Drinks cans, food containers, even a cyclist's shorts - these everyday items made from different plastics carry a 95 per cent chance of seriously harming human health, a world-first study has found.
Believed to be the most comprehensive review of health risks posed by chemicals used in plastics, the study revealed evidence no product made from five classes of chemicals could be "considered safe".
Co-author of the review Dr Sarah Dunlop, who is the director of Plastics and Human Health at the Minderoo Foundation, said constant exposure to common plastic items showed "health impacts across a lifespan" from the womb into adulthood.
"Our ability to reproduce - endometriosis, miscarriages and polycystic ovarian syndrome in women - as well as impacts on sperm concentration and DNA damage at birth," Dr Dunlop said.
"In children, we see loss of IQ points as well as high blood pressure, obesity in childhood and bronchitis.
"In adults, we again see very credible evidence for type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart attacks, strokes, as well as cancers ... and I don't think the public know about this."
The review, published today in the online journal Annals of Global Health, was undertaken by researchers from the Joanna Briggs Institute at the University of South Australia in partnership with the Minderoo Foundation, an Australian non-profit organisation.
The five plastic-associated chemicals researchers investigated were bisphenols (found in eyewear, bottles), phthalates (nail polish, shampoos), polybrominated diphenyl ethers or PBDEs (phones, carpet padding), polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs (electrical equipment) and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS (food packaging, firefighting equipment).
Previous studies show these leaked out due to weak chemical bonds and infiltrated humans.
"We find them when we measure urine and the like. And there's a truckload more that we don't know about," Dr Dunlop said.
However, the review only examined five out of an estimated 16,000 chemicals used to make plastic.
"You can't do experiments on humans, but we are every single day," Dr Dunlop said
She said their review produced a "balance sheet" which took into account all the research examining health risks from these five chemicals in the last 20 years.
After compiling 52 systematic reviews involving more than 900 meta-analyses on 1.5 million individuals, including pregnant women, babies, children and adults, the result was overwhelmingly negative.
"The balance sheet is coming out as very credible evidence for harm to human health. This is statistically significant at the 95 per cent level," Dr Dunlop said.
"That means only 5 per cent is due to chance for 'risks a link to human health'. If I were a betting woman, I would take notice of the 95 per cent."
Those who wanted to limit their regular intake of microplastics, Dr Dunlop advised staying away from certain products and packaging but noted this left very few options.
Tips to limit exposure to microplastics:
- Avoid plastic packaging around food
- Avoid drink cans, as they are lined with a resin which contains the bisphenols
- Don't heat food in plastic containers
- Don't store food in plastic containers (challenge arises when lids are made of plastic)
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Avoid synthetic clothing, favour natural fibers like wool and cotton (active-wear may pose a challenge)
- Clean your house and keep dust levels at minimum
- Other items that contain microplastics include: building materials, furniture upholstery, mattresses and carpets
"We need to look at the source of the problem and make materials which are safe. At the moment, it's the wrong way around, the burden of proof is on us, " Dr Dunlop said.
She and the co-authors believe their research removed any doubt about the risks involved in goods produced using plastic-associated chemicals.
Additionally, they wanted to raise the alarm about goods flowing into the market and into households before they could be tested.
Dr Dunlop said the research was a "warning" to impose rules on plastic producers, similar to "well-regulated industries" such as pharmaceutical and food industries.
"This is a population based study and it's a red flag, it's the canary in the cage," she said. "It's not the public's fault. We can't recycle our way out of this."
She added it was important to begin producing safer materials and have a framework mandating manufacturers to provide clarity about the safety of their products.
