Category: Mirpuri Foundation

Plastic Pollution: A Health Crisis We Can’t Ignore

On April 5th, Dr. Ivone Mirpuri, Medical Advisor of the Mirpuri Foundation, captivated an audience of nearly 700 attendees at the conference titled “Menopausa – The State of the Art” in Lisbon.
The highlight of her opening address was the alarming fact that menopause is occurring at increasingly younger ages, primarily due to endocrine disruption. The greatest culprit behind this disruption is plastic, which damages the thyroid – the gland that plays a crucial role in coordinating ovarian function.

Dr. Mirpuri, a world-renowned expert in hormone medicine and anti-aging, stressed that the widespread use of plastic is endangering our hormonal health and, ultimately, our survival. She warned that if drastic changes are not made today, the human race could face extinction in as little as 200 years due to the persistent effects of plastic pollution.

Dr. Mirpuri’s lecture revealed that the chemical contaminants found in plastic act as endocrine disruptors, interfering with the body’s hormonal functions. These disruptions are particularly concerning in relation to menopause, as the use of plastics has led to earlier onset of menopause. This is primarily due to their damaging effect on the thyroid, the gland that plays a crucial role in coordinating ovarian function. Hormones control a wide range of vital processes in the body, including metabolism, mood, blood pressure, and fertility. The chemicals leaching from plastics are linked to developmental abnormalities and severe health problems.

“Endocrine disruptors are now found in nearly every aspect of our lives— in everything from personal care products like perfumes and shampoos to the synthetic materials used in our clothing, furniture, and even the air we breathe,” Dr. Mirpuri explained.
Dr. Mirpuri presented alarming research that shows the chemical contaminants in plastics, such as phthalates and bisphenol A, are directly linked to rising health issues. Reduced fertility, an increase in cancer rates (including breast, pancreatic, and lung cancers), early puberty, heart disease, obesity, and respiratory problems have all been linked to plastic exposure, starting in the womb.

“Fertility has decreased by 50% over the last 50 years, and the number of reproductive issues, including testicular cancer, has increased by 400% since the 1940s. We are seeing more severe health issues than ever before,” Dr. Mirpuri said, urging immediate action to limit plastic use.

Microplastics—tiny particles of plastic less than five millimeters in size—pose an even greater threat, as they enter our bodies through the air, water, and food. Dr. Mirpuri highlighted how these particles can lead to diseases such as cancer, asthma, infertility, and obesity, warning that their long-term impact is still not fully understood.

Throughout her presentation, Dr. Mirpuri stressed the need for a global shift toward limiting exposure to plastic. She called on individuals, businesses, and organizations to take responsibility for their plastic consumption and make healthier, more sustainable choices.
“Educating younger generations about the dangers of plastic and endocrine disruptors is essential. We must raise awareness so that future generations can protect their health and strengthen their immune systems,” Dr. Mirpuri emphasized.

Dr. Ivone Mirpuri is a Clinical Pathologist with specialized training in Anti-Aging Medicine from the Hertoghe Medical School in Brussels. She also trained at the prestigious Cegenics Institute in Las Vegas. As a leading authority in Anti-Aging Medicine and Hormonal Therapies, she continues to dedicate her career to helping individuals lead longer, healthier lives.

Dr. Mirpuri’s message was clear: plastic pollution is not just an environmental issue, but a health crisis that demands urgent action. The conference in Lisbon served as a powerful platform to educate the public and inspire change in the fight against plastic’s detrimental effects on human health. The Mirpuri Foundation remains committed to raising awareness, advancing research, and promoting healthier lifestyles to protect future generations.

Mirpuri Foundation partners with EarthSense to measure air pollution during The Ocean Race Europe

Mirpuri Foundation 

Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team has announced a partnership with air quality experts EarthSense to launch a science program to promote sustainability and ocean conservation during The Ocean Race Europe by capturing invaluable air quality data throughout the race.

During the race, the Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team will be using two EarthSense Zephy air quality monitors to measure air pollution levels both on land and at sea. One static Zephyr®, which is powered affixed on the deck of the team’s VO65 boat, will detect pollution levels at sea. A second mobile unit has been deployed on the team’s support vehicle and will follow the boat around Europe throughout the course of the race.

EarthSense will be collating, analysing, and comparing air quality data from the Zephyr® monitors through MyAir® and will be using visualisations of pollution levels to determine the exposure experienced by the Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team on their journey around Europe. This information will be used to communicate the differences between measurements taken in challenging conditions at sea and mobile measurements taken during the support vehicle journey on land.

Starting in Lorient, France, with stops in Cascais (Portugal), Alicante (Spain) and finishing in Genova (Italy) the Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team crew of 10 sailors will race its VO65 boat, named ‘Racing For The Planet’ to promote sustainability and ocean conservation to lead and inspire people around the world to act on the critical issue.

Scientific research is a fundamental principle of the Mirpuri Foundation. Through the ‘Turn the Tide on Plastic’ campaign in the 2017-18 edition of The Volvo Ocean Race, the team was part of a global movement against plastic pollution, and through this science programme aims to provide the scientific community and the public with real-world insight into the air we breathe.

