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Plastics and its impact on food chain and environment: �The Effects of microplastics on human health.

Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Volker Harth, M.P.H. �

Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine

University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE)�

1^st October 2022

Rotary Keynote Webinar – Marine littering

Platzhalter für eine Grafik

Prof. V. Harth – The Effects of microplastics on human health

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Greetings from the former Harbour Hospital in Hamburg (St. Pauli)

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Rivers are the main source of ocean plastic pollution

Model calculation for 1,656 rivers worldwide

Source: The Ocean Cleanup
Estimate for 80 % of total emissions
of which approx. 80 % by Asian rivers
only approx. 2 % Europe

Source

Asia

Africa

South America

North and Central America

Europe

Australia and Pacific

Rivers with the largest percentage

Prof. V. Harth – The Effects of microplastics on human health

Rivers are the main source of ocean plastic pollution. Most of the plastic waste that enters the world's oceans via rivers is emitted by rivers in Asian countries. This is shown in the Statista graphic based on a current study by the organization The Ocean Cleanup. The contribution of all other continents is less than 10%. The river that emits the most plastic is Pasig, located in the Philippines. According to information from the environmental protection organization Greenpeace, the Pasig was considered biologically dead as recently as 1990 and today ranks among the most polluted rivers in the world. The study is based on an estimation model for more than 1,600 rivers worldwide, which together account for 80% of the total inflow into the world's oceans. According to the source, the amount of plastic flushed out depends on a number of factors. In addition to the size of the river, these include, above all, the population concentration along the respective rivers, the economic performance of the surrounding regions and the quality of their waste management.

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Distribution of plastic waste in the sea

Marine pollution (2018)

In total: 86 million tons
only 0.5 % at sea surface
34 million T in the open sea
29 million T coasts + seabed
23 million T coastal waters

www.boell.de/de/plastikatlas

In total �> 80 mio t�marine pollution

23 mio t�coastal waters

34 mio t�open sea

29 mio t�coasts/seabed

only up to 439.000 t� at sea surface

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Decomposition of a coffee-to-go cup

https://worldoceanreview.com/de/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/wor7_k6a_abb_6-15_b950-768x639.jpg

Mechanical weathering (wind, waves)

Physical weathering (UV radiation, heat)

Chemical weathering into oligomers and monomers (water, oxygen)

Biotic weathering: organisms use plastics as a carbon source

The complete decomposition of the cup takes 50 years

https://worldoceanreview.com/de/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/wor7_k6a_abb_6-15_b950-768x639.jpg

Microplastics

peak of toxin release

toxin release

Plastic products

nanoplastic

chemical additives

e.g. plasticizer

time

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Microplastic cycle

Microplastics are caused by various sources

Transport via rivers, wastewater, wind, waves, ocean

Decomposition due to weathering:

Release of hazardous and toxic substances

Marine animals ingest microplastics through/as food

Enters the human food chain through consumption of fish, seafood and salt

Filterer: blue mussel

(Mytilus edulis)

Outflowing water

Incoming water

Particle Size

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Microplastics: Material differences

Vortrag Mikroplastik in Lebensmitteln, Dr. Holger Sieg, BfR Berlin

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Plastic in fish and seafood in Fish Market Hamburg

Microplastics are most frequently detected in mussels in various studies

In fish, microplastics could only be detected in the digestive tract

More sensitive detection methods are currently being developed

Greenpeace-Analyse: Mikroplastik in Meerestieren | Greenpeace Deutschland Presseportal

Oysters

Fibres

Mussel (M. edulis)

Mussel (M. mytilis)

Fragments

Herring (digestive tract)

Herring (muscle)

Fibres, fragments

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Skin: direct contact

Respiratory tract: airborne particles

Intake via food:

Fish, seafood, salt, plastic-packaged foods: via gastrointestinal tract into bloodstream

Microplastics: uptake

Skin

Direct contact with clothing, toys, dishes, floor coverings, equipment...

Breathing

Particles in the air

Food

e.g. plastic packed food, fish, seafood…

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Uptake and biokinetics of nano- and microplastic particels (NMP)

Exposure to nano- and microplastic can occur by both inhalation and in the diet

Some routes of exposure and biokinetics that are considered important for assessing the probable effects of exposure are known

Insufficient data to assess biodistribution (uptake, retention, clearance, rate of translocation), including the likelihood that NMP will cross biological barriers after deposition on the epithelium or after reaching the circulation

Source: “Dietary and inhalation exposure to nano- and microplastic particles and potential implications for

human health” – WHO 2022

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Microplastics in human blood

HA Lesie et al. Discovery and quantification of plastic particle pollution in human blood. Environment International. March 2022

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam: �Microplastics detected in human blood �for the first time (March 2022)

Blood from 22 anonymous donors: �plastic detected in 17 samples (77.3 %)

Significance for human health: �unclear so far

Concentration Polymere (in µg/ml Blut)

Sample-ID

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Microplastics: intake via food

Uptake of contaminated food

i.e. microplastics and chemical additives

cross of the intestinal barrier

Systemic effects in the bloodstream?

in the nervous system?

