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CURBING PLASTIC POLLUTION        | 21











          A TRANSDISCIPLINARY
          OVERVIEW                                           IN
          The core of the 19 contributors present in Monaco   SIGHT
          refined the report’s structure and distributed the hea-
          dings of the various chapters which will be based
          on  the  contribution  of  around  sixty  global  experts.
          Consequently, alongside biologists and marine che-   “Adding human health considerations to the core of
          mists,  the  human  health  experts  (endocrinologists,   negotiations, whether these are climate-related or
          paediatricians,  epidemiologists,  toxicologists,  public   concerning the protection of ecosystems, especially
          health physicians...) gave themselves one year to   the ocean, is providing an additional argument for
          submit their conclusions. “We have sought to ensure
          an inclusive approach and a form of equity between   activating and accelerating change. It is adding the
          the countries of the North and countries of the South,   need to take urgent action.”
          women and men, young  researchers and expe-      Hervé Raps, Physician Delegate for Research at the
          rienced researchers”  explained  Hervé  Raps,  Physi-  Monaco Scientific Centre
          cian Delegate for Research at the Monaco Scientific
          Centre and coordinator of this programme alongside
          the director of the Boston College’s Observatory on
          Pollution and Health, and renowned epidemiologist
          and paediatrician, Philip J. Landrigan.

                                                           IN
          DIAGNOSIS AND
          RECOMMENDATIONS                                  FIGURES

          Benefitting from the support of the Minderoo Founda-
          tion and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, this
          study will also set out recommendations aimed at mo-  LIFE CYCLE OF PLASTIC
          difying policies relating to chemical products and plas-    ■  global plastic production has increased
          tics, in order to protect human health and ocean health   from 1.7 million tonnes a year in 1950
          more effectively. Further information is required regar-  to over 400 million tonnes today,
          ding each production phase and the use of plastic, in     ■  10 to 12 million tonnes of plastic waste
          particular concerning the impact of additives added to   are dumped into the ocean every year,
          polymer  plastics  materials,  and  the  specific  dangers     ■  by 2025, the total amount of plastic waste
          of microplastics and the lesser-studied nanoplastics.   at sea will be close to 150 million tonnes.
          What are the known and suspected pathologies? The
          report will include a section on environmental justice
          and an assessment of the economic cost of plastic   HUMAN HEALTH
          pollution, taking into account the destruction of eco-
          systems, in addition to the pathologies generated on     ■  approximately 10,500 different chemicals
          human health. A core chapter will also focus on so-  are used in the composition of plastic,
          lutions, from a regulatory, operational (initiatives) and     ■  today some 700 industrial chemicals are found
          technical (new materials, alternatives) point of view.   in the human body, which were not present
                                                            in our grandparents.

                                                         (sources: Annals of Global Health, 86(1), 2020)
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