Plastic pollution, a “serious and growing” threat to health, alert experts

Plastic pollution is a “serious, growing and underestimated danger” for health that costs US $ 1,500 billion a year, warn experts in a report on Monday in the medical journal Monday The Lancet.

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This new inventory. However, established by renowned researchers and doctors, is published on the eve of the takeover in Geneva of discussions to conclude the first world treaty on plastic pollution.

“Plastics cause illness. For example, death of childhood to old age and are responsible for economic loss related to health exceeding US $ 1,500 billion per year,” said the authors.

plastic pollution, “serious growing” threat

Experts believe that the impact of this pollution could be attenuated by certain policies. They call representatives of nearly 180 countries expected Tuesday in Geneva for new negotiations. after the failure of discussions in Busan, South Korea, in December, to finally agree on a treaty.

Philip Landrigan. doctor and researcher at Boston College, the United States, warns that vulnerable people, especially children, are the most affected by plastic pollution.

“To those who meet in Geneva: please take up the challenge. the opportunity to find common ground that will allow significant and effective international cooperation in response to this global crisis,” he said in a statement.

Researchers warn in particular against tiny plastic pieces called microplastics, present everywhere in nature, including in human bodies. Their health effects are not yet fully known. but experts have sounded alarm on the potential impact of this omnipresent material.

The amount of plastic produced worldwide plastic pollution, “serious growing” threat increased from two million tonnes in 1950 to 475 million tonnes in 2022, according to this report. If nothing is done, global plastic consumption could triple by 2060, according to the projections of the OECD. However, less than 10% of plastic waste is recycled.

Philip Landrigan recalls that the global “crisis” linked to plastics is linked to climate change. plastic being made from fossil fuels.

“We must not underestimate the magnitude [de ces crises]he believes. Both cause diseases, deaths and disabilities today in tens of thousands of people. ”

The report also announces a new initiative to document the impact of plastic pollution on health. the last of a series called Lancet Countdown.