Presentation: Mikroplastik in Lebensmitteln, Dr. Holger Sieg, BfR Berlin

Intestinal barrier

Release ?

Additives

Contaminants

Uptake ?

Effects ?

Particles

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In a joint study, researchers from the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) and the University of Hamburg have for the first time detected microplastics in human liver tissue - affecting patients with liver cirrhosis.
In this group, the researchers were able to identify six different types of microplastic in the liver.
In people without liver disease: microplastics were not detected (liver, kidney or spleen tissue)

Microplastics detected in cirrhotic liver tissue

T. Horvatits et. al

eBioMedicine 2022;82:104147Published online 11 July2022https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104147www.thelancet.com Vol 82 Month August, 2022

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Plasticizers added to make PVC more pliable
Plasticizers have been shown to leach out of plastic into solution
Phthalates have structures which enable them to bind to the estrogen substrate complex
Chemicals that either mimic or block hormones, disrupt the body's normal functions

How dangerous are plasticizers? Especially plasticizers from the group of phthalates are harmful to health

DiEthylHexyl Phthalate (DEHP) is a plasticizer

Estrogen

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Disorders of the hormonal balance
Infertility
Disorders of embryonic development
Promotion of metabolic diseases �(e.g. diabetes, obesity)
Various cancers
Immunodeficiency
Neurological symptoms (ADHS)
Development and promotion of allergies (neurodermatitis) and asthma
"Chalk teeth"

Hormonally active substances: diseases and disorders

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.de

Source: Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung & Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland (2019): Plastikatlas.

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Trend analysis of plasticizer exposure

Phthalate metabolites
Period 1988 - 2015
Federal environmental sample bank

24 h collected urine
approx. 480 students
Sampling at 4 sites
Cryo-archiving

suitable for mapping of time courses

Koch et al. 2017�Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2017

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Increase in DEHTP metabolites 1999-2017 (urine)

24 hours collected urine
Environmental sample bank Münster
collected 1999-2017
Collective: N= 600 (60 per cohort)
Analysis of 4 DEHTP metabolites
Result: values below HBM-I value(test or control value)

Environ Int. 2019; 32:105102�UPB Münster� � �

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German Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB)

Many classic phthalate (e.g.DEHP) are phased out, due to their proven toxicity to reproduction. Worldwide plasticizer markets are facing constant substitution processes.

Endocrine disrupting phthalates di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP),di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) and butylbenzyl phthalate (BBzP): Ten-fold decline in median metabolite levels from their peak levels in the late 1980s/early 1990s compared to most recent levels from 2015. Probably, bans (first enacted in 1999) and classifications/labelings

Assumedly less critical, less regulated plasticizers such as di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHTP) are increasingly applied in consumer near products. From 1999 to 2009, detection rates and levels are constantly increasing. confirming the increasing DEHTP exposure. So far, all MEPTP concentrations were well below the German health based guidance value (HBM-I).

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The EU aims to become a forerunner in the global fight against marine litter and plastic pollution. EU rules aims to reduce the volume and impact of certain plastic products on the environment.

Where sustainable alternatives are easily available and affordable, single-use plastic products cannot be placed on the markets of EU Member States
Introducing waste management and clean-up obligations for producers, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes
Introducing labelling requirements, to inform consumers about the plastic content of products, disposal options that are to be avoided, and harm done to nature if the products are littered in the environment
Improve recycled plastic bottles

https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/plastics/single-use-plastics_de

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Dietary and inhalation exposures to nano- and microplastic �particles and potential implications for human health

WHO has reviewed the state of evidence on microplastic in drinking water and published a report assessing the risks to human health in August 2019
Project aiming to look at the exposure from the environment, including exposure via food, water and air has been undertaken
WHO has assembled and reviewed the available data published up to December 2021 and assessed the risks
WHO identified research needs and defined the scope of future work needed on microplastic particles to address current uncertainties

https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240054608

30 August 2022| Publication WHO

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https://www.seaclear-project.eu/news/news/98-second-trials-of-seaclear-system-port-of-hamburg

The second round of trials of the SEACLEAR system took place in the port of Hamburg between 10 and 12 of May 2022.

What is SeaClear?

SeaClear — short for SEarch, identificAtion and Collection of marine Litter with Autonomous Robots — is a Horizon 2020 funded project that aims to solve, with the help of robots and artificial intelligence, one of the most important environmental problems: ocean litter.

How does the system work?

Today's oceans contain 26-66 million tons of waste, with approximately 94% located on the seafloor. The SeaClear project aims at automating the process of searching, identifying, and collecting marine litter, using a team of autonomous robots that work collaboratively.

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Contact:

Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Volker Harth, M.P.H.

Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine

University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE)

harth@uke.de

Thanks for your attention!

V. Harth – Gesundheitliche Auswirkungen von Plastikmüll