The Need for Sustainable Management of Plastics and Microplastics- Chemical Toxicity and Health Impacts

A wide range of persistent and toxic chemicals is generated through the use of various consumer products: pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PCPPs), detergents, disinfectants, plasticizers, preservatives, microplastics, etc. These chemicals and their metabolites can be found in different environmental media, including wastewater, agricultural and urban runoff, rivers, ground and drinking water. The conventional wastewater and (drinking) water treatment processes are not always efficient in removing them. Some of these chemicals may enter the food chain, posing health threats, mainly through consumption of contaminated seafood. The major objectives of this presentation are to review the current status on the sources, fates and health effects of these chemicals, with emphasis on phthalates, bisphenol A, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and PCPPs, citing some local examples in South China . It is also intended to review the exposure pathways of these chemicals, and their potential associations with body loadings and associated health effects. It is known that autism spectrum disorders in children is related to exposure to various environmental pollutants. These endocrine disrupting chemicals are widely detected in indoor dust, food items such as fish and meat, and blood plasma of local residents. There seems to be an urgent need to study the potential toxic effects of microplastics, including those derived from PCPPs, as they are now widely distributed in the coastal environment, and their uptake mechanisms by seafood, and health impacts on consumers are largely unknown. It seems essential to manage these emerging chemicals of concern more effectively, both nationally and internationally.