Plastic pollution causes global health crisis
- By KrishCNL
- August 10, 2025
- Environment & Climate, Health & Social Welfare, News, Political
- Plastic Polution, The Lancet
- 0 Comments
The oldest international medical journal, The Lancet, shared a new report that says plastic pollution causes sickness and death from infancy to old people. It also causes health-related costs of more than US$1.5 trillion every year.
The report, made by top health experts and doctors, was published just before talks in Geneva. It asks nearly 180 countries to think about these findings as they try to make the world’s first agreement to fight plastic pollution.
The report says that laws and rules, like those used for air pollution and lead, can help reduce the health problems caused by plastic.
It also says children and other vulnerable people are the most affected by plastic pollution. Tiny plastic pieces called microplastics are now found everywhere in nature and inside people’s bodies, but scientists are still learning about their full effects on health.
The report says plastic production is growing fast and is expected to triple by 2060, but less than 10% of plastic is recycled now. It also points out that plastic pollution is linked to the climate crisis because plastic is made from fossil fuels. Both plastic and fossil fuels cause a lot of sickness, death, and disability today.
In another important update, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has said countries have a legal duty to fight climate change and protect people and the environment. This means countries must stop actions that harm the climate and may have to pay for damage caused by climate change. The ICJ President called the climate crisis a “problem that threatens the whole planet.”
Experts say the next important step is to turn this ruling into real actions. Health workers will have an important role in raising awareness and helping make change happen.
