How Everyday Plastics Are Fueling a $1.5 Trillion Health Crisis

A new report from The Lancet has revealed that plastic pollution is causing more than $1.5 trillion in health-related damages every year. The findings come as global delegates meet in Geneva to finalize a legally binding treaty aimed at reducing plastic waste.

The report warns that plastic harms human health at every stage, production, use, and disposal. From chemicals in packaging to air pollution from burning waste, the impacts are widespread and increasing.

“No one is safe,” said Dr. Philip J. Landrigan, lead author and professor at Boston College. “From unborn babies to the elderly, people are being exposed to dangerous chemicals. These exposures are driving disease, disability, and death.”

The study found that children and vulnerable communities face the highest risk. Microplastics, tiny plastic particles, have been found in blood, lungs, breast milk, and even the brain. These particles enter the body through food, water, and air.

“Plastic is not just a waste problem. It’s a chemical problem. And it’s now a global health crisis,” said Margaret Spring, co-author of the report and a senior legal expert on environmental health.

According to the report, over 16,000 chemicals are used in plastics. Many are linked to birth defects, cancer, hormone disruption, and developmental disorders. But in most cases, companies are not required to disclose which chemicals are present in their products.

Plastic production has increased more than 200 times since 1950. In that year, the world produced about 2 million tonnes of plastic. By 2022, the figure reached 475 million tonnes. If current trends continue, production could rise to 1.2 billion tonnes by 2060.

Despite this massive increase, less than 10% of plastic is recycled. Most plastic waste is burned or dumped into the environment. About 8 billion tonnes have already accumulated on land and in oceans, according to the report.

Open burning of plastic is common in many countries. It releases toxic gases like PM2.5, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides. These pollutants are linked to asthma, heart disease, cancer, and other chronic illnesses.

“Burning plastic waste increases air pollution and drives infections by creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes and bacteria,” said Dr. Landrigan.

The report also highlights the link between plastic and climate change. About 98% of plastics are made from fossil fuels like oil, gas, and coal. Plastic production emits over 2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, more than Brazil’s annual emissions.

“The climate and plastic crises are connected,” said Landrigan. “Both are driven by fossil fuels, and both are damaging public health.”

At the center of the Geneva talks is a growing divide. More than 100 countries support limits on plastic production. But major oil-producing nations and industry lobbyists argue the focus should be on recycling.

Scientists disagree. “It’s clear we can’t recycle our way out of this,” said Spring. “Plastics are chemically complex. Most types can’t be recycled safely or economically.”

The report estimates that the costs of plastic-related health impacts could reach $281 trillion by 2040 if production and pollution continue at current rates.

It also stresses that urgent, coordinated action is needed. “The damage from plastic is clear,” said Landrigan. “Now it’s up to policymakers to respond with strong measures.”

The Lancet report is part of a series that will monitor the health effects of plastics over time. The goal is to provide governments with independent data to shape policies that protect both people and the planet.

As negotiations continue in Geneva, the question remains whether global leaders will act on the evidence or allow the crisis to grow unchecked.

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