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The deficit of regulation of plastic waste and microplastics in Latin America: about health and bioaccumulation in México
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This review examines plastic waste regulation gaps in Latin America, focusing on Mexico, and discusses how long-term microplastic bioaccumulation in tissues and organs poses health risks affecting the respiratory, immune, reproductive, and endocrine systems.
Global production of plastics is increasing yearly, as they are part of daily life. Humans are exposed to microplastics (MPs) from various sources, such as beverages and food in plastic containers, seafood, personal care products, and even in the air and tap water. The impacts of plastics on human health are not very well known, but recent discoveries have caused special attention to be focused on plastic waste disposal. The minimal particle absorption is not insignificant when considering life-long exposure and potential bioaccumulation in tissues and organs. MPs constitute a potential health risk, according to preliminary studies, due to their ability to affect the respiratory, immune, reproductive, and digestive systems and induce toxicity levels, including cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, or neurotoxicity. What started as a problem of marine environmental pollution is actually an important issue of human health as well according to preliminary studies, but there is still no consensus, increasing uncertainty and risk. In Mexico, some laws and regulations have minor mentions of plastics, but only the entities that generate certain types of plastic in large quantities are legislated. There are no federal or general laws regulating microplastics. The deficit of regulation of plastic waste and microplastics in health and bioaccumulation in México shows the necessity for México and other countries in Latin America to address plastic legalization as soon as possible. Proposals for adding or reforming some laws have been proposed, but none has been authorized. Undoubtedly, it is pertinent for the Mexican state to promote research on the diagnosis, prevention, and remediation of sites contaminated with microplastics.
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