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Plastics Pose a Threat to Human Health: Authoritative Reports Shows Plastics and Microplastics are Pervasive Sources of Exposure to Dangerous Endocrine-disrupting ChemicalsPlastics contain and leach hazardous chemicals, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that threaten human health. An authoritative new report, Plastics, EDCs, & Health, from the Endocrine Society and the IPEN (International Pollutants Elimination Network), presents a summary of international research on the health impacts of EDCs and describes the alarming health effects of widespread contamination from EDCs in plastics.EDCs are

Chemicals are widely used in daily life. They have a unique importance in the health-care sector, where they are used as disinfectants, cleaners, laboratory re­agents, sterilants, pesticides, medicines and pharma­ceuticals and in medical devices and equipment. The hazards of these chemicals are not well understood by health professionals nor incorporated into procure­ment decisions.To minimize these hazards, the health sector has been taking steps to promote and implement sustainable healthcare within their institutions and to collaborate externally with suppliers and manufactures

The term nanomaterials refers to materials that have at least one dimension (height, width or length) that is smaller than 100 nanometres (10−7 metre), which is about the size of a virus particle. This particular size dimension represents a major characteristic of manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs). The unique properties of MNMs may result in highly desirable behaviour leading to such varying applications as better paints, better drugs and faster electronics. However, for the same reason, MNMs may also present health hazards

Presence of Phthalates in Baby DiapersThe use of disposable diapers have been the standard for baby hygiene for many years.Among polymers used in diapers Phthalates are generally used as plasticizers and catalysts for the polymerization. Phthalates provide flexibility & durability to these polymers because of which they are used in the manufacturing of diapers.As Phthalates have been characterized as an endocrine disrupting chemical, the use of Phthalates in the diapers raises concern of possible health impacts on children.

This document done by a group of experts for the United Nations Environment Programme and World Health Organization provides the global status of scientific knowledge on exposure to and effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs).The work is based on the fact that endocrine systems are very similar across vertebrate species and that endocrine effects manifest themselves independently of species. The effects are endocrine system related and not necessarily species dependent. Effects shown in wildlife or experimental animals may also occur

The Weybridge+15 (1996-2011) technical report of the Europrean Environment Agency. Rates of endocrine diseases and disorders, such as some reproductive and developmental harm in human populations, have changed in line with the growth of the chemical industry, leading to concerns that these factors may be linked. For example, the current status of semen quality in the few European countries where studies have been systematically conducted, is very poor: fertility in approximately 40 % of men is impaired. There is also

This report provides an update and further assessment of the sources, fate and effects of microplastics in the marine environment, carried out by Working Group 40 (WG40) of GESAMP (The Joint Group of Experts on Scientific Aspects of Marine Protection).It follows publication of the first assessment report in this series in April 2015 (GESAMP 2015). The issue of marine plastic litter was raised during the inaugural meeting of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) in June 2014. Delegates from 160

Both reports arose from the Danish project “NanoDEN”, commissioned by the Danish EPA.Environmental fate and behaviour of nanomaterials by Hartmann N, Skjolding L, Foss Hansen S, Gottschalk F, Baun A (2014)The report 1 provides an overview of the to date knowledge regarding processes relevant for environmental fate and behaviour of ENMs. Key environmental processes are identified, discussed and prioritized according to their relevance as inputs for fate modelling for ENMs. Furthermore, knowledge gaps are identified and prioritised with regard to

Scientific knowledge to assess the exposure to nanomaterials continues to improve. The OECD compiled an inventory of available models and tools for assessing occupational, consumer and environmental exposure to Nanomaterials. 54 tools and models were initially compiled and following in-depth analyses, 10 occupational, 7 consumer and 6 environmental tools/models were recommended or evaluated as suitable for assessing exposure to nanomaterials. The detailed information on the analyses and evaluations are provided in the reports accessible from the Series on Nanomaterials website