Special Issue

Topic: Exposure to Chemical Additives Associated with Plastics: Impacts on Wild Animals and Humans

A Special Issue of Journal of Environmental Exposure Assessment

ISSN 2771-5949 (Online)

Submission deadline: 30 Oct 2024

Guest Editor(s)

Dr. Ethel Eljarrat

Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.

Dr. Giulia Poma

Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.

Special Issue Introduction

Plastic pollution has become one of the biggest environmental challenges faced by our society. Plastics are widely used in a variety of products, such as food packaging, personal care products, medical materials, electronic products, textiles, tyres, etc. Since the beginning of its manufacture in the 1950s, more than 8 billion tonnes of plastic have been produced, of which more than 6 billion tonnes are waste distributed among the different environmental compartments. This waste is causing an impact on living beings, including humans, because of the polymer and/or the different chemical additives associated with these polymers. There are more than 10,000 different chemicals associated with plastics, of which 2,400 are of concern and more than 60 are characterized as substances of high health risk. From these additives, plasticizers, flame retardants, perfluorinated compounds, UV filters, biocides, toxic metals, etc. deserve special attention due to their widespread presence and their toxicological effects. Biota and human exposure to these compounds may occur through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact. The correct knowledge of the exposure pathways and their magnitude is essential to take measures to reduce our exposure to these toxic compounds.

In this Special Issue, we welcome full research papers, short communications, and systematic or critical reviews covering any of the following topics:
1. Occurrence in terrestrial and aquatic media;
2. Occurrence in virgin and recycled materials;
3. Bioaccumulation and biomagnification along food webs;
4. Impact of plastic debris on the contamination of marine biota;
5. Exposure assessment through ingestion of food, beverages and dust;
6. Exposure assessment through inhalation: indoor and outdoor microenvironments;
7. Development of new biomonitoring tools for exposure assessment;
8. Exposure assessment in recycling processes.

We cordially invite all scholars and researchers in these fields to submit your contributions for publication in this Special Issue.

All submissions MUST consider the implications for human and/or wildlife exposure to contaminants. Please see the Aims and Scope of JEEA for further guidance.