Plastics 'crisis' is costing $1.5 trillion in global deaths and injuries, report says

(People on boats collect recyclable plastics from the heavily polluted Citarum River in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia, in June 2024.Timur Matahari / AFP via Getty Images) Source

A UK journal, The Lancet, warns that plastic pollution has become a global public health crisis, responsible for widespread disease, disability, and death, costing the world over $1.5 trillion annually. The report highlights that plastic exposure harms health from the womb to old age, with links to conditions such as cancer, heart disease, infertility, diabetes, and neurological issues. Microplastics have been found in human organs, including the brain and blood.

Despite this, plastic production is projected to triple by 2060, while less than 10% is recycled, making it clear that recycling alone won't solve the problem. The report emphasises that plastics contribute heavily to climate change and air pollution, especially affecting vulnerable communities near production sites.

As world leaders gather in Geneva to negotiate a binding global plastics treaty, scientists are urging them to cap virgin plastic production and address toxic chemical use, rather than relying solely on waste management. However, major oil and plastic-producing nations are resisting these measures, threatening the strength of the treaty.

In essence, the report reframes plastic pollution as not just an environmental issue, but a major, measurable threat to global health.

Full Article: https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/plastic-crisis-lancet-trillions-global-treaty-death-disability-health-rcna222827