A new report published in the Lancet medical journal has warned of the devastating impact of plastic pollution on human health, stating that it causes “disease and death from infancy to old age” and costs the world at least $1.5 trillion annually.
Researchers compared plastic pollution to air and lead pollution, highlighting its under-recognized danger to health. The report found consistent evidence for multiple health effects from exposure to plastic chemicals, including impaired reproductive potential, cognitive function loss, and increased risk of diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
The study also warned about microplastics, tiny pieces of plastic found throughout nature and human bodies, with their full impact on health still unknown. The world’s plastic production has tripled in 70 years, from 2 million tons in 1950 to 475 million tons in 2022, yet less than 10% of all plastic is recycled.
Experts say that the “plastic crisis” is connected to its climate crisis, with both causing disease, death, and disability today. The report calls for international cooperation to address this global crisis, urging world leaders to take action before it’s too late.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/plastic-pollution-health-crisis-disease-death