Paulo Mirpuri, Founder of the Mirpuri Foundation said: “Sustainability and ocean conservation are at the heart of the Mirpuri Foundation. As a professional sailing team, we have the platform to support and promote ideas that can protect the fragile and irreplaceable ecosystems that we depend on. By taking part in The Ocean Race Europe, we’re able to spread awareness of the need to stop climate change, but also capture and share vital data that can have real value in leading to meaningful impact and we are excited to work with innovative technology like the Zephyr® monitor to achieve this.”

Tom Hall, EarthSense Managing Director said: “The Zephyr® is a valuable tool for understanding air pollution levels in hostile environments built for both static and mobile applications. EarthSense is an advocate for creating a safer and cleaner environment and partnering with the Mirpuri Foundation to promote the message of ocean conservation is in line with everything we stand for. The best of luck to the Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team for the race!”\

Yoann Richomme, skipper of the Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team said: “It is exciting to have this opportunity to work with EarthSense to capture very important data to illustrate the reality of the rise in air pollution. We are really interested in the data from the boat in particular as air quality at sea is rarely, if ever, discussed. As a team, we want to be at the front of the fleet in the race but also the forefront of this discussion.”

The first leg of The Ocean Race Europe commences on May 29. The fleet of VO65s and IMOCA 60s will race from Lorient to the Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team’s home base of Cascais in Portugal. During the Cascais stopover, the entire fleet will join the annual Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy, a prestigious annual regatta supporting a variety of ocean conservation initiatives including the brand new Ocean Award.

For more information, visit mirpuriracingteam.com

This is the second in a series of seven landmark events around the world in which the Mirpuri Foundation will participate, as the Volvo Ocean Race sustainability principal partner.

The event brings together sport, business, local government and science and provides a platform to bring action on ocean health, with a focus on plastic pollution.

Key speakers will also include Richard Brisius, President of the Volvo Ocean Race, Bruce Parker-Forsyt, CEO of WorldSport South Africa, Brigitte Burnett, Head of Sustainability of the Nedbank Group and Lilly Barclay from the Ocean Family Foundation, among others.

The first Ocean Summit took place in Alicante and a lot was accomplished. The Volvo Ocean Race launched a unique Science Program that is already gathering data from parts of the oceans that are otherwise inaccessible to scientists. This Program is supported by all the sustainability partners, and more specifically Volvo Cars and a consortium including NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), JCOMMOPS (UNESCO-IOC), GEOMAR and SubCtech.

In addition, all of the racing yachts in the 2017-18 edition send data back from the oceans every 10 seconds – recording temperature, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction. This data will be passed on to NOAA and the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts. It will contribute to more accurate weather forecasts and climate models.

During the four most isolated legs in the race, all seven yachts will carry drifter buoys equipped with satellite communications to transmit information on ocean composition and currents. This has been done already in Leg 2, from Lisbon to Cape town.

The Mirpuri Foundation “Turn the Tide on Plastic team” carry instruments onboard to test salinity, dissolved CO2 and Chlorophyll-a (algae), and for the first time ever, microplastics, directly in the sea water around them. These key metrics for ocean health will be logged in order to create a complete snapshot of parts of the world’s oceans scientists rarely, if ever, get to study.

“By collecting data from the remotest parts of the oceans they’ll be collecting vital information which can be used to help improve marine health, including tackling the growing problem of plastic pollution,”said Niklas Kilberg, Volvo Cars’ Senior Manager for Sustainability.

The Spanish government pledged its backing for UN Environment’s Clean Seas campaign. The UN’s global campaign is now backed by 32 member states and aims to ‘turn the tide on plastic’ by inspiring action from governments, businesses and individuals.

Plus, 35% of visitors to the Race Village in Alicante entered The Globe, where there was a display of UN Environment exhibition, and strong video messages about the race and the cause.

As well as Alicante and Cape Town on the 7 and 8 December, other Host Cities featuring Ocean Summits include Hong Kong on 22 January 2018, Newport on 18 May 2018, Cardiff on 5 June 2018, Gothenburg on 18 June 2018 and The Hague on 27-28 June 2018.

Mirpurifoundation

Mirpuri Foundation sponsored a group of 162 children and 52 adults, most supported by charities in the Alentejo region, with their first flight experience. The journey, on board of an Airbus A340-300 from Hi Fly, began at Beja Airport, at 12 a.m., and had an approximate duration of one hour, ending at the same location.

During their first time boarding an aircraft, the visibly excited passengers had the opportunity to fly over the magnificent landscapes of the Alentejo and Algarve coast. The flight route included Sagres, a remote region of dramatic natural scenery, situated at the extreme western tip of southern Portugal, comprising of raging seas, towering cliffs and vast beaches.

All along the journey, every passenger was also able to experience the innovative IFE system on board the aircraft, the RAVE Centric. Each passenger chose, individually, the film they would like to be displayed on the touch screen located in front of them. Simultaneously, the children were offered a tasty snack and even earned some treats.

The entities and institutions which participated in the initiative promoted by Hi Fly were: PSP, ANA, EUROPCAR, CMB – Câmara Municipal de Beja, CERCI Beja, GAPRIC Aljustrel, Centro Escolar Castro Verde, Escola Nº 3 Vila Nova de Stº André, Casa Pia Beja and Cáritas Diocesana de Beja.