Plastic pollution is a “grave, growing, and under-recognised danger” to human health, costing the world at least $1.5 trillion each year. That’s according to a major review published in The Lancet.
The analysis, led by top health researchers and physicians, compares the health toll of plastic to that of air pollution and lead.
Delegates from nearly 180 nations are gathering in Geneva this week to negotiate the world’s first treaty on plastic pollution. Previous attempts have failed, but experts say urgent action is now essential to protect public health and the planet.
“Plastics cause disease and death from infancy to old age,” said co-author Dr. Philip Landrigan of Boston College, urging swift cooperation. He stressed that vulnerable groups, especially children, are disproportionately affected by the health hazards posed by plastic pollution.
Microplastics Found in Human Bodies and Across the Planet
The report warns about microplastics detected in water, soil, food, and even human organs.
The full health effects remain unknown, but researchers have raised concerns about inflammation, toxicity, and long-term cellular damage. Microplastics are now considered an unavoidable byproduct of plastic use. They can enter the body through food, air, and skin contact.
Plastic Production Rising at Alarming Rates
Global plastic output has soared from 2 million tonnes in 1950 to 475 million tonnes in 2022, according to the report. If current trends continue, production is projected to triple by 2060, deepening both the waste crisis and its health consequences.
Yet less than 10 percent of plastic is recycled worldwide. The remaining plastic accumulates in landfills, oceans, and natural ecosystems.
Climate and Plastic Crises Are Closely Linked
Plastic is primarily made from fossil fuels, meaning its production fuels greenhouse gas emissions and intensifies global warming. “There is no understating the magnitude of both the climate crisis and the plastic crisis,” Dr. Landrigan said.
He warned that both are already causing widespread disease, disability, and death — impacts expected to worsen as production grows.
Call for Strong International Policy
Researchers stress that laws and coordinated international policies can curb plastic’s health toll, much like air pollution regulations have done. The new Lancet report launches The Lancet Countdown on plastics. It is an effort to monitor global health impacts linked to plastic waste. Its authors say success in Geneva could set the stage for real progress, but failure would mean escalating harm for decades.
Plastic pollution is no longer just an environmental issue — it is a global health emergency costing lives and trillions of dollars.
Without decisive international action, both plastic and climate crises will worsen, deepening disease burdens for future generations.
