Plastics and Health: Université Paris Cité makes an International Commitment

Université Paris Cité continues to pursue its commitment to promoting science with and for society, notably through the participation of its researchers in public debates on major environmental and health issues. At a recent hearing before the Parliamentary Office for the Evaluation of Scientific and Technological Choices (OPECST), our researchers shared their expertise on the effects of plastics on human health, within the framework of international negotiations aimed at limiting plastic pollution.

Université Paris Cité is reaffirming its commitment to making science accessible and useful to society by getting involved in wide-ranging scientific discussions on the impact of plastics on human health. Recently, several researchers were invited to take part in a hearing organised by the Parliamentary Office for the Evaluation of Scientific and Technological Choices (OPECST). This hearing included in the international discussions on plastic pollution, is part of a crucial process that should lead to the signing of a United Nations treaty in 2025.

The hearing, which brought together experts from a broad array of backgrounds, aimed to shed light on the scientific issues surrounding plastics and provide input for the negotiations that have been ongoing since 2022. The final round of discussions will take place in December 2024 in South Korea.

Researchers from Université Paris Cité, including Sonja Boland, a research engineer at the Functional and Adaptive Biology unit (BFA), presented recent advances on the effects of inhaled plastics on human health. She also shared the results of work implemented by her team, contributing to the global effort to understand the health risks associated with these materials. Such data is of crucial importance at a time when plastics are ever-present in our daily lives, and their impact on human health remains a growing concern.

Xavier Coumoul and Robert Barouki, professors of toxicology and biochemistry and directors of the T3S laboratory unit (Inserm/Université Paris Cité) were also present alongside researchers from Inrae, ANSES and international experts, notably to highlight the potential impact of plastic additives. This diversity of expertise underlines the importance of scientific collaboration in tackling contemporary environmental challenges, and demonstrates the central role played by Université Paris Cité in these global discussions.

The active involvement of Université Paris Cité in these negotiations demonstrates its commitment to promoting science that interacts with society, responds to current health and environmental challenges as well as contributes to international decision-making. In doing so, the university is confirming its pioneering role in the production of scientific knowledge for the common good.