The Lancet introduces a global countdown project to track health effects of plastics, urging immediate regulation and transparency.
- Global plastic production is on track to nearly triple by 2060, worsening health and climate harms
- A new global health countdown will track plastic-related diseases and treaty impact
- Most plastic chemicals remain untested, with children and pregnant women most at risk
An estimated 8 billion metric tons of plastic waste now contaminate the Earth, prompting international experts to demand tighter regulation and vigilance in response to growing health concerns. Writing in the latest issue of The Lancet, researchers reveal that plastics and the chemicals they contain cause widespread adverse health effects throughout their life cycle (1✔ ✔Trusted Source
The Lancet Countdown on health and plastics
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“We want to make people aware of the fact that plastic is not as safe, not as convenient, and not as cheap as they think it is,” said Philip Landrigan, M.D., Boston College Professor of Biology and director of the Global Observatory on Planetary Health. He emphasized that plastics are fossil fuel-based, pollute water and food supplies, contribute to human illnesses, and result in significant healthcare and environmental costs.
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New Global Health Project Tracks Plastic Impacts
The Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics will monitor the global health and environmental consequences of plastics. This collaborative effort—led by Boston College, Heidelberg University (Germany), the Centre Scientifique de Monaco, and Australia’s Minderoo Foundation—will track the effectiveness of measures to implement the anticipated United Nations plastics treaty.
Launched on August 4, and accessible via www.bc.edu/plastics-countdown, this initiative will monitor the effectiveness of measures taken to implement the anticipated United Nations plastics treaty. Landrigan, who led the 2023 Minderoo-Monaco Commission report on Plastics and Human Health, emphasized the importance of collecting and synthesizing scattered data to provide a unified picture of the ongoing health impacts of plastics.
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Final Negotiations for United Nations Plastics Treaty
From August 5 to 14, representatives of United Nations member states will convene in Geneva, Switzerland, for what is expected to be the concluding round of negotiations on a global treaty aimed at ending plastic pollution. The treaty’s scope includes all phases of the plastic product life cycle, with the goal of establishing a legally binding international agreement that also addresses marine pollution.
The Lancet article, co-authored by Landrigan and an international team of scientists, stresses that without systemic change, global plastic production is projected to nearly triple from 2019 levels by 2060, substantially increasing associated health and environmental hazards.
Plastics’ Lifecycle Hazards to Health and Climate
Experts highlight dangers at every stage:
Production: Workers are exposed to harmful airborne…
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