Plastic Debris Is a Human Health Issue

The global threat of highly persistent plastic wasteaccumulating and fragmenting in the world’s oceans,inland waters and terrestrial environments is becomingincreasingly evident.1−3 Humans are being exposed to bothplastic particles and chemical additives being released from theplastic debris of consumer society. This material is fragmenting,leaching and spreading throughout the biosphere, includingindoor and outdoor air, soil, and water systems. What started asa marine environmental contamination issue is in fact verymuch a human health issue as well. What do we know so farabout the impacts of this plastic debris for humans?Humans can be exposed to plastic particles via consumptionof seafood and terrestrial food products, drinking water and viathe air.1,4 Uptake of plastics by humans (and animals) can causeadverse health effects by at least three possible means: particle toxicity, chemical toxicity and as a pathogen and parasite vector.