EPA - Ireland's Environment, An Integrated Assessment - 2020

Ireland’s Environment – An Integrated Assessment 2020 In addition to the consequences of physical ingestion of microplastics by marine and freshwater biota, and indeed humans, the role that microplastics play as a vehicle for, and potential source of, other harmful chemicals and microorganisms may be of particular concern from human and ecological health perspectives. Hazardous chemicals, including a wide range of endocrine disruptors, heavy metals and pathogenic bacteria, have been found to be associated with microplastics. Hazardous chemicals may have been intentionally or unintentionally added during the production process, may have arisen during the recycling process or may have been already present in the environment and simply absorbed onto the surface of the plastic (Gallo et al. , 2018). Humans are exposed to chemicals from plastic, and the potentially hazardous ‘hitchhikers’ they contain, many times a day by a number of routes. In response to rising concern, the WHO recently undertook an extensive analysis of published research related to microplastics in drinking water and concluded that, of the three forms of potential hazards associated with microplastics (i.e. physical particles, chemicals and pathogenic bacteria as biofilms), the chemicals and microbial biofilms associated with plastic particles are currently of low concern for health (WHO, 2019). While there was insufficient evidence to draw firm conclusions on the hazard from and potential toxicity of the physical plastic particles themselves, they are currently not deemed to be a concern for health. The need for further research to advance our understanding and provide more accurate assessments of exposure to, and the health impact of, microplastics was highlighted. As noted by the WHO, water suppliers have an additional role to play in implementing effective control measures and treatment processes that prioritise the removal of microbial pathogens and chemicals, as this will have the added benefit of simultaneously removing plastic particles. Plans for restrictions on the use of plastics have already been initiated at national and EU level, e.g. the EU Single Use Plastics Directive (2019/904). At the request of the European Commission, ECHA has prepared a restriction dossier under the EU REACH Regulation (Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), which will target intentionally added microplastics in a wide range of consumer and professional products including paints, construction materials and medicinal products. If adopted, it is estimated that these restrictions could see a reduction in microplastic emissions of 400,000 tonnes over 20 years. Ireland’s Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has legislated to prohibit the manufacture, import, export, sale and supply of certain personal care and cleaning products containing plastic microbeads. Towards a Zero-pollution Ambition for a Toxic- free Environment The vision of attaining a non-toxic environment is one that continues to be prioritised at a European level, most recently through the ambitions of the European Commission’s European Green Deal. Chemicals policies have spawned a wide range of regulations aimed at limiting damage to the environment and human health (Collins et al. , 2020). The ambitious vision of attaining a non-toxic environment is one that continues to be prioritised at a European level. The Seventh Environment Action Programme set out the EU’s ambitious long-term vision of attaining a non-toxic environment by providing a safer, cleaner environment where the risks posed by chemicals are minimised. Furthermore, as part of the European Commission’s European Green Deal (EC, 2019), launched in December 2019, there will be a considerable step-up in action on chemicals. As part of this action, to ensure a ‘toxin-free environment’ and eliminate pollution, the Commission plans to present a chemicals strategy for sustainability that aims to better protect citizens and the environment from hazardous chemicals and also to encourage innovation in developing safer and more sustainable alternatives. A zero- pollution action plan for air, water and soil has also been proposed. One area in which Ireland risks not achieving a zero- pollution and non-toxic environment is land-spreading of sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants. Sewage sludge which is a thick, soft mix of solid and liquid matter left over from the treatment process, is rich in nutrients and is used as a soil enhancer or fertiliser on agricultural land. Irish Water estimates that the quantities of sewage sludge generated nationally (currently 58,630 tonnes dry solids) will increase by more than 80 per cent by 2040 as new wastewater treatment plants are established and existing ones upgraded. 4 While sewage sludge is treated before being spread on land to ensure that certain contaminants are removed, an EPA-funded research project (Healy et al. , 2017) found that many non-priority metals and contaminants of emerging concern (e.g. phthalates) that are potentially harmful to health, but are not currently legislated for, may be applied repeatedly to land, potentially accumulating in soils and entering the food chain and our surface waters through run-off. The EPA routinely monitors surface waters across Ireland for a range of priority and priority hazardous substances, including herbicides, insecticides, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, solvents and metals, under its Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) monitoring programmes. Environmental quality standards (EQSs) 4 https://www.water.ie/projects-plans/our-plans/wastewater-sludge- management/Final-NWSMP.pdf 370