How Burning Plastics Affects Humans - Health and Environment
How Burning Plastics Affects Humans - Health and Environment
By: Mery Garduno
Introduction
When plastic is burned, it releases toxic fumes and chemicals that can harm living organisms. Inhalation of these fumes can lead to respiratory issues such as asthma and lung cancer, while exposure to the chemicals can cause skin irritation and other health problems. Burning plastic contributes to air pollution and the release of greenhouse gasses, further exacerbating climate change and environmental degradation. Microplastics are defined as particles (0.1–5000 m maximum diameter) of severely modified synthetic organic polymers that are widespread in aquatic and terrestrial settings, according to European Commission recommendations their abundance in atmospheric particulate matter (PM) has recently sparked concern about population exposure and public health. This is because microplastic inhalation of poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC), polyamide (PA), and polyester (PES) dust have been attributed to the onset of occupational lung diseases, albeit at high exposure concentrations ranging from 0.16 to 42 mg/m3. Airborne microplastics with a diameter of 100 μm are primarily deposited in the nasopharyngeal airway. Particulate matter with a diameter of 10 D (PM10) can reach the respiratory system's intrathoracic regions, leading to gastrointestinal exposure. Particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 D can reach the alveolar regions of the lung, where it is eliminated by macrophages or cleared by endocytosis. Currently, information on their prevalence and concentration is limited due to methodological challenges. Therefore, further research is needed to better understand the extent of airborne microplastic pollution and its potential impact on respiratory health (Joseph M et al., 2020). The significance of creating standardized procedures for identifying and measuring microplastics in air samples is highlighted by this research gap. Furthermore, to develop effective mitigation plans and safeguard the public's health, it is imperative to look at the possible long-term impacts of exposure to airborne microplastics on respiratory health.
Inhaling the Chemicals from Burning Plastic
Inhaling the chemicals “defined as volatile organic compounds (VOCs),” released from burning plastics, including microplastics, can cause respiratory problems, irritate to the eyes and throat, and contribute to air pollution. Long-term exposure to these fumes has been linked to an increased risk of cancer and other chronic health conditions. When plastics burn, they undergo a combustion process that produces a range of toxic substances, and inhaling the resulting fumes can lead to various health issues—the combustion of plastic releases particulate matter and chemical fumes that can irritate the respiratory system. Short-term exposure can lead to symptoms such as coughing, throat irritation, and difficulty breathing, while long-term exposure can result in chronic respiratory diseases and other serious health conditions. According to (Pathak G et al., 2023), a significant source of air pollution with the open burning of mixed wastes produces a variety of adverse environmental and human health effects. Plastics are a particularly problematic waste stream when it comes to open burning; a study attributed 90 % of black carbon emitted from burning wastes to polyethylene terephthalate and polystyrene, two types of plastics. The open burning of plastics is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, respiratory issues, neurological disorders, nausea, skin rashes, numbness or tingling in the fingers, headaches, memory loss, and confusion. Some toxic emissions, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, have been linked to cancer and birth defects. Ash from open burning contaminates the soil and enters groundwater and the food chain. Plastic packaging, which accounts for approximately 40 % of global plastics produced, frequently contains additives “such as fillers, plasticizers, flame retardants, colorants, stabilizers, lubricants, foaming agents, and antistatic agents” in addition to adhesives and coatings. Additives containing metals, including cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, cobalt, tin, and zinc, are hazardous.
Chemicals from Burning Plastic
Inhaling the chemicals from burning plastic not only poses direct risks to human health but also has significant adverse impacts on the environment. There are several ways in which the environmental consequences of burning plastic can manifest, such as air pollution, soil contamination, water pollution, and the release of greenhouse gases. These consequences can have far-reaching effects on ecosystems and human populations alike.
Burning plastic releases a variety of pollutants into the air, including dioxins, furans, PAHs, and VOCs, which can lead to air pollution and harmful effects on air quality. Some pollutants can also contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, a key component of smog, which can harm human health and vegetation. The pollutants emitted from burning plastic can also settle on soil and water surfaces, causing contamination and negatively impacting terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Burning ash from plastic may contain toxic substances and heavy metals, posing risks to plants and soil-dwelling organisms. Rainwater can also wash pollutants into water bodies, affecting aquatic ecosystems and harming sea birds, turtles, fish, and seals, posing health risks to 243 species. The combustion of plastics releases greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, contributing to the overall burden of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Some pollutants released during plastic burning can be toxic to various plant and animal species, contributing to declines in biodiversity. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) like dioxins can remain in the environment for extended periods, posing ongoing risks. According to (Wang, C., Zhao, J., & Xing, B. 2021) synthetic textiles, synthetic rubber tire erosion, and urban dust are the primary sources of microplastics in the atmosphere. Building materials, industrial emissions, plastic fragments from house furniture, particle resuspension, landfills, traffic particles, waste incineration, tumble dryer exhaust, synthetic particles used in horticultural soils, and sewage sludge used as fertilizer are all potential sources. After being discharged into the air, these various microplastics are continuously transported and settled in soil or sediment, this can result in the uptake of microplastics by plants, potentially entering the food chain, which may be important for human respiratory exposure and generating a risk to human health. However, microplastics are stored in large quantities in soil. Microplastics, once released into the soil, may persist and accumulate, affecting the growth and reproduction of soil organisms as well as their biodiversity. Furthermore, microplastics can be used as carriers for various pollutants such as pesticides, heavy metals, and other harmful chemicals. Although microplastics are not inherently toxic, their capacity to absorb and transport these pollutants can endanger soil biota and the overall health of the soil ecosystem. Researchers have discovered a variety of microplastics in soil ecosystems that originated from applying sewage sludge or organic fertilizers to farmlands, atmospheric deposition, and irrigation with polluted or flooded waters. These microplastics pose a significant threat to soil health and the overall ecosystem. They can negatively impact soil fertility, disrupt nutrient cycling, and even accumulate in plants, potentially entering the food chain. Additionally, the presence of microplastics in soil raises concerns about their long-term effects on human health and the environment. These effects are still being studied and require further research to fully understand the extent of their impact. Preliminary studies suggest that microplastics could leach harmful chemicals into the soil, contaminating groundwater and ecosystems. Collaboration between scientists and policymakers is essential to developing effective strategies to mitigate microplastics' presence in soil and prevent further environmental damage.
Chemical Production
Depending on their composition, microplastics can release variable types of chemicals. The specific chemicals produced can vary, but here are some general categories of substances that may be generated during the burning of microplastics. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of organic compounds that can form during the incomplete combustion of organic materials, including plastics. PAHs released from open burning contribute to 61.0% of the total anthropogenic PAH emissions. Many PAHs are carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic, can persist in the environment, and accumulate in vascular plants, which can be harmful to human health because of their position in the food chain. Exposure to PAHs can cause temporary hazards such as eye inflammation and respiratory tract irritation, as well as long-term health effects such as lung cancer, liver damage, and cardiopulmonary death. Particulate PAHs (PM-PAHs) are considered more harmful to human health because they are carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic and can be inhaled and deposited in the respiratory system. (Cheng K et al .,2022 ). Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a group of organic chemicals that can evaporate into the air at room temperature. Plastics may contain additives or impurities that, when burned, release VOCs. VOCs, such as benzene, phenol, and naphthalene, as well as very volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like formaldehyde, have been under scrutiny because of their association with adverse health effects. These health effects include pulmonary effects and irritation of both the eyes and respiratory tract. Long-term exposure to VOCs has been linked to an increased risk of developing cancer, especially in occupations where workers are regularly exposed to high levels of these compounds.VOCs can also react with sunlight and other atmospheric gases, leading to the formation of secondary pollutants such as ozone, which can further worsen air quality and pose additional health risks (Beel G et al., 2023).Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced by the incomplete combustion of microplastics, which can produce carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas. Inhalation of carbon monoxide can lead to symptoms such as headache, dizziness, and nausea and, in severe cases, can be life-threatening. Carbon monoxide has a powerful ability to affect cell metabolism, as it can cause reactions that deprive cells of oxygen. Carbon monoxide's strong affinity to bind with heme, an iron compound in hemoglobin, can alter the function of heme proteins and decrease the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. This results in carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) formation, which decreases blood oxygen release and disrupts the release of oxygen already attached to hemoglobin. Carbon monoxide also diminishes oxygen storage in muscle cells by binding to and displacing oxygen from myoglobin. The most vulnerable tissues are the brain and heart, with the developing nervous system being particularly sensitive. People with ongoing cardiovascular or respiratory diseases may also be compromised. Carbon monoxide can also cause effects unrelated to oxygen supply (Ajiboye, T. 2023). Burning microplastics can generate particulate matter (MP), consisting of tiny particles that can be inhaled into the respiratory system. When microplastics burn, they can release particulate matter into the air, consisting of microscopic particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs when inhaled. These particles can adversely affect respiratory health and contribute to various health issues. In addition, carbon monoxide can impair the cardiovascular system by binding to hemoglobin in the blood, reducing its ability to transport oxygen. Hydrogen chloride (HCl), a colorless to slightly yellow gas with a pungent odor, is used for cleaning, pickling, and electroplating metals; in refining mineral ores; in petroleum well extraction; in leather tanning; and in the refining of fats, soaps, and edible oils, as well as in producing polymers and plastics, rubber, fertilizers, dyes, dyestuffs, and pigments. It can be formed during the combustion of many plastics. Inhalation is an important route of exposure to HCl, which is highly water-soluble and highly irritating to the mucous membranes of the nose, throat, and respiratory tract because of its acidity. Mucous membrane irritation can occur with acute exposure of as little as 5 to 10 parts per million (ppm). In contrast, brief exposure to 35 ppm causes throat irritation, and levels of 50 to 100 ppm are barely tolerable for 1 hour. Massive exposures may cause an accumulation of fluid in the lungs (Gorguner, M., & Akgun, M. 2010). Another outcome of exposure to HCl can be reactive airway dysfunction syndrome (RADS), a condition characterized by the sudden onset of asthma-like symptoms, such as wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath, following a single exposure to a high concentration of HCl. This syndrome can persist for an extended period and may require long-term management of respiratory symptoms. Additives, dyes, and other materials incorporated during the manufacturing process can be found in microplastics. These materials may be released during the burning of microplastics, possibly exposing people to hazardous residues. Long-term effects from this exposure could include an elevated risk of diseases and complications, among other health problems.
Open burning of solid waste is a significant source of air pollution and a common practice in many economically developing regions of the world, as well as in rural areas in both high-income and low-income countries. Globally, around two billion people lack access to efficient municipal solid waste collection services and dispose of household waste, typically by open burning. Action to control emissions by stopping the practice of open burning of waste would have a significant and immediate benefit in the fight against climate change. Assessing waste-burning patterns in communities is crucial, as larger populations often have better waste-collection services, reducing the likelihood of uncontrolled fires. This insight can help determine the effectiveness of waste collection services in different communities. (Mihai, F. C. et al., 2021). The variable conditions in plastic waste open fires result in the emissions of a wide range of gases, particles, and vapors. These substances have several origins, described here in four groups. First, there are substances that have been intentionally added to plastic materials, i.e., in addition to the basic polymer, to improve their properties. For instance, flame retardants, fillers, antioxidants, and impact modifiers. Second, there are substances that have been added unintentionally as a result of the inclusion of recycled content, so-called “legacy substances” that were either additive to a previous product or that were introduced during the reprocessing or sorting of the previous product. Third, there are substances and derivatives that were used or arose during the production of the primary polymer, including catalysts, monomers, and partially formed polymers called dimers or oligomers. Fourth, there are the polymers themselves. In uncontrolled fires, four groups of substances and materials emit emissions through two main mechanisms: heat causes volatilization in groups 1–3, thermochemical reactions at low temperatures, and oxygen presence results in bond fission and formation between present or newly created molecules. These are produced during pyrolysis, gasification, and combustion and are phenomena that can also be grouped according to fire types as flaming combustion, which is well-ventilated; flaming combustion, which is ventilation-controlled; oxidative pyrolysis (smoldering); and anaerobic pyrolysis. The action of these two main mechanisms on the four groups of materials and substances results in the formation of residues in ash form (“inert”, incombustible part), or the release of gases, particles, and vapors into the atmosphere from where they may be suspended or deposited onto land or into water with a risk of entering the food chain (Velis, C. A., & Cook, E. 2021). Exposure to these released gases, particles, and vapors can lead to respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases, and even cancer in humans. Additionally, the deposition of these residues onto land or into water can contaminate ecosystems and disrupt the balance of natural habitats. Therefore, proper management and control of these combustion processes are crucial to minimizing the negative consequences for both human health and the environment. .
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