New Delhi: A new report published in The Lancet warns that plastic pollution poses a serious but under-recognised risk to both human health and the environment — and urgent action is needed to address it.
The report comes just ahead of the upcoming United Nations meeting on the Global Plastics Treaty, aimed at creating a legally binding international agreement to tackle plastic pollution. A group of international health and environmental experts led the study, highlighting the dangers of plastics at every stage of their life cycle — from production and use to disposal.
"Plastics are a grave, growing, and under-recognised danger to human and planetary health,” said Professor Philip J. Landrigan from Boston College, the report’s lead author. “They cause disease and death from infancy to old age and lead to global health-related economic losses exceeding $1.5 trillion each year.”
The report points out that emissions from plastic production include harmful pollutants such as fine particulate matter (PM2.5), sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides. These emissions pose direct health risks to factory workers and nearby communities. Additionally, many of the chemicals used in plastics remain undisclosed and poorly understood, making it difficult to assess their full health impacts.
Some of these chemicals have already been linked to serious health problems, including hormone disruption, developmental disorders, and even cancer. Microplastics — tiny particles that break off from larger plastics — have been found in human tissues and bodily fluids, although more research is needed to fully understand their long-term health effects.
The report also highlights that a large percentage of plastic waste, especially in low- and middle-income countries, is burned in the open. This practice releases toxic pollutants into the air and contributes to respiratory illnesses. Plastic waste can also become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and harmful bacteria, potentially worsening the spread of diseases and antibiotic resistance.
Without immediate intervention, plastic production is projected to nearly triple by 2060. However, the authors stress that this outcome is not inevitable. With strong policies, transparent tracking, and sufficient investment, the global plastic crisis can be addressed.
To help monitor progress, experts also announced a new initiative: The Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics, which will track the health impacts of plastics across their entire life cycle. The first report from this initiative is expected in 2026.
The United Nations meeting to finalise terms for the Global Plastics Treaty is scheduled to take place tomorrow.