That causes plastic

Plastic pollution is a “serious, growing and little recognized danger” to the health that is costing the world at least $ 1.5 billion a year, said a report published Monday at the Journal Medical Lancet.

The new review of the existing evidence, conducted by the main health and doctors researchers, was published one day before the new conversations in Geneva with the aim of obtaining the world’s first treaty on plastic pollution. The experts asked the delegates of almost 180 nations who hoped to attend the meeting to finally agree on a treaty after the previous failed attempts.

Plastic comparison with air and lead pollution, the report said the Impact on health of plastic pollution could be mitigated by laws and policies.

“Plastics cause disease and death from childhood to old age and are responsible for health -related economic losses that exceed $ 1.5 billion per year,” he said.

A recent general review of epidemiological research on impacts on the health of plastic chemicals showed “constant evidence of multiple health effects at all stages of human life for many plastic chemicals” and discovered that babies and young children were especially at risk, according to the report. “These effects include deteriorated reproductive potential (eg 2, disease of the cardinals, diseases, diseases, intelligence diseases, single funerals, diseases, diseases, diseases, intelligence diseases) Obesity and cancer in adults. “

“It is up to us to act in response,” said Philip Landrigan, doctor and researcher at Boston College, in a statement that responded to the report. “For those who are in Geneva: they assume the challenge and the opportunity to find the common land that will allow significant and effective international cooperation in response to this global crisis.”

The researchers also warned about small pieces of plastic called microplastics that have been found throughout nature, and in human bodies. The full effect of health microplastics is not yet known, but researchers have sounded the alarm on the potential impact of this ubiquitous plastic.

The amount of plastic produced by the world has increased from two million tons by 1950 to 475 million tons in 2022, according to the report.

It is projected that the triplique number in 2060, but currently less than 10% of the entire plastic is recycled, he added.

The plastic is made of fossil fuels, and Landrigan said that the “world plastic crisis is connected to its climatic crisis.

“The magnitude of both the climatic crisis and the plastic crisis is not understood,” Landrigan said.

“Both are causing disease, death and disability today in tens of thousands of people, and these damages will become more serious in the coming years as the planet continues to heating and plastic production continues to increase,” he said.

Haley Ott contributed to this report.