Sarah (Steve) Mosko, Ph.D.
Earth Resource Foundation
Health Effects of Health Effects of Petroleum-Based Petroleum-Based
Plastics Plastics
04/18/23
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1973 1979 1985 1991 1997 2003
bil
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Production
Recovery
Annual US Plastic Resin Production & Recovery
Low melting point, 210 - 480 °F SooooooSoooooo many different types
Why isn’t plastics recycling simple?
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Common plastics additives
• Antimicrobials• Antioxidants• Antistatic agents• Blowing agents• Catalysts/curing agents• Colorants• Fillers• Free-radical initiators
• Impact Modifiers• Lubricants/mold releasers• Reinforcers• Heat stabilizers• Ultraviolet stabilizers• Plasticizers• Flame retardants
(www.Mindfully.org; Stringer et al, 2001)
Since they’re just “mixed in” they can migrate out!
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Pre-natal phthalate exposure in rats causes demasculinization of male reproductive tract
(J Otby, 2000/EPA; LE Gray, Jr., 1999)
Seminal VesiclesSeminal Vesicles
EpididymisEpididymis
Control DEHPControl DEHP
Control DBPControl DBP
TestesTestes
Control DEHPControl DEHP
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Can phthalates subtly alter boys?
(Swan et al., 2005)
Boys with the highest exposure to multiple phthalates were 90 times as likely to have a short anogential distance as boys with the least exposure.
Short anogenital distance was linked to… smaller penis volume undescended testes indistinct scrotum
10 (Marsee et al, 2006)
Estimated daily phthalate exposure levels in mothers whose sons had
short anogenital distances were 100 times lower than EPA’s current safety
threshold level for phthalates.
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Bisphenol-A from drinking water
bottles produced aneuploidy.
Exposure levels as low as 20 ng/g body wt
(ppb) for one week produced aneuploidy.
(Hunt et al., 2003)
Congression failure in oocyte meiosis from Bisphenol-A
13 (Sugiura-Ogasawara et al., 2005)
BPA and Miscarriage:BPA and Miscarriage:
Recurrent miscarriage -Blood BPA levels were 3x’s higher in women with 3+ consecutive miscarriages.
Of those who became pregnant again, ½ miscarried again –¼ of those fetuses had the wrong chromosome number.
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Bisphenol-A was present in all blood
samples. Exposure was at levels
causing reproductive toxicity (prostate
enlargement) in mice.
Bisphenol-A concentrations in human fluids
(Schonfelder et al., 2002)
Bisphenol-A concentrations in pregnant women and fetuses
16 (Silent Spring Institute, 2004)
Brominated Flame RetardantsBrominated Flame Retardants
Consumer ProductsComputers
PrintersHair dryers
ToastersCoffee makersFoam furniture
(PS, up to 15% by wt.)
PBDEsNeurodevelopmental
toxins (e.g. learning & memory) EDCs (sex & thyroid)
Breast milk
(Environmental Working Group, 2003, 2005, 2004)
House Dust
Umbilical Cord BloodRecord
levels
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Levels of fire retardants rose 60-fold in Swedish breast milk from 1972 to 1997
(MeironytŽ & Bergman, 1999)
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Government Accountability Office report:
1. Of 80,000 chemicals in use, health data available on only 15%.2. EPA has sought info on dangers of only 200 chemicals.3. Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 doesn’t protect public e.g. no substance has been banned since 1989 (asbestos ban was later overturned in 1991 for lack of proof).
“EPA Is Faulted as Failing to Shield Public from Toxins” LA Times 7-13-05
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70-100,00070-100,000 man-made chemicals introduced into human society since WII: 1. A chemical or product is widely introduced with little or no testing. 2. Health effects are reported in a subsection of the population. 3. Testing is undertaken to discover what chemicals and mechanisms cause
the effects (at taxpayers’ expense).4. An exposure limit level is devised to protect the population from these
health effects.
Introduce then test policy
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Precautionary Principle
When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established
scientifically. The proponent of an activity, rather than the public, should bear the burden of proof.
Declaration of the Rio Conference on Environment and Development, 1992
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Precautionary Principle
The Precautionary Principle seeks to prevent harm before it happens.
It shifts the current approach toward decision-makingfrom "risk assessment" - asks "how much harm is allowable?"
to "alternatives analysis” - asks "how little damage is possible?"
For example, instead of asking “how much arsenic in arsenic-treated wood is allowable in children's playground equipment?” look instead for alternatives
to arsenic-treated wood.
San Francisco Adopts the Precautionary Principle 2003
The City adopted the Precautionary Principle as its policy frameworkto develop laws for a healthier and more just San Francisco.
Every San Franciscan has a right to a safe and healthy environment.
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EU R.E.A.C.H. System(Registration, Evaluation & Authorization of Chemicals, 2001)
“Precautionary Principle”1. Shifts responsibility to industry
for testing and risk assessment.
2. Places stringent controls on dangerous substances
(carcinogens, reproductive toxins, chemicals that are persistent or bio-accumulate).
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CREDO Cluster(Cluster of Research into Endocrine
Disruption in Europe)
Links together >60 research laboratories in Europe to understand the causes of escalating reproductive disorders in humans and in wildlife and to examine the impact of mixtures/low dose exposure to EDCs.
(www.credocluster,info)
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1996 US Congress mandated testing of all 1996 US Congress mandated testing of all synthetic chemicals for endocrine disruptionsynthetic chemicals for endocrine disruption
EDSTAC (Endocrine Disruption Screening and Testing Advisory Committee) recommended a 14-assay protocol in
1998
As of 2005, none of the assays have been approved
EPA’s lack of funding and staff is cited
US efforts to test for endocrine disrupting chemicals has stalled
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EU leaves US in the dust
R.E.A.C.H. Directive
CREDO Cluster
Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976
EDSTAC
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US corporations phasing out PVC
MicrosoftHewlett-PackardWal-MartJohnson & JohnsonCatholic Healthcare WestAvedaBath and Body WorksCrabtree & EvelynThe Body ShopVictorias’s SecretNikeAdidas
(Center for Health, Environment & Justice 12/07/05)
Firestone Building ProductsKaiser PermanenteShaw CarpetGerberSamsungSC JohnsonToyotaVolvoHondaVolkswagenLego System
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