From sea to cell: Investigating the potential health impacts of marine plastic pollution in the Philippines.

Marine habitats provide food and shelter, protect from erosion, filter pollutants, and support critical human activities, such as recreation, transport, and tourism. However, these ecosystems are increasingly vulnerable to plastic waste accumulation, particularly in island nations like the Philippines, where single-use plastics predominate in coastal regions. With a coastal population of over 70 million people, the welfare of the people of the Philippines is at risk from the negative impacts of plastic pollution; however, little is known about the impacts of plastic on biological processes. As a society that is closely linked to the marine environment, we sought to map potential plastic pollution exposures across major bodies of water, including beaches, mangroves, and coastal-connected systems in the Philippines, and link these potential exposures to the resulting biological impacts of plastic additives. This analysis found 992 additives associated with marine plastic polymers and products nationwide, 143 of which had known impacts on gene expression pathways. Gene expression alterations of these additives pinpointed pathways related to the immune system, endocrine system, and cancer-related processes. Most associated impacts of these additives were found in plastic products linked to food and beverage packaging. These analyses underscore the need for an improved understanding of the consequences of long-term exposure to plastic pollution for the protection of marine ecosystems.

Duke Scholars

Author Jason Andrew Somarelli Medicine, Medical Oncology

Author William Curtis Eward Orthopaedic Surgery

Author Meagan Mna Dunphy-Daly Marine Science and Conservation