Plastic Debris Is a Human Health Issue

A.D. Vethaak; H.A. Leslie

doi:10.1021/acs.est.6b02569

Plastic Debris Is a Human Health Issue

A.D. Vethaak, H.A. Leslie

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

The global threat of highly persistent plastic waste
accumulating and fragmenting in the world’s oceans,
inland waters and terrestrial environments is becoming
increasingly evident.1−3 Humans are being exposed to both
plastic particles and chemical additives being released from the
plastic debris of consumer society. This material is fragmenting,
leaching and spreading throughout the biosphere, including
indoor and outdoor air, soil, and water systems. What started as
a marine environmental contamination issue is in fact very
much a human health issue as well. What do we know so far
about the impacts of this plastic debris for humans?
Humans can be exposed to plastic particles via consumption
of seafood and terrestrial food products, drinking water and via
the air.1,4 Uptake of plastics by humans (and animals) can cause
adverse health effects by at least three possible means: particle toxicity, chemical toxicity and as a pathogen and parasite vector.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	6825−6826
Number of pages	2
Journal	Environmental Science and Technology
Volume	50
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b02569
Publication status	Published - 22 Jun 2016

Keywords

plastic debris
human health
particle toxicity
microplastic
chemical toxicity
marine litter
pathogens

VU Research Profile

Science for Sustainability

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1021/acs.est.6b02569

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title = "Plastic Debris Is a Human Health Issue",

abstract = "The global threat of highly persistent plastic wasteaccumulating and fragmenting in the world{\textquoteright}s oceans,inland waters and terrestrial environments is becomingincreasingly evident.1−3 Humans are being exposed to bothplastic particles and chemical additives being released from theplastic debris of consumer society. This material is fragmenting,leaching and spreading throughout the biosphere, includingindoor and outdoor air, soil, and water systems. What started asa marine environmental contamination issue is in fact verymuch a human health issue as well. What do we know so farabout the impacts of this plastic debris for humans?Humans can be exposed to plastic particles via consumptionof seafood and terrestrial food products, drinking water and viathe air.1,4 Uptake of plastics by humans (and animals) can causeadverse health effects by at least three possible means: particle toxicity, chemical toxicity and as a pathogen and parasite vector.",

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author = "A.D. Vethaak and H.A. Leslie",

year = "2016",

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doi = "10.1021/acs.est.6b02569",

language = "English",

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T1 - Plastic Debris Is a Human Health Issue

AU - Vethaak, A.D.

AU - Leslie, H.A.

PY - 2016/6/22

Y1 - 2016/6/22

N2 - The global threat of highly persistent plastic wasteaccumulating and fragmenting in the world’s oceans,inland waters and terrestrial environments is becomingincreasingly evident.1−3 Humans are being exposed to bothplastic particles and chemical additives being released from theplastic debris of consumer society. This material is fragmenting,leaching and spreading throughout the biosphere, includingindoor and outdoor air, soil, and water systems. What started asa marine environmental contamination issue is in fact verymuch a human health issue as well. What do we know so farabout the impacts of this plastic debris for humans?Humans can be exposed to plastic particles via consumptionof seafood and terrestrial food products, drinking water and viathe air.1,4 Uptake of plastics by humans (and animals) can causeadverse health effects by at least three possible means: particle toxicity, chemical toxicity and as a pathogen and parasite vector.

AB - The global threat of highly persistent plastic wasteaccumulating and fragmenting in the world’s oceans,inland waters and terrestrial environments is becomingincreasingly evident.1−3 Humans are being exposed to bothplastic particles and chemical additives being released from theplastic debris of consumer society. This material is fragmenting,leaching and spreading throughout the biosphere, includingindoor and outdoor air, soil, and water systems. What started asa marine environmental contamination issue is in fact verymuch a human health issue as well. What do we know so farabout the impacts of this plastic debris for humans?Humans can be exposed to plastic particles via consumptionof seafood and terrestrial food products, drinking water and viathe air.1,4 Uptake of plastics by humans (and animals) can causeadverse health effects by at least three possible means: particle toxicity, chemical toxicity and as a pathogen and parasite vector.

KW - plastic debris

KW - human health

KW - particle toxicity

KW - microplastic

KW - chemical toxicity

KW - marine litter

KW - pathogens

U2 - 10.1021/acs.est.6b02569

DO - 10.1021/acs.est.6b02569

M3 - Article

SN - 0013-936X

VL - 50

SP - 6825−6826

JO - Environmental Science and Technology

JF - Environmental Science and Technology

ER -

Plastic Debris Is a Human Health Issue

Abstract

Keywords

VU Research Profile

UN SDGs

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