and ecological issue due to their indispensable nature and ubiquitous use in daily life. They contain and leach hazardous chemicals, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that threaten human health. EDCs are defined as exogenous substances that interfere with the normal functioning of the endocrine (hormone) system. Over 1,000 manufactured chemicals in use today are EDCs, and they are found in a wide range of plastic products, from packaging to children's toys. EDCs can leach from plastic into the environment and human food sources, with particularly vulnerable populations including children and those in low-income regions that receive much of the world's plastic waste exports.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition of an endocrine disruptor | An exogenous substance that causes adverse health effects in an intact organism, and/or its progeny, consequent to changes in endocrine function |
| Number of chemicals used in plastics manufacturing | More than 16,000 |
| Number of industrial chemicals suspected to be EDCs | Over 1,000 |
| Examples of EDCs | Bisphenol A, phthalate esters, dioxins, UV-stabilizers, toxic metals like lead and cadmium |
| Impact of EDCs | Cancer, diabetes, reproductive disorders, neurological impairments of developing fetuses and children, reduced IQ in children, fertility problems |
| Plastic products that contain EDCs | Food packaging, medical devices, cosmetics, body care products, toys, paints, waxes, automotive parts, building materials |
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic chemicals affect people everywhere, but low-income regions bear the brunt
- EDCs can leach from plastic food packaging into the food
- EDCs can cause cancer, diabetes, reproductive disorders, and neurological impairments
- Bisphenol A and phthalate esters are used as additives in plastic manufacture
- Plastics derived endocrine disruptors induce epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of obesity, reproductive disease and sperm epimutations
Plastic chemicals affect people everywhere, but low-income regions bear the brunt
Low-income regions that receive a significant amount of the world's plastic waste or have industries exposing workers to plastic chemicals experience a heightened health burden. For example, waste pickers and factory workers in these areas are at greater risk of the detrimental effects of EDCs. Unfortunately, there is a notable lack of research from low-income countries on plastic health issues, with only three out of 3,500 papers in a global survey originating from such regions. This information gap is significant because these areas are likely among the most exposed to plastics and their harmful effects.
The impact of plastic pollution on people in poverty is evident in several ways. Firstly, plastic waste can lead to deadly flooding, as seen in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where over 120 people lost their lives. Low-income communities living near riverbanks or in densely populated urban areas are often the most vulnerable to these devastating floods. Plastic pollution also poses a significant threat to farm animals, fish, and crop growth, impacting the livelihoods of those who depend on livestock, fishing, and agriculture for their income.
Additionally, plastic contributes to the climate emergency, with the production process releasing carbon into the atmosphere and exacerbating global warming. The burning of plastic waste releases dangerous pollutants, further exacerbating the climate crisis and disproportionately affecting those living in poverty. People in low-income regions often find themselves trapped in a cycle where single-use plastic packaging seems essential for preserving food, accessing medicine, and obtaining clean drinking water. This vicious cycle perpetuates the plastic problem, pushing more people into poverty.
The pervasive presence of EDCs in plastics poses a global health concern, and the need for effective public policies to reduce and eliminate these chemicals is urgent. The current acceleration in plastic production is projected to increase by 30-36% in the next six years, which will significantly increase EDC exposures worldwide. Addressing the plastic crisis and its impact on vulnerable communities requires definitive action and public policies that prioritize environmental justice and protect public health.
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EDCs can leach from plastic food packaging into the food
Plastic is a pervasive source of exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). These EDCs are hazardous chemicals that can wreak havoc on the human body's hormone systems, causing adverse health effects. EDCs can leach from plastic food packaging and storage containers directly into the fatty ingredients they contain. This is because, as plastics age and are exposed to heat, the EDCs within them can leach out.
Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalate esters are commonly used as additives in the manufacture of plastic materials. They are known EDCs that can leach from plastics and have been linked to various health issues. BPA, for instance, has been shown to decrease αTC1-9 cell viability, while phthalates can reduce testosterone and estrogen levels, block thyroid hormone action, and cause reproductive issues.
The phthalate DEHP, commonly found in plastic tubing, is another example of an EDC that can leach from plastic. Exposure to DEHP has been associated with decreased testosterone and estrogen levels, blocked thyroid hormone action, and reproductive toxicity. In addition to DEHP, other phthalates are also of concern, with some being restricted in the European Union due to their potential health risks.
UV stabilizers are another type of EDC found in plastics. These chemical additives are used to protect plastic building materials, automotive parts, waxes, and paints from UV radiation damage. However, they too can leach from food packaging materials into our food, disrupting endocrine function and inducing negative health effects.
The impact of EDCs from plastics on human health is a growing area of research, and the evidence suggests that there may be no "safe" consumption level for these chemicals due to their unpredictable and nonlinear effects on the body. As such, the Endocrine Society and IPEN (International Pollutants Elimination Network) have emphasized the urgent need for effective public policies to reduce and eliminate EDCs from plastics and mitigate exposure risks.
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EDCs can cause cancer, diabetes, reproductive disorders, and neurological impairments
Plastic contains endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that can leach out of water bottles and food containers, entering and endangering the human body. EDCs can mimic, block, and disrupt the normal functioning of the endocrine system, leading to adverse health outcomes.
Cancer
EDCs have been linked to an increased risk of various cancers, including breast, ovarian, uterine, prostate, testicular, bone, thyroid, and vaginal cancer. Exposure to EDCs can occur even before birth, as they can be transmitted from mothers to their children in the womb and through breastfeeding. The effects of EDCs may also be passed on to future generations, as they can reprogram stem and progenitor cells, potentially transmitting a lifelong predisposition to certain cancers.
Diabetes
There is growing evidence that EDCs can influence the risk of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Endocrine disruptors can affect the immune system, which is relevant to type 1 diabetes as it is an autoimmune disease. Hormone levels can impact blood glucose levels, and endocrine disruptors can interfere with hormones, making it harder to control type 1 diabetes during times of hormonal fluctuations, such as puberty and pregnancy.
Reproductive Disorders
EDCs have been linked to reproductive disorders, with female plastic industry workers facing an increased risk of fertility problems. In the case of diethylstilbestrol (DES), a potent drug prescribed to pregnant women before its ban in the early 1970s, exposure affected the development of the reproductive system in their children, causing vaginal cancer and higher risks of rare vaginal and cervical cancers in their daughters.
Neurological Impairments
EDCs have been linked to a variety of neurological issues, including decreased IQ, impaired neurodevelopment, and problems with attention, memory, and fine motor skills. PCBs, found in products from hydraulic fluids to electronic components, have the strongest association with neurological disorders.
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Bisphenol A and phthalate esters are used as additives in plastic manufacture
Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalate esters are commonly used as additives in the manufacture of plastic materials. They are added to plastics to provide targeted properties such as toughness, flexibility, and colour. However, their ability to leach out with age and heat has resulted in their becoming ubiquitous contaminants of the ecosystem, including within human body tissues.
Bisphenol A is used for its cross-linking properties as an additive in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins to harden the product. It is often found in products such as baby bottles, sippy cups, teethers, water bottles, food storage containers, and the lining of many food and beverage cans.
Phthalates are esters of phthalic acid, which are used as plasticizers to reduce brittleness and increase flexibility, especially in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics. They are commonly found in products such as pacifiers, car interiors, shower curtains, deodorant, cosmetics, medical devices, and children's toys.
Both Bisphenol A and phthalate esters have been shown to possess endocrine-disrupting properties, interfering with the actions of many hormones and contributing to human health problems. They can act by altering hormone synthesis in the endocrine gland, altering the transport, metabolism, or excretion of the hormone, or by competing with physiological hormones for binding to receptors in target cells, thereby inappropriately mimicking or antagonizing hormone actions.
The health effects of exposure to these chemicals include developmental and reproductive problems, hormonal disruptions, metabolic alterations, brain development issues, immune system dysfunction, and an increased risk of cancers in hormone-sensitive tissues. There appears to be a particular susceptibility to exposure in utero and early postnatal life, which may result in diseases later in life.
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Plastics derived endocrine disruptors induce epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of obesity, reproductive disease and sperm epimutations
Plastics are a pervasive source of exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). These EDCs are hazardous chemicals that can leach out of plastic products, entering the human body and potentially wreaking havoc on the endocrine system, which is responsible for hormone production and regulation.
Bisphenol-A (BPA), bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) are three common EDCs found in plastics. These chemicals have been shown to induce epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of various diseases and disorders, including obesity, reproductive issues, and sperm epimutations.
In a study by Manikkam et al. (2013), gestating F0 generation female rats were exposed to a mixture of these three endocrine disruptors during embryonic days 8 to 14 of gonadal sex determination. The researchers then evaluated the incidence of adult-onset disease in the F1 and F3 generations. The results showed significant increases in total disease and abnormalities in both male and female animals from plastics lineages, with specific issues including pubertal abnormalities, testis disease, obesity, and ovarian disease in the F3 generation.
These findings demonstrate that exposure to endocrine disruptors during critical developmental periods can have long-lasting effects on the health of subsequent generations. The study also identified 197 differential DNA methylation regions (DMRs) in the F3 generation sperm epigenome, which may serve as potential epigenetic biomarkers for transgenerational disease and ancestral environmental exposures.
The health impacts of EDCs in plastics are a significant concern, and the growing evidence of their adverse effects has led to calls for global policy changes to reduce and eliminate their use.
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Frequently asked questions
Endocrine disruptors are exogenous substances that interfere with the endocrine (hormone) system, causing adverse health effects in an intact organism, its offspring, or subpopulations.
Plastics contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that leach out and enter the body, potentially wreaking havoc on the endocrine system. EDCs mimic or block the normal functioning of the endocrine system, which can lead to a range of health issues.
Exposure to endocrine disruptors in plastics has been linked to various health issues, including reproductive disorders, neurological impairments, developmental abnormalities, decreased sperm quality, immunotoxicity, and an increased risk of cancer, diabetes, and obesity.
