CCCEH Plastic Reduction Momentum & Honoring Black History Month 2024

Dear Maricela,

Last April 2023, we shared the Center's publication, A Systematic Review of the Placental Translocation of Micro- and Nanoplastics, authored by Medley EA, Spratlen MJ, Yan B, Herbstman JB, Deyssenroth MA.

The study reviewed what is known about micro plastics (small pieces < than 5 mm that can be seen by the naked eye) and nanoplastics (particles so small that they can NOT be seen with a standard microscope*) and the possibility of placental translocation, passing from the mother to the baby through the placenta.

In summary, nine out of eleven studies examined in this review found that plastic particles, were capable of placental translocation. It was clear from this review that more research is needed to confirm and quantify the existence of micro and nanoplastics in human placentas. There is a need to understand the potential harm these exposures could mean at different periods of gestation, and associations with adverse birth and other developmental outcomes.

In January, 2024, Dr. Behizan Yan, Division of Geochemistry, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, (co-author of the study above), and his team published findings on a new microscopic technique which zeroes in on the poorly explored world of nano plastics, and how these can pass into blood, cells, and the brain. See Columbia press release below, Bottled Water Can Contain Hundreds of Thousands of Nanoplastics .

These new findings are important because they corroborate earlier findings on micro and nanoplastics. In addition, these findings may now serve to strengthen enforcement on plastic reduction policies such as California’s SB 54, a landmark plastic waste reduction law, and “NY Plastic Free Act” which has been passed by the Senate and awaits Governor Hochul’s signature.

This year's Earth Month Theme is Planet vs Plastics-calling us to action to build on the research and policy momentum.

Start planning Earth Month activities with your friends and community, and help spread the word. Please share EHN’s, the Environmental Health Network, EHN videos in English and Spanish and Columbia University's Environmental Health and Justice publications.

Let's take individual and collective action to reduce plastic and protect our children’s health.

Source:

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/microplastics & Nanoplastics

**https://www.verywellhealth.com/translocation-7486081

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This month we would like to recognize and thank the Center for Children's Environmental Health staff and study participants of African American heritage. Their participation and collaboration has been essential to CCCEH's research findings and ultimate influence on policy to improve children's environmental health and justice.

With sincerest gratitude from all of us at the Center.

Resources

Columbia Neighbors-Celebrating Uptown's Black Historymakers and Visionaries 2024

Celebrating Black Scientists, (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory)

Columbia Black History and Culture-Blood Bank Pioneer-Charles R. Drew, MD, MSD (1904-1950)

Celebrate and learn about Black History in NYC

Columbia Environmental Research

(CCCEH, EHS, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory)

Bottled Water Can Contain Hundreds of Thousands of Nanoplastics

A new microscopic technique zeroes in on the poorly explored world of nanoplastics, which can pass into blood, cells, and your brain

January 9, 2024

Over recent years, there has been rising concern that tiny particles known as microplastics are showing up basically everywhere on Earth, from polar ice to soil, drinking water and food. Formed when plastics break down into progressively smaller bits, these particles are being consumed by humans and other creatures, with unknown potential health and ecosystem effects. One focus of research: bottled water, which has been shown to contain tens of thousands of identifiable fragments in each container.

Now, using newly refined technology, researchers have entered a whole new plastic world: the poorly known realm of nanoplastics, which are the spawn of microplastics that have broken down even further. For the first time, they counted and identified these minute particles in bottled water. They found that on average, a liter contained some 240,000 detectable plastic fragments—10 to 100 times greater than previous estimates, which were based mainly on larger sizes.

The study by researchers at Columbia University Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, and Columbia Mailman School of Public Health was just published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences(link is external and opens in a new window)

Nanoplastics are so tiny that, unlike microplastics, they can pass through the intestines and lungs directly into the bloodstream and travel from there to organs including the heart and brain. They can invade individual cells, and cross through the placenta to the bodies of unborn babies. Medical scientists are racing to study the possible effects(link is external and opens in a new window) on a wide variety of biological systems.

“Previously this was just a dark area, uncharted. Toxicity studies were just guessing what’s in there,” said study coauthor Beizhan Yan, an environmental chemist at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. “This opens a window where we can look into a world that was not exposed to us before.”

U.S. Air Pollution Rates Decline but Pockets of Inequities Remain

Decreases have been more substantial in high-income neighborhoods

January 17, 2024

Over the last decades, air pollution emissions have decreased substantially; however, the magnitude of the change varies by demographics, according to a new study by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. The results indicate there are racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in air pollution emissions reductions, particularly in the industry and energy generation sectors. The findings are published in the journal Nature Communications(link is external and opens in a new window)

The research provides a national investigation of air pollution emission changes in the 40 years following the enactment of the Clean Air Act (CAA). Until now, studies have primarily focused on evaluating air pollution disparities at a single time point, focusing on pollutant concentrations instead of emissions. A focus on emissions, however, has more direct implications for regulations and policies. In this study, the researchers used county-level data to evaluate racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in air pollution emissions changes in the contiguous U.S. from 1970 to 2010.

“The analyses provide insight on the socio-demographic characteristics of counties that have experienced disproportionate decreases in air pollution emissions over the last forty years,” said Yanelli Nunez, PhD, the study’s first author and a scientist in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia Mailman School who is affiliated with PSE Healthy Energy.

Community Outreach & Translation Core

(COTC)

EHJ Advocates gathered on January 23rd to kick off the 2024 New Year’s plan. The session began by acknowledging their contribution to science, followed by Fanny Mairena, Information Technology Support Analyst at New York Presbyterian Hospital and founder of LENY, Latinas En NY, and Dr. Ornelas Van Horne sharing career paths with the youth. The session closed with EHJ Advocates identifying EHJ and youth development projects. Stay tuned.

Thank you to Diurka (Didi) Diaz, "the lady in red," CCCEH Senior Officer of Research, for decorating the event, enthusiasm, and overall good energy and commitment to youth.

We are recruiting

Announcements & Resources

Healthy Homes Working Group meeting on Thursday, February 15th @ 6:30pm

Click here to register

High School Internship Program – Manhattan District Attorney’s Office (manhattanda.org)

Order Free At Home Covid-Test Kits

NYC Va c ci ne/Booster Finder/

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Help us create a world in which every child has a healthy start.

The Center’s research is powering action to reduce the impacts of climate change, air pollution, and toxic chemicals on children and families.

Your support is yielding both immediate and long-term benefits to children’s health today and in the future. Your gift will protect the gains that we have achieved together.

We hope you will make a tax-free gift donation to the Center in order to continue this important work.

With Gratitude

Julie Herbstman, PhD

Director, Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health

Frederica P. Perera, DrPH, PhD

Director of Translational Research and Founding Director

Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health

mailman.columbia.edu/ccceh