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How will the Philippines people face different types of health hazards

due to the impact of plastic waste on oceans?

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The plastic pollution crisis is considered transnational as it affects different countries and

regions. On the manufacturing side, plastic production is expected to continue to

rise, surpassing 25 billion tonnes by 2050, according to a report by the Ellen MacArthur

Foundation. Waste remains a historical problem, but is expected to occur. Additionally, only

an estimated 9% of all plastic ever produced is recycled, of which 79% ends up in landfills or,

worse, into the environment. . (Allegado, 2020). Developing countries like the Philippines play a

pivotal role in the global plastic pollution crisis. According to a 2015 report by Marine

Conservation Charities and the McKinsey Center for Business and Environment, the Philippines

is her third largest source of marine plastic pollution, producing 2.7 million tons of plastic waste

each year (Jambeck , 2022). The report also revealed that the Philippines accounts for 36% of the

plastic waste that ends up in the world's oceans (Manahan, 2021). The reason for these alarming

statistics is that plastic waste in the Philippines comes from individual packages. These

are called sachets, cannot be recycled and usually end up in the ocean. Otherwise it has no value

to recyclers who can recycle it and make a profit. All plastic in the ocean goes to poor lowland

communities, where it can cause health hazards and disease. However, there

are several organizations in the Philippines that are working to protect the environment

by removing plastic from the ocean and preventing it from entering the ocean in the first place.

This paper will discuss all the factors due to which the Philippines people face different types of

health hazards due to the impact of plastic waste on oceans by highlighting the three main types

of plastics; macro-micro and nano plastic’s impacts.

Not only does plastic look unsightly in the environment, it can also pose serious dangers

to animals and humans. These hazards may include hazards to human health such as suffocation,

lung or kidney problems, and cerebral hemorrhage. As for marine life, it has been observed that

marine life ingests and entangles various plastic debris found in the ocean. These can cause

trauma and internal injury, cause gastrointestinal and airway obstruction, and ultimately lead to

death and sometimes disease (Jambeck, 2022). When these marine animals come into contact

with humans in some way, the toxins they contain are broken down in the

body.So when humans eat seafood, they eat it too. Some of these plastic toxins, such as

microplastics, are associated with hormonal abnormalities and developmental problems such as

Giardia and Cryptosporidium (Crypto), both of which can cause stomach problems

in humans( Waldman, 2022). But researchers are trying to understand exactly

how ingesting plastic from fish and shellfish affects human health. Research reveals that there

are three main types of plastics; macroplastics, microplastics, and nano plastics. Macroplastics

are a major source of microplastics and nano plastics. While they can lead to many forms of

amputation in wildlife, for example, marine species can suffocate and die from ingesting plastic.

Microplastics and nano plastics are a threat to all living things, including the smallest species

(Anadolu, 2022). Studies show that pathogen-carrying microplastics can travel long distances

across the ocean surface and sink to shallow depths. Here, animals such as crustaceans ingest

them and accumulate plastics and these pathogens in their bodies. Previous analyzes have shown

that microplastics do not necessarily pose a risk to human health. increase. it has been. to

win. But there are still many things we don't know. One concern is that plastics in the ocean will

eventually break down into nanoplastics. Nanoplastics are so small that they can enter human
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cells when eaten (Maquart, 2022). However, in 2019, experts called for more research into the

impact of microplastics and nanoplastics on human health (Bryce, 2022). So arguably the most

important impact consumers can have is to reduce the consumption of single-use plastics, which

are a major contributor to plastic pollution in our oceans. That's why it's important to recycle as

much plastic as possible. Volunteer groups and several organizations are cleaning rivers and

beaches to reduce the amount of free plastic that ends up in the ocean. Supporting campaigns and

policy changes to reduce unnecessary plastic production is also important. To that

end, the Philippines has three major organizations working to tackle plastic pollution, support

people in affected communities, and protect sea and marine biodiversity. Mother Earth

Foundation (MEF), Plastic Free, GAGI. These organizations help educate and educate Filipinos

and other Southeast Asians to implement zero waste policies in their communities(Thelwell,

2020).

Another point to support the thesis is “the versatility and durability of plastic” that allowed it to

be more infectious and difficult to handle on a large scale in the second half of the 20th century.

The Philippines is one of the countries with the most serious marine plastic pollution in the

world, with 0.28 to 750,000 tons of plastic entering the ocean from the coastal areas of Manila

Bay each year. About 60 billion bags are used in this country every year. Economic growth

and increased production and consumption, has resulted in more waste in the Philippines (SEA

circular, 2020). When all of this waste enters the ocean, it causes several problems which raises

the question of plastic degradability. In Actual, plastics are difficult to degrade, and because

waste management is often ineffective, approximately 55% of plastics end up in landfills or

nature (Maquart, 2022). As a result, poor plastic management can permanently pollute the

environment by disposing of it in oceans and seas. In the Philippines, approximately 74% of

plastic spilled into the ocean is initially collected but escapes from open landfills located near

vulnerable waterways (Schachter and Karasik, 2017). This can have serious health consequences

for Filipinos, such as phlegm, respiratory irritation, cough, obesity, cancer, dyspnea,

cardiovascular disease, decreased lung capacity, and asthma(Manahan, 2021; Schachter &

Karasik, 2017). It has also been hypothesized that MNPs may contribute to inflammation,

immune dysfunction, neurotoxicity, tumorigenesis, and metabolic

alterations. Additionally, human ingestion of microplastics can affect gut health, as observed in

fish. Exposure to microplastics can lead to intestinal inflammation and destruction of intestinal

epithelial cells, which can lead to leaky gut and serious health risks.This inflammation is caused

by increased oxidative stress in intestinal epithelial cells. believed to be

caused. Microplastics can also reduce the intestinal mucus layer, a key chemical barrier in

the gut, indicating that the environment can be destabilizing (Schachter & Karasik, 2017;

Morrison, 2022).

The versatility of microplastics is large enough, however, some studies have pointed to the

global health impacts of microplastic and nano plastic pollution, macroplastics pay little attention

to the spread and spread of infectious diseases and their impact on human and livestock health

(Maquart, 2022). Research on marine plastics and their environmental impacts focuses on

macroplastics and their effects on long-lived organisms, suggesting that plastic affects all

nutrient levels, This includes microorganisms that form the basis of marine food webs (Llacuna

Onda et al., 2014). Indeed, retained plastic debris may contribute to arthropod-borne diseases by

providing habitat for immature stages of certain vectors and increasing local vector

populations. And plastic waste becomes a favorable and medically important species for humans

that can influence the burden of disease. To do. These microbes can form biofilms on top
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of plastic waste and colonize new bodies of water.It demonstrates the need for an

interdisciplinary approach to understanding and potentially preventing giving (Maquart, 2022).

Due to these microbes, different type of local vector and water borne organisms appears that can

cause diseases in humans. The most obvious examples are Aedes aegypti and Aedes

Albopictus, which transmit chikungunya, dengue, yellow fever, Zika, and many other

arboviruses. As observed in the Philippines, both species are highly hominid and develop in

plastic containers, tires, buckets, plastic teacups, and plastic bottles, and are often found close to

homes (E Edillo et al., 2018).

Furthermore, many studies exploring the effects of plastics and marine food plastic additives on

human health have focused on the effects of Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates. BPA can cause

reproductive impairment in shellfish and crustaceans, as BPA and phthalates are known

endocrine disruptors, both of which inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-

stimulated formation of intracellular tubules, thereby inhibiting human development and

reproduction. In men, this may manifest as decreased fertility or an increased risk of testicular

and prostate cancer, while in women, endometriosis, reproductive cancers, decreased ovarian

function, and delayed menstrual cycles. may occur, which may manifest as increased risk.

Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals can cause diseases of the testis, prostate, kidney, and

immune system, leading to tumors (Basak et al., 2020). There is also evidence that the effects of

plastic on human health cannot be easily reversed, as exposure to plastic additives can persist

even after the plastic has been removed from the environment. For example, despite the

introduction of BPA regulations over time, BPA was detected in 23 of 29 urine samples from

hazardous waste incinerator workers (González et al. 2019). Furthermore, intervention studies in

which all plastic sources were removed from the home did not result in significant reductions in
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urinary phthalate metabolites in all household members at 2 months (Hutter et al., 2016).  It has

also been shown that in office spaces where materials or sources containing phthalates have been

removed, phthalates are still present as dust in non-negligible amounts. I emphasize it.

(Morrison, 2022). After realizing all of these potential impacts, Philippine organizations

have turned to working with coastal cleaning partners to address marine debris and debris, as

well as other pollutants entering the sea. These actions include the Philippine Ecological Solid

Waste Management Act of 2017 (Jambeck, 2022) and local government (LGU)

institutional, technical and regulatory requirements for managing municipal solid waste,

including packaging waste. Includes increased financial capacity.

Additionally, it has been noticed that plastic pollution has contributed to the climate-induced

decline of agriculture and fisheries, which are major economic activities in some societies. For

example, about 10% of the world's population depends heavily on the marine environment for

food and livelihoods, the majority (95%) of whom are from developing countries (Morrison,

2022). Low-lying Pacific islands with limited arable land are bearing the brunt of the plastic

crisis. For example, Tuvalu adheres to a “blue economy” policy that relies on the development of

marine resources to sustain its economy and population (International Organization for

Migration and its ILO, 2021). These conditions make the Philippines one of the countries with

the greatest climate impact due to the accumulation of plastics in the marine

environment through the production and burning of plastics. Therefore, the disproportionate

impact of plastic waste on a particular community should be investigated through a holistic

examination of its geoeconomic, environmental, structural and sociopolitical underpinnings. As

such, in recent years companies have offered recycling, upgrading and devaluation

opportunities to curb plastic pollution. But these are neither practical nor sustainable solutions.

The Philippines currently aims to promote 60% plastic recovery and recycling by 2030,

especially for various plastic waste streams, through technology transfer and private

sector integration in plastic waste management. (Schachter and Karasik, 2017). 

Another business idea that can help curb the plastic pollution problem in the

Philippines is building gas stations, promoting the use of reusable containers in shopping, and

creating more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic packaging for

companies. Likewise,Japanese companies can partner with the Philippine government and local

companies to realize these commercial projects. This will strengthen ties between Japan and the

Philippines and may help alleviate the Philippines' plastic pollution problem (Alegado, 2020).

In conclusion, There is growing evidence that plastics can affect multiple layers of biological

tissue, from molecular and cellular to organismal and population levels. These effects are far-

reaching, leading to changes in inflammation and oxidative stress, metabolic function,

neurological function, behavior, reproduction and development, and the microbiome. These

effects are mediated by the physical effects of ingested or absorbed plastic particles, as well as

the chemicals and microbes present in or on the plastic. Despite a growing body of research

around the world on the effects of plastic on human, animal, plant and ecosystem health, many

questions remain unanswered. On the one hand, more systematic and comprehensive studies are

needed to explain the large differences in polymer types, plastic particle sizes, and additive

blends. Furthermore, studies that integrate the effects of plastic pollution at the cellular,

organismal, population and ecosystem levels are lacking, suggesting that cumulative exposure to

plastics and additives over time at these biological levels is likely to increase. It is suggested that

there are Little is known about this. Moreover, the pace of global policy responses and the

adoption of plastic reduction technologies lags far behind the pace of plastic consumption and
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production. OneHealth's approach aims to contain and address the global plastic pollution crisis.

There, integration across biological scales fosters interdisciplinary partnerships to help protect all

life on Earth. Providing a framework that engages stakeholders from different perspectives helps

fill these knowledge gaps.

References

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