Minderoo Foundation as part of a review of the scientific literature on the subject of the damage of plastics to health has noted the paucity of information gathered.
The Australian foundation brought together experts from the worlds of chemistry, health and data collection and examined 100 thousand scientific articles with the aim of developing an online and open access platform the Plastic Health Map
The team found evidence of the growing damage of plastics to health, but also serious gaps in the research.
In addition to this data, the experts recommended a precautionary approach to the regulation of chemicals, and to ensure the protection of human health, continuous monitoring of chemicals used in plastics.
The Plastic Health Map focuses on the compounds to which consumers are exposed: polymers, chemical additives, bisphenols and PFAS. Users of the platform can filter the available scientific literature on the subject; systematisation is done according to exposure to chemicals, country and effect on human health.
In general, these studies indicate how we are often exposed to unregulated compounds through inhalation, ingestion or skin contact.
The reason for this mapping is the huge amount of plastics currently in use, the effects of which are little known. Unfortunately, to date it has not been possible to determine whether many of the chemicals in use globally in plastics have actually been measured in humans, nor whether their health impacts have been assessed.
In this regard, the foundation advocates the need for a global plastics treaty, which limits the production of plastics and makes them safe. Finally, the experts argue, there is a need for continuous monitoring of the levels of chemicals in humans and their effects on health during life.
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