Plastic waste is often dumped into nature, falling into the soil or oceans, which disrupts ecological systems. In addition, plastic breaks down into tiny micro- and nano-particles, which are found not only in the air, in the soil, in the depths of the oceans or in the Arctic ice, but also in living organisms. The presence of such particles has also been proven in the human body - in the blood, in the lungs, even in the brain.
Plastic consumption is growing rapidly
Researchers have also analyzed the emissions released during the entire process of producing plastic products - from oil and gas extraction to transport, recycling and disposal of the materials. During all these steps, harmful emissions are released that affect human health - directly or indirectly. According to a forecast by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, by 2060 global plastic consumption could almost triple, and its negative impacts will also increase.
An international research team, including scientists from the UK, the US and France, has prepared an analysis of the impacts of increased plastic production by 2040 and has developed several scenarios. The starting point was 2016 - by then, the life of humanity had already been shortened by 2.1 million years due to harmful emissions, transport of plastic products, oil and gas extraction, etc.
In the first scenario, the researchers assumed that everything would remain as it is until 2040. That is, new plastic production would continue in the same way, the same part of it would be recycled and the same amount of waste would end up in the environment. In this case, the number of years lost would double compared to 2016, and even more - by 2040 they would be 4.5 million.
In the more optimistic scenario, in which less plastic is used and more recycled, and waste management is better than today, people would lose a total of 2.6 million years by 2040.
This is less compared to emissions from energy production or agriculture, but plastic is still “one of the main sources of air pollution”, points out Walter Lill from the University of Applied Sciences in Hamburg. And in view of the growth in global plastic consumption, rapid political action is imperative.
Plastic emissions are “just the tip of the iceberg”
The researchers point out that they were unable to calculate all the health damage that plastic can cause, because not all the data is available. Therefore, they believe that the problems they listed are undoubtedly only the tip of the iceberg. “We have enough evidence to know that urgent action is needed.
Despite the evidence of the damage, plastic production continues to grow rapidly, as does the pollution it causes,”, co-author of the analysis Megan Dinny told DW.
Although it is known that plastic pollution is closely linked to human health problems. Other studies have already shown how plastic exacerbates the dangers and challenges to life on Earth.
Why less plastic should be produced
The health risks from plastic described in the study can be reduced most effectively if less new plastic is produced, the researchers emphasize. But this does not mean that plastic should simply be replaced with other materials.
Instead, less plastic material should be produced, says Megan Dini - not to produce unnecessary plastic products, but to focus on the multