Plastics: From cradle to grave - and resurrection II
Caroline Gauchotte-Lindsay
University of Glasgow
caroline.gauchotte-lindsay@glasgow.ac.uk
ECG Bulletin January 2022
University of Glasgow
caroline.gauchotte-lindsay@glasgow.ac.uk
ECG Bulletin January 2022
This one-day conference was held virtually on 9th June 2021, hosted by the Society of Chemical Industry (SCI) (https://www.soci.org) and organised by the SCI Environment, Health, Safety and Food groups and the RSC’s Environmental Chemistry, Toxicology, and Food Chemistry groups. The event was the second in a series started in June 2019. Aimed at the civil service, academia and industry, it seeks to address challenges around the current use of plastics, their toxicology and standardisation, the complex issues of sampling and analysis of plastic debris and the future of plastic usage.
The conference comprised three sessions with three talks of 15 to 20 minutes each and a 15-minute final discussion. The exciting principle behind this meeting is that it brings together all stakeholders along the life cycle of plastics.
The conference mainly focused on microplastics. Their presence in drinking water was discussed from both exposure and regulatory perspectives. Dr Peter Marsden (Drinking Water Inspectorate) illustrated the findings and recommendations of the 2019 WHO report on microplastics in drinking water. Then Dr Pablo Campo-Moreno (Cranfield University) focused on removal mechanisms of microplastics and their efficiency during the coagulation-flocculation of raw water, the first processing stage in a water treatment works. Current drinking water treatments successfully retain microplastics larger than 50 mm; the presence of smaller plastics (nanoplastics) and their impact on human health is still, however, unclear. Dr Nathalie Welden (University of Glasgow) discussed the potential impacts of exposure to plastics. Aside from drinking water, other routes of exposure for humans include food ingestion and airborne inhalation. Acute effects, however, have only been observed amongst people exposed to very high concentrations, such as those who wear prosthetics or work in plastic manufactures. These situations are not representative of environmental exposure. Dr Welden also discussed the impact of microplastics on environmental ecosystems. Microplastics can cause mortality and disrupt behaviour and reproduction; however, these effects vary greatly across different species. As for humans, accurate exposure is difficult to assess, model, and reproduce in laboratory experiments, leaving no clear way to assess the impact of microplastics on the environment and human health. Nevertheless, Dr Welden pointed out that we do not need to wait on filling data gaps to start making changes that would benefit both our health and the environment. Professor Colin Moffat (Marine Scotland) presented work carried out in Scottish waters to monitor and remove microplastics.
The conference mainly focused on microplastics. Their presence in drinking water was discussed from both exposure and regulatory perspectives. Dr Peter Marsden (Drinking Water Inspectorate) illustrated the findings and recommendations of the 2019 WHO report on microplastics in drinking water. Then Dr Pablo Campo-Moreno (Cranfield University) focused on removal mechanisms of microplastics and their efficiency during the coagulation-flocculation of raw water, the first processing stage in a water treatment works. Current drinking water treatments successfully retain microplastics larger than 50 mm; the presence of smaller plastics (nanoplastics) and their impact on human health is still, however, unclear. Dr Nathalie Welden (University of Glasgow) discussed the potential impacts of exposure to plastics. Aside from drinking water, other routes of exposure for humans include food ingestion and airborne inhalation. Acute effects, however, have only been observed amongst people exposed to very high concentrations, such as those who wear prosthetics or work in plastic manufactures. These situations are not representative of environmental exposure. Dr Welden also discussed the impact of microplastics on environmental ecosystems. Microplastics can cause mortality and disrupt behaviour and reproduction; however, these effects vary greatly across different species. As for humans, accurate exposure is difficult to assess, model, and reproduce in laboratory experiments, leaving no clear way to assess the impact of microplastics on the environment and human health. Nevertheless, Dr Welden pointed out that we do not need to wait on filling data gaps to start making changes that would benefit both our health and the environment. Professor Colin Moffat (Marine Scotland) presented work carried out in Scottish waters to monitor and remove microplastics.
Removal of microplastics from the environment is the final link in a chain that starts at the production stage. The second topic of the day focused on mitigating pollution further up this chain. Stuart Foster (Recoup) provided a policy and politics update on plastics and packaging for 2021, while Judy Proctor (Environment Agency) closed the day, presenting the Agency’s vision on reducing plastics in the environment. Examples of remedial actions were also discussed in more detail during the meeting. Mike Simmonds presented the plastic-free London project and the campaigning issues they have encountered, while David Newman (Bio-based and Biodegradable Industries Association) introduced the audience to compostable packaging and food waste management.
Public awareness on plastics pollution is growing; as such, policy agenda is likely to have positive environmental consequences. It is also important that we do not underplay the enabling role of plastics in our societies, particularly when it comes to public health. Dr Anne Woolridge (Independent Safety Services) gave a presentation on balancing benefits and risks of plastics in healthcare.
Public awareness on plastics pollution is growing; as such, policy agenda is likely to have positive environmental consequences. It is also important that we do not underplay the enabling role of plastics in our societies, particularly when it comes to public health. Dr Anne Woolridge (Independent Safety Services) gave a presentation on balancing benefits and risks of plastics in healthcare.
The conference was attended consistently throughout the day by an audience of 50 delegates across academia, industry, and the public sector. The organisers are already discussing the third edition to be conducted online in 2022.
Find out more: https://www.soci.org/events/plastics-from-cradle-to-grave--and-resurrection-ii
Find out more: https://www.soci.org/events/plastics-from-cradle-to-grave--and-resurrection-ii
