The pervasive threat of plastics extends far beyond ocean pollution, with a new international study warning that the toxic lifecycle of plastics could double the harm to human health by 2040.
Researchers found that the negative health impacts of plastics commence long before consumers purchase a product, starting with the extraction of fossil fuels – the raw material for over 90% of plastics – and continuing through disposal or release into the environment. This research highlights the necessitate to consider the full impact of plastics on public health, not just visible pollution.
Waste Management
Using advanced simulation models, the scientific team compared different scenarios for plastic production and waste management. The results of a “business-as-usual” scenario – meaning no changes to current policies or consumption habits – are alarming: negative health effects are projected to double in less than two decades.
The study details the factors contributing to this decline in health. Greenhouse gas emissions and subsequent global warming are estimated to account for 40% of health damage. Atmospheric pollution from industrial processes will contribute 32%, while the release of toxic chemicals into the environment will be responsible for the remaining 27%. Other factors, such as reduced water availability and damage to the ozone layer, complete the picture of risks.
Years of Healthy Life
In a novel technical approach, the research is the first to quantify this damage in “years of healthy life lost” (YLLs). According to the model, if the current system remains unchanged, the annual impact will increase from 2.1 million YLLs recorded in 2016 to approximately 4.5 million in 2040. In cumulative terms, the global plastic system could rob the world’s population of a total of 83 million years of healthy life during this period.
These figures translate to a medical reality linked to a dramatic increase in respiratory diseases, various types of cancer and serious illnesses resulting from climate change. Researchers concluded that the plastic crisis has moved beyond being solely an ecological problem to become a global health emergency requiring immediate and structural action.
