Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

390 Chapter 14: Environment, Health and Wellbeing Other chemical contaminants. Other chemical contaminants of concern are as follows. Pesticides. The widespread and excessive use of pesticides poses a considerable risk to soil health and water quality and is a significant contributor to biodiversity loss, particularly the reduction in insect populations that play a crucial role in ecosystems. Recent research on human exposure to pesticides across five European countries identified at least 46 pesticides and their metabolites in the urine of study participants, with at least two pesticides being detected in 84% of human samples analysed (Ottenbros et al ., 2023). In Ireland, 17 water supplies failed to meet the EU pesticide standard in 2022, a decrease from the 31 and 33 supplies that failed in 2021 and 2020, respectively. The herbicide MCPA (2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid), which is commonly used in Ireland to control rushes, continues to be the most common source of the exceedances. There were four supplies on the Remedial Action List for pesticides at the end of 2022, down from six in 2021. All supplies on the Remedial Action List have catchment focus groups in place. Phthalates. These are chemicals used in products including plastics, food packaging, rubber tubing, and some cosmetics and personal care products. Some phthalates interfere with the hormone system, sometimes slowing the neurological development of children. Phthalates are regulated under REACH and EU food contact material legislation. People can be exposed to phthalates by using products containing them and by consuming contaminated food. EPA studies have found phthalates in waste plastic in effluent from waste water treatment plants and from leachate from landfills (Allen et al ., 2021) as well as in rivers. Furthermore, some phthalates can build up in soils and end up in crops. Microplastics. Growing levels of plastic production, use and disposal is exacerbating the already pervasive issue of plastic pollution seen in our environment. Many plastics do not biodegrade but instead break down over time, creating smaller fragments known as microplastics and nanoplastics (MNP). These small pieces of plastic are now found in the air we breathe and the food and drinking water we consume as well as in surrounding ecosystems. The health risks associated with exposure to MNP are beginning to be understood, with studies describing potential links with cardiovascular disease (Marfella et al ., 2024) and inflammatory bowel disease (Yan et al ., 2022). MNP are generally found in the environment as complex mixtures of chemicals: those that had been added during the manufacturing process and those adsorbed from the environment. Some of the common chemicals found in plastics such as phthalates, bisphenol A, flame retardants and POPs may leach out following ingestion (OECD, 2021). While concentrations of microplastic-associated chemicals may not currently represent a major exposure pathway relative to existing known exposure pathways, the known and suspected health effects (including endocrine disruption, carcinogenic and developmental toxicity and mutagenicity) warrant precautionary action. Under the EU REACH Regulation, the Commission has adopted measures to restrict intentionally added microplastics in many common products. Further proposals to reduce microplastic pollution are also in progress in as part of the Commission’s ambitious target for the EU to reduce microplastic releases into the environment by 30% by 2030. Hazardous waste. Appropriate hazardous waste management is fundamental to preventing human exposure to hazardous substances. Ireland generated 389,908 tonnes of hazardous waste in 2022. The management of these wastes is informed by the National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2021– 2027. The EPA has highlighted the need for a national take-back scheme for unused and expired human