The Lancet Warns of Underestimated Health Risks from Plastic Pollution

The Lancet Highlights Hidden Dangers: Plastic Pollution's Threat to Global Health A recent report published in The Lancet emphasizes that plastic pollution remains an underestimated risk to human and planetary health, urging immediate action ahead of the upcoming UN plastics treaty negotiations. Led by an international team of experts, the study examines how plastics—including microplastics and associated chemicals—adversely affect health throughout their lifecycle, from manufacturing to disposal. According to Prof. Philip J. Landrigan of Boston College, plastics pose a serious, escalating threat that causes disease and mortality across all age groups, with economic damages exceeding $1.5 trillion annually. The report details how emissions from plastic production release harmful pollutants like PM2.5, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides, exposing workers and nearby populations to hazardous chemicals. The experts note a lack of transparency regarding the chemical composition of plastics, their production volumes, and potential toxicity. Microplastics have been detected in human tissues and fluids, raising concerns about possible health impacts, warranting a precautionary approach. A...