What’s lurking in your body? Mayo Clinic probes health risks of tiny plastic particles
What's lurking in your body? Mayo Clinic probes health risks of tiny plastic particles The San Diego Union-Tribune
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The Link Between Microplastics and Human Health
Similar to natural elements like iron and copper, people can ingest, absorb, or even inhale microplastics and nanoplastics and their chemical additives.
A landmark study just published in the New England Journal of Medicine links microplastics and nanoplastics found in plaques of human blood vessels to a potential increased risk of heart attack, stroke, or death.
Building on previous discoveries and these recent findings, the exposome research of Konstantinos Lazaridis, M.D., and his team at the Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine, is at the forefront of exploring how external exposures — such as microplastics and nanoplastics, chemicals, and pollution — influence health.
Exposome research investigates the cumulative environmental exposures throughout a person’s life and how those exposures interact with genetic factors to affect biology and health.
Investigating the Effects on Liver Health
Lazaridis seeks to draw parallels from existing medical knowledge on exposures of essential metals like iron and copper and their effect on liver function and disease. In the field of hepatology, it is well known that iron and copper, obtained mainly from dietary sources, play pivotal roles in critical processes such as oxygen transport and red blood cell production.
Excessive accumulation of these otherwise innocuous metals, because of genetic defects, can lead to liver damage and disease.
Microplastics and nanoplastics are minuscule fragments resulting from the breakdown of larger plastic items. They are often laced with chemical additives to enhance their flexibility and durability. Microplastics and nanoplastics have been found to infiltrate every corner of the globe. Their small size allows them to be ingested, absorbed, or inhaled, raising potential health risks.
Lazaridis emphasizes that these findings raise concerns about the long-term effect of microplastics and nanoplastics, particularly for young people.
The Urgency of Research
He says the urgency of the research is underscored by the current rate of plastic production, which stands at an estimated 400 million tons per year — a number projected to double by the year 2050.
“Plastics have made our lives more convenient and spurred many medical advances, but we must understand their impact on human health for the years to come,” Lazaridis says.
Ultimately, he hopes to advance the understanding of long-term implications of microplastic and nanoplastic exposures and to chart a course for individualized therapeutic interventions in a comparable way clinicians have for iron and copper accumulations in susceptible people.
Murphy writes for Mayo Clinic News Network.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being | – Indicator 3.4.1: Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease – Indicator 3.4.2: Suicide mortality rate |
| SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater, and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally | – Indicator 6.3.2: Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality |
| SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water, and soil to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment | – Indicator 12.4.1: Number of parties to international multilateral environmental agreements on hazardous waste, and other chemicals that meet their commitments and obligations in transmitting information as required by each relevant agreement |
| SDG 14: Life Below Water | Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution | – Indicator 14.1.1: Index of coastal eutrophication and floating plastic debris density |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements | – Indicator 15.1.2: Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas, by ecosystem type |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
The article discusses the potential health risks associated with microplastics and nanoplastics found in human blood vessels, specifically linking them to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, or death. This connects to SDG 3, which aims to ensure good health and well-being for all.
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
The article mentions that microplastics and nanoplastics are minuscule fragments resulting from the breakdown of larger plastic items, which can infiltrate every corner of the globe. This highlights the issue of plastic pollution and its impact on water quality, connecting to SDG 6.
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
The article emphasizes the need to understand the impact of plastics on human health, considering the current rate of plastic production. This aligns with SDG 12, which focuses on responsible consumption and production.
SDG 14: Life Below Water
The article mentions the potential health risks of microplastics and nanoplastics, which are often laced with chemical additives. These pollutants can contribute to marine pollution and debris, connecting to SDG 14, which aims to prevent and reduce marine pollution.
SDG 15: Life on Land
The article highlights the global presence of microplastics and nanoplastics, which can be ingested, absorbed, or inhaled, raising concerns about their impact on human health. This connects to SDG 15, which focuses on the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
– Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
– Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater, and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
– Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water, and soil to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
– Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
– Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
– Indicator 3.4.1: Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease.
– Indicator 3.4.2: Suicide mortality rate.
– Indicator 6.3.2: Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality.
– Indicator 12.4.1: Number of parties to international multilateral environmental agreements on hazardous waste and other chemicals that meet their commitments and obligations in transmitting information as required by each relevant agreement.
– Indicator 14.1.1: Index of coastal eutrophication and floating plastic debris density.
– Indicator 15.1.2: Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas, by ecosystem type.
These indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets by monitoring relevant data and trends related to cardiovascular disease mortality rates, suicide mortality rates, water quality, international agreements on hazardous waste management, coastal eutrophication, floating plastic debris density, and the coverage of protected areas for biodiversity conservation.
4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|
