As global leaders converge in Geneva to finalize a global plastics treaty, The Lancet report reveals plastic pollution is not just an environmental threat but a serious and growing danger to human health.
According to the report, plastic endangers health from cradle to grave, affecting people even before birth. Toxic plastic chemicals and microscopic plastic particles—found everywhere from oceans to human organs—disrupt biological systems and increase disease risks.
Researchers emphasize that vulnerable populations, especially children and the elderly, bear the brunt of plastic’s harmful effects. “Infants and children face the highest exposure risk, and that risk stays with them as they age,” said lead author Prof. Philip Landrigan.
8 Billion Metric Tons of Plastic Now Pollute the Planet
An estimated 8 billion metric tons of plastic waste now choke ecosystems across the globe—from mountain peaks to ocean floors. Worse, the pollution is now microscopic. Microplastics and nanoplastics have been detected in fish, birds, drinking water, and even human blood.
These particles, alongside thousands of toxic additives, interfere with hormones, immune function, and neurological development. The evidence linking plastic exposure to cancer, infertility, and developmental delays is growing stronger with each new study.
Health Costs of Plastic Pollution Are Enormous
The Lancet report calculates major economic costs tied to plastic-related disease, disability, and premature death. Health burdens include respiratory conditions, endocrine disruption, cancer, and cardiovascular risks—many of which stem from lifelong low-dose chemical exposure.
But it’s not just about individual risk. The authors argue that plastic pollution creates systemic public health crises, particularly in underserved communities. “People in low-income regions face higher exposures due to plastic burning and unsafe recycling,” Prof. Landrigan emphasized.
UN Treaty Talks in Geneva May Be a Turning Point
UN Member States will meet in Geneva from 5–14 August 2025. They will conclude negotiations on a legally binding global plastics treaty. This treaty, first mandated in 2022 at UNEA 5.2, will address plastic pollution across its entire life cycle: production, use, and disposal.
Experts insist this treaty must include health protections, not just environmental safeguards.
“If we do not include human health in the treaty, we will miss the core of the plastics crisis,” Prof. Landrigan warned.
Introducing: The Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics
Alongside the treaty negotiations, The Lancet has launched a new global initiative. It is called The Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics. Modeled after the successful Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, this effort will track and report on the health consequences of plastic pollution. It will also inform about these consequences.
Prof. Joacim Rocklöv, one of the Countdown’s co-chairs, explained, “We have a goal. We aim to make plastic’s health impacts impossible to ignore. We want them to be as impossible to ignore as climate change.”
What Will the Countdown Measure?
The new Countdown will report on four major areas:
- Production and Emissions – Monitoring plastic manufacturing and associated pollutant releases
- Exposures – Tracking human contact with plastic particles and toxic chemicals
- Health Impacts – Documenting disease patterns linked to plastic across demographics
- Interventions and Engagement – Evaluating actions taken by governments and communities to mitigate harm
These indicators will be updated annually and published openly to guide international policy and public awareness.
Why Scientific Monitoring Matters
“Policymakers need unbiased, science-driven data to act effectively,” said co-author Margaret Spring, who leads one of the Countdown’s working groups. “Without regular reporting, the treaty risks becoming a symbolic gesture instead of a transformative solution.”
Spring emphasized that the Countdown will serve national, regional, and local governments by offering an independent source of trusted scientific evidence.
Minderoo Foundation Supports the Initiative
The new Lancet Countdown is supported by Minderoo Foundation, which has been at the forefront of research on plastics and human health.
Prof. Sarah Dunlop of Minderoo pointed to new findings since the 2023 Minderoo-Monaco Commission report: “We’re seeing even more evidence now that plastics harm the brain, immune system, reproductive health—even at low exposure levels.”
She warned that many everyday plastic products contain highly toxic chemical groups, including PFAS, phthalates, and bisphenols.
The Way Forward: Health Must Be Central to Plastic Solutions
Dr. Herve Raps of the Centre Scientifique de Monaco, another report co-author, urged negotiators to take health protection seriously:
“If health isn’t prioritized in plastic policy, then we’ve failed to protect future generations.” He stressed that plastics’ impacts are avoidable, but only if the global community commits to eliminating toxic materials and reducing total plastic production.
A Critical Moment for Global Action
The Geneva treaty talks may mark a once-in-a-generation chance to reverse the tide of plastic pollution.
The Lancet report makes clear: plastic isn’t just trash—it’s a toxic threat that touches every human life.
As the world watches Geneva, health advocates, scientists, and environmental leaders are united in their call: Put health at the center of plastic policy—before it’s too late.