Experts have sounded the alarm, labeling plastic pollution as a “serious, escalating, and insufficiently acknowledged threat” to human well-being, with global economic ramifications reaching at least $1.5 trillion annually, according to a report released on Monday.
This comprehensive new evaluation of existing data, conducted by preeminent health scientists and medical practitioners, emerged just prior to the commencement of crucial deliberations in Geneva aimed at finalizing the inaugural global accord on plastic contamination.
“The pervasive presence of plastics contributes to illness and mortality across all life stages, resulting in health-associated economic deficits surpassing US$1.5 trillion each year,” stated the analysis published in the esteemed medical periodical, The Lancet.
Juxtaposing the effects of plastic with those of atmospheric pollution and lead exposure, the report posited that regulatory frameworks and policy interventions could significantly diminish its adverse health consequences.
The assembled specialists implored delegates representing nearly 180 nations, convened in Geneva, to finally reach a consensus on a treaty, following prior unsuccessful attempts.
Dr. Philip Landrigan, a physician and researcher affiliated with Boston College in the United States, underscored the disproportionate vulnerability of certain populations, particularly children, to the impacts of plastic pollution.
“It is imperative that we take decisive action in response,” he declared in a public statement.
“To those participating in the Geneva discussions: I urge you to embrace the challenge and seize the opportunity to identify common ground, thereby facilitating robust and effective international collaboration in addressing this worldwide predicament.”
Furthermore, the research team raised concerns regarding microscopic plastic particles, termed microplastics, which have been discovered pervading both the natural environment and human physiology.
While the full spectrum of microplastic effects on health remains incompletely understood, scientists have issued stern warnings regarding the potential repercussions of these ubiquitous plastic fragments.
The report indicated a dramatic escalation in global plastic production, climbing from a mere two million tonnes in 1950 to 475 million tonnes by 2022. Projections suggest this figure is on course to triple by the year 2060.
Concurrently, it was noted that less than 10 percent of all plastic produced is currently subjected to recycling processes.
Dr. Landrigan drew a parallel between the global “crisis” of plastic and the ongoing climate crisis, emphasizing their shared origin in fossil fuels.
“The severity of both the climate crisis and the plastic crisis cannot be overstated,” Dr. Landrigan asserted.
“Both are currently contributing to illness, mortality, and disability in tens of thousands of individuals, and these detrimental effects are anticipated to intensify in the coming years as global temperatures continue to rise and plastic manufacturing expands,” he elaborated.
The report also announced the initiation of a novel endeavor to meticulously track the ramifications of plastic pollution on public health, representing the latest publication in a distinguished series known as The Lancet Countdown.
