PLASTIC POLLUTION LINKED TO $1.5T IN WORLDWIDE HEALTH COSTS

Mon 04 August 2025:

Plastic pollution causes more than $1.5 trillion in health-related economic damage annually and contributes to disease and death at every stage of life, according to a new review published on Sunday in the medical journal The Lancet.

“The world is in a plastics crisis,” the authors wrote. “But it is not inevitable.” They urge science-based, cost-effective policy interventions — including regulations, enforcement, and financial incentives — similar to those used to combat air pollution and lead exposure.

The findings come just as UN-led negotiations to finalize a global plastics treaty resume in Geneva.

Calling plastics a “grave and growing” threat to both human and planetary health, the review warns that plastic production is accelerating.

According to the study, plastic production has skyrocketed from just 2 million metric tons in 1950 to 475 million tons in 2022 and is projected to reach 1.2 billion tons by 2060. Meanwhile, 8 billion tons of plastic waste has accumulated in the environment, most of it still lingering in ecosystems due to its resistance to biodegradation. Less than 10% of plastic is ever recycled.

The publication comes as global negotiations resume this week in Geneva for the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2). From Aug. 5 to 14, delegates from more than 170 countries will attempt to revive momentum toward a legally binding agreement to curb plastic pollution.

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Plastic pollution is a global crisis with severe health impacts, costing an estimated $1.5 trillion annually. Over 400 million tons of plastic are produced yearly, with less than 10% recycled.

Microplastics—tiny fragments under 5mm—contaminate air, water, soil, and even human blood, lungs, and placentas. These particles carry toxic chemicals like PFAs and phthalates, linked to cancers, reproductive issues, and developmental disorders.

For example, a 2023 study found microplastics in 90% of bottled water, exposing consumers to endocrine disruptors. Inhalation of microplastics from urban air is equivalent to smoking several cigarettes weekly in some cities. Marine life ingests plastics, transferring toxins to humans via seafood—global fish consumption exposes millions to these risks.

Plastic waste also breeds pathogens, with dumpsites near communities increasing disease rates like cholera. Vulnerable populations in developing nations, where 90% of mismanaged waste originates, face disproportionate harm. Incineration of plastics releases dioxins, causing respiratory and immune system damage.

Solutions like banning single-use plastics and improving waste management are critical but face resistance from industry lobbying. Time’s up—action is urgent

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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