Microplastics on Human Health – Part 1: Understanding the Problem
A Deep Dive Into the Milan Event on Microplastics and Health
We’re excited to share the first instalment of a three-part series from the event Microplastics and Human Health – Part 1. Held in November 2024, this gathering of experts highlighted a pressing global issue: the pervasive presence of microplastics and their impact on human health. Months later, the findings remain critically relevant.
Microplastics are no longer just an environmental concern—they’re in our stomachs, blood, and even the umbilical cords of newborns. This alarming reality was the focus of research presented by the University of Milan at the Civic Aquarium of Milan, during a scientific outreach day promoted by the University of Milan in collaboration with the Presidency of the Milan City Council. Specifically, the event Microplastics and Human Health brought together researchers, immunologists, physicists, microbiologists, and engineers to discuss the latest scientific discoveries in an accessible way. Cultural Project by Natasha Calandrino Van Kleef; Scientific Direction by Claudio Fenizia.
Microplastics on Human Health: Why this initiative matters
- Environmental Sustainability: Addressing the long-term impact of plastic pollution.
- Interdisciplinarity: Combining expertise from diverse fields for a holistic approach.
- Community Engagement: Involving citizens and the Milan Municipality to raise awareness.
The goal? To spark awareness and action on the growing threat of microplastics to human health. Plastics take an extremely long time to degrade, leading to an accumulation of microplastics that affect human health.
You can watch the conference here and here.
“Plastics: these unknown entities”
Alberto Milani, Physicist, Dept. of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta,” Polytechnic University of Milan, explained how these materials permeate every aspect of modern life. The visible issue is the vast floating plastic islands in our oceans. But an even more insidious problem lies in the microscopic particles we unknowingly ingest.
- Plastics are omnipresent: They have transformed daily objects, design, sports, and transportation.
- More accurately termed polymeric materials: These include polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), among many others.
- Advantages: Lightness, ease of transformation, and lower energy consumption compared to other materials.
- Disadvantages: Weak mechanical properties and long-term environmental persistence.
Currently, global consumption trends are increasing. However, once a polymer is created, it cannot be reversed. It remains in nature, initially in visible form, then breaking down into smaller and smaller particles due to mechanical wear and atmospheric conditions—eventually becoming microplastics.
Bioplastics: a potential solution?
One of the solutions proposed is bioplastics, but defining them is complex. At the European level, bioplastics are categorised as:
- Biobased: Derived from plant-based raw materials.
- Biodegradable and compostable: Able to break down naturally under specific conditions.
- A combination of both: Biobased and biodegradable.
In Italy, bioplastics are defined only as biodegradable and compostable, regardless of whether they originate from plant-based or fossil sources.
The issue is complex, with open-ended possibilities. With bioplastics, we can tackle the problem either at the source or at the end of the material’s lifecycle. Specifically, bioplastics derived from plant-based sources address the problem at the source by using renewable materials that bypass the need for petroleum. On the other hand, biodegradability addresses the problem at the end of the lifecycle, as it allows materials—whether derived from fossil fuels or plants—to break down naturally after use.
While bioplastics offer a potential solution, they raise further questions:
- Biodegradability Conditions: How easily do these materials break down in natural environments? Do they require industrial processing?
- Environmental Impact: Do they truly decompose into harmless molecules, or do they form even longer-lasting compounds?
- Human Health Effects: Could residues from biodegradation accumulate in the body through the food chain?
Conclusion
Plastics, or polymeric materials, are substances composed of macromolecules known as polymers. These polymers consist of long chains of repeating molecular units called monomers, chemically bonded together through polymerisation. Their chemical nature, molecular structure, and solid-state aggregation define their properties and applications, making them incredibly diverse materials.
However, the term bioplastic is ambiguous, covering a broad spectrum of plant-based or biodegradable materials—or sometimes both. While they offer a step toward sustainability, they are not a perfect solution and require further research to fully assess their impact on both the environment and human health.
The Microplastics and Human Health panel highlighted the urgent need to address this issue, bringing together experts from diverse fields to explore the pervasive presence of microplastics and their effects on human health. In the next instalment of this series, we will delve deeper into the health risks posed by microplastics and what science has discovered so far. Stay tuned!
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