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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)