A new report, ‘Plastic Pipes, Microplastics and Impacts on Human Health’, released by the Copper Sustainability Partnership (CuSP) and member organisation Safe Piping Matters, has revealed the truly devastating effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on human health, and why the associated risks are particularly pertinent in hospitals and our homes.
Although commonly used in construction for the built environment, plastic and synthetic materials are now a cause for rising concern in contributing to significant health risks. Due to the abundance of plastic materials used in the plumbing industry, it is no wonder that the conversation around its health impacts is rapidly growing.
Unquestionably, all materials installed in the built environment should be safe for people and should not pose a risk to their health. Particularly in locations such as the home or in hospitals, where people consume the most water, having safe piping materials installed couldn’t be more important.
In these medical environments, water is provided not just as a resource to patients, but is used in infection control, handwashing and contamination reduction. Considering the high concentration of vulnerable people reliant on the infrastructure, with the NHS using approximately 50 billion cubic litres of water each year, ensuring the safety and sanitisation of each drop is essential.
How do microplastics and nanoplastics enter the water cycle?
Unfortunately, due to budget restrictions and perhaps a lack of awareness of their negative impacts, plastic pipes are often installed in place of safer alternatives. The properties of plastic pipes cause their interior surfaces to degrade over time, a complication which also arises from their interaction with cleaning chemicals and disinfectants.
In particular, PVC pipes – which are often found at the end of water distribution networks – are known to experience a great amount of fragmentation. As a result, microplastics and nanoplastics are released into the water, increasing human exposure to plastic pollution which effects critical organ functions including the lungs, gut, brain and reproductive system.
What are the impacts on our bodies?
Destabilisation of the gut microbiome
Through the consumption of drinking water contaminated with microplastics and nanoplastics, it’s estimated that those who only drink tap water ingest 4,000 particles per year. As global discussions on the consumption of microplastics from plastic bottles become more frequent, it’s more important than ever to draw attention to the amount consumed from plastic pipes.
As a result of ingesting these particles, the balance of gut microbes is altered and can lead to devastating conditions such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and more.
Damage to lung tissue and cell DNA
Concerningly, micro and nanoplastics are extremely low weight, allowing them to spread easily through the air and be inhaled. It’s estimated that inhalation exposures may be as high as 90,000 particles per year, raising concerns of the effects of these particles on lung health.
Research from the ‘Plastic Pipes, Microplastics & Impacts on Human Health’ report has found that microplastics and nanoplastics can damage lung cell DNA and cause the physical corruption of lung tissues. The study also revealed increasingly higher levels of reactive oxidative stress, which exacerbates the risks associated with lung conditions and cancers.
The report highlighted research that evidences the high prevalence of microplastics and nanoplastics in homes, workplaces and public spaces. What’s more, a 2023 study assessing plastic pollution found significant concentrations of both plastic particles in rain clouds, showing how they can pollute the world’s water supply at another stage in the water cycle.
Deterioration of brain health
In addition to affecting the gut and the lungs, inhalation of microplastics and nanoplastics has also been found to damage brain health, after the particles pass through these two organs and into the blood barrier.
Cognitive function is, therefore, affected in several ways including causing interference with the maintenance of brain tissue, short-term memory impairments, as well as an increased vulnerability to developing disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s.
Declining reproductive system
Similar to the brain, microplastics and nanoplastics also reach the reproductive systems through the blood stream. For women, the consequences include damage to ovaries, such as reduced ovarian capacity and adverse effects on cells producing ova. For men, microplastics and nanoplastics can negatively affect the structural elements of sperm, reducing their efficacy.
This may explain why researchers worldwide are finding declines in fertility in females and lower sperm count in men. Exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics also impacts foetal development and can cause adverse risk in pregnancies. In 2020, the first evidence of microplastics in human placenta was found; an extremely concerning discovery and an indicator of more health issues to come.
What alternative materials can be used to improve global health?
Considering the extreme dangers presented by plastic pipes, safer plumbing systems are a necessity in public spaces, houses and healthcare environments.
Alternative materials such as copper are much safer to be entrusted to carry nature’s most important resource, as they ensure safe drinking water thanks to their durability and corrosion-resistance, greatly reducing the risk of contamination of our water systems.
In addition to not leaching harmful particles into water supplies, copper pipes are also anti-microbial, meaning they kill micro-organisms and inhibit their growth. This quality ensures only the cleanest water is provided.
As research continues and the true prevalence of micro and nanoplastics is exposed to be greater than previously estimated, the threat of plastic pollution is becoming far more severe. It is imperative that the construction industry begins to limit its plastic use, especially for water supply in hospitals and healthcare environments, where water sanitisation and purity is essential.
Make the smart choice and cut the problem off at the source: Choose Copper.
Find out more about the plastics greenwash and benefits of copper at https://cuspuk.com/.
