T4K3.news

Health impacts from plastics exceed $1.5 trillion annually

A new report warns of severe health risks from plastic pollution affecting all ages.

August 3, 2025 at 10:59 PM

World in $1.5tn ‘plastics crisis’ hitting health from infancy to old age, report warns

A new report reveals the extensive health risks posed by plastic pollution, affecting all ages.

Urgent warning about global plastics crisis affecting health

A comprehensive review published in the Lancet identifies plastics as a significant threat to both human health and the environment. With plastic production increasing over 200 times since 1950, the report highlights that it currently costs society roughly $1.5 trillion annually due to health-related damages. It details how plastic pollution infiltrates ecosystems and human bodies at every stage of its lifecycle. The review coincides with critical negotiations for a global plastics treaty, emphasizing the urgent need to reduce production, especially of single-use plastics.

Key Takeaways

✔️

Global plastic production has increased over 200 times since 1950.

✔️

Health-related damages from plastic pollution are estimated at $1.5 trillion per year.

✔️

Less than 10% of plastic is recycled, resulting in massive environmental waste.

✔️

Health effects of plastic exposure include risks of cancer, infertility, and developmental issues in children.

✔️

Urgent action is needed to address plastic production, especially for single-use items.

✔️

Negotiations for a global treaty on plastics face opposition from petro-states.

"The impacts fall most heavily on vulnerable populations, especially infants and children."

Prof. Philip Landrigan emphasizes the disproportionate effects of plastic pollution on children.

"Plastics are a grave, growing and under-recognised danger."

The report's opening statement underscores the urgency of the crisis.

"It is imperative the plastics treaty includes measures to protect human and planetary health."

Prof. Landrigan warns that current negotiations must address health concerns.

This report underscores a foundational shift in perspective on how plastics impact health and the environment. Historically viewed as beneficial for convenience and cost, plastics now reveal grave hidden costs that society must confront. The ongoing negotiations for a global treaty may face significant hurdles, especially from nations reliant on petroleum and the plastics industry, but urgent global health data can no longer be ignored. The health impacts on vulnerable populations, particularly children, push the issue beyond mere policy into a vital challenge of equity and responsibility.