Overview

Plastic is a problem that affects individuals as well as whole ecosystems. It impacts organisms as a whole and although it may seem at first as a simple problem; in reality, it has more layers. Our project’s aim is to deal with one of the consequences of microplastics degradation: Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, also known as EDCs. These exogenous compounds can interfere with hormonal pathways, disturbing regulation on the endocrine and reproductive system; and blocking synthesis, translation and action of natural hormones

. They mimic natural hormones but play a poor functional role, leading to abnormalities

These compounds affect mammals, humans and fish exposed to polluted water, disrupting their normal metabolic pathways and thus, their functions. EDCs get to any water body by laundry, pesticides, plastic products and plastic waste (including bioplastics), cosmetics and plastic additives

Purpose

EDCs are difficult to measure and filter due to their small size and underappreciation. With their nanometrical size, physical methods of separation may be too expensive or too difficult to implement. Besides, there is no easy way of quantifying them other than specific protocols that most of the time involve expensive equipment or laboratory conditions.

Not quantifying them results in the lack of regulations in water treatment plants and the non-existing laws and regulations in the federal regime in Mexico of micro fibers and EDCs. In addition, there aren’t any mentions of these compounds in the Official Mexican Norm or Norma Oficial Mexicana NOM.201-SSA1-2015 “Sanitary specifications of products and services. Water and ice for human consumption”

. The same happens with NOM-127-SSA1-1994 “Environmental health, water for human use and consumption”

and with NOM -003-ECOL-1997

“Pollutants in wastewater treatment for public service reuse”

. Dr. Roeb García from “Centro del Agua para América Latina y el Caribe” made an analysis of the regulatory frameworks of the emerging water pollutants in Mexico and the world. In his research, he concluded and confirmed that Mexico and Latin America don’t have enough regulations respecting microplastics and EDCs as water pollutants

SDG’s

Goal 3 - Good health and well being

EDCs are compounds that come in some products that we consume with frequency.This may include products from the food, water and cosmetic industry and may expose us to EDCs directly. Right now, it may not seem that big of a problem; however, Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals have the potential to become a worldwide crisis that we won’t avoid unless we take action.

​It has been evidentiated in the first Scientific Statement of The Endocrine Society that  EDCs “affect both female and male reproductive systems. It may lead to the development of breast cancer, prostate cancer, neuroendocrinology, thyroid, metabolism and obesity, problems with fertility, fecundity and cardiovascular endocrinology.” This indicates just how massive this problem is and how it can be considered a mayor health issue. In the next figure, you will find most of the associated reproductive diseases or damages related to EDC´s exposure in females and males

Water is an essential resource that we as humans need to live; and if for some reason it gets polluted because of our actions, it is our duty and our responsibility to solve this problem. We must think not only on ourselves but on the generations that will come after us. Water is the first thing that has to be clean when it comes to health and wellbeing and without it, there’s little chance of having a good quality of life.

Figure 2.

Model of body organs and systems targeted by Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals such as cardiovascular, reproductive, neurological and metabolic [10].

Goal 6 
Clean water and sanitation

The consequence of the lack of normativity affects directly the Human Right “Drinking Water and Sanitation”, according to CNDH and to the Mexican Constitutional Rank (paragraph sixth of article 4, published on February 8, 2012 in the Official Gazette of the Federation) which refers to the same human right. It states the following: “Everyone has the right to access, disposal and sanitation of water for personal and domestic consumption in a sufficient, healthy, acceptable and affordable way”

Goal 14
Life below water

Not only macroplastics threaten the ocean, but also microplastics. The constant degradation of plastics generates pollution in many ways; from the accumulation of this material in organisms that live underwater to more gruesome consequences produced by the chemicals found in plastics. EDCs can actually reach the marine environment through many sources like industrial processes, agricultural pesticides runoff or fertilisers, human activities at the sea, personal care products, cosmetics, fragrances, pharmaceuticals, storm water flows or atmospheric deposition from waste incineration, transportation emissions among others. In conclusion, marine life is highly exposed to these chemicals.

Let's go to the really sad part when they actually find wildlife and decide to affect them.

Figure 3.

Impact of EDCs on female and male systems. There’s an emphasis on specific diseases or damages associated with Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals [10].

DID YOU KNOW?

Starting with fish, vertebrates have been reported with reproductive malfunctions such as reducing their fertility or something relevant for science called, feminisation of males or masculinisation of female species, being the result of exposure of synthetic compounds. 
It was a really rare thing back in 1980´s but, in the late years oestrogenic effects on fishes have been observed

In mammals, EDCs accumulate in adipose tissues. Seals have been observed with reproductive effects as a result of PCB and DDT in Baltic Sea in the 70´s. And polar bears, dolphins and whales have been associated because of their high level of fatty tissue [13].

For example, in birds, it was correlated with the thinning of their eggshells, resulting in the decrease of predatory birds because of the easy breaking of their eggs, due to high levels of DDT because of the calcium in eggshell deposit rute blocking [13].