Considerations for the Pharmaceutical Industry Regarding Environmental and Human Health Impacts of Microplastics

The “War on Plastic Waste” has steadily gained momentum as the depth of knowledge has increased on the far-reaching implications of plastic pollution on both environmental health and human health. A spotlight has been shone on microplastics (MPs) in recent years as reports of their presence in the remotest regions of Earth have emerged. Understanding the sources, fate, and impact of MPs is a continuous process, as contributions from various sectors of society and industry to MP pollution are investigated and understood. Certain industries, such as the hygiene and cosmetic industry, have been the focus of the immediate response to MP pollution. However, there is an onus on society and industry to self-evaluate and identify both mitigation and adaptation actions to address this issue. Indeed, policymakers are introducing directives and legislation that will make this a mandatory task. Evaluating the role of the pharmaceutical industry in relation to both the scale of MP pollution and the impact of MP pollution is the focus of ongoing research and debate. Pharmaceutical products require many layers of packaging, typically plastic, that are regulated to ensure the integrity and quality of the product. The industry acknowledges the need to review regulations in order to move towards a more sustainable material. Furthermore, pharmaceutical products can contain MP excipients that can potentially enter the environment. This poses an additional challenge for the industry to review intentionally added MPs and move towards an alternative material. Pharmaceuticals, their metabolites, and by-products have been detected in the environment. The potential interaction of these chemicals with MPs is also a matter of concern. This chapter explores the multifaceted contributions of the pharmaceutical industry to MP pollution and presents the ongoing strategies (relevant to the industry) to assess and address this problem.