Minderoo Foundation, in collaboration with JBI at the University of Adelaide, undertook an umbrella review, systematically examining vast amounts of research data from thousands of scientific studies on exposure to plastic chemicals and the impacts on human health.
The Plastic Health Umbrella Review specifically looked at some of the most commonly used plastic chemicals that we know humans are exposed to – BPA (bisphenol A), phthalates (plasticisers), PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and PBDEs (Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers), both of which are flame retardants, and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances).
The Umbrella Review found that there is consistent and irrefutable evidence that plastic chemicals in every class examined harm human health across the entire human life cycle.
These exposure starts from preconception onwards and includes BPA (bisphenol A), phthalates (plasticisers), PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and PBDEs (Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers) and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances).
The health impacts affect all stages of life, and include:
Before birth and at birth
miscarriage, weight, genital malformation
Childhood
lower IQ, ADHD (girls), obesity, blood pressure, asthma, psychomotor development, non-hodgkin’s lymphoma, thyroid function, cardiovascular disease, bronchitis, allergic rhinitis (“hay fever”), insulin resistance
Adulthood
endometriosis, sperm concentration and quality, diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome, insulin resistance, type II diabetes, obesity, liver cancer, lung cancer, hepatic disease, breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, thyroid function, malignant melanoma, non-hodgkin’s lymphoma
Many thousands of chemicals are used in plastics. The Umbrella Review found that most plastic chemicals, as well as polymers and microplastics, have been insufficiently or never studied for human health effects. Considering the evidence of harm found for the few chemicals that have been examined, we should take a precautionary approach, and not assume safety for the rest.
A world leading study drawing together evidence on the impacts of plastic-associated chemical exposure on human health.
A report describing the Umbrella Review, from high-level summaries to detailed descriptions of the findings, the methodology and the raw data, and recommendations for regulators and industry.
An extensive breakdown video discussing the origins and significance of the Umbrella Review evidence, and how to understand the key findings in the Report.
A visualisation of the high-level quantitative evidence for the effects of five groups of plastic chemicals on human health.
In conjunction with the Umbrella Review publications, Minderoo hosted an online event led by Jane Muncke, Managing Director of the Food Packaging Forum.
The event featured a panel that spoke about the groundbreaking findings on five key classes of chemicals and their impacts on human health and the implications for stronger regulations under the Global Plastics Treaty.
Catch up now to hear insights from our expert panelists:
Professor Sarah Dunlop | contributing author | Head of Plastics and Human Health, Minderoo Foundation
Dr. Christos Symeonides | contributing author | Pediatrician | Principal, Clinical Research, Plastics and Human Health, Minderoo Foundation
Halato Fua | Director, National Environment Service, Cook Islands
Kate Robertson | Technical Officer (Legal), World Health Organization
Minderoo Foundation:
Christos Symeonides (a,b), Yannick Mulders (a), Sarah Dunlop (a,c)
(a) Minderoo Foundation
(b) Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Australia
(c) School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Australia
JBI, University of Adelaide:
Janine Dizon (a,b), Timothy Barker (a), Ashley Whitehorn (a), Tania Marin (a,b), Danielle Pollock (a), Edoardo Aromataris (a) (a) JBI, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia(b) College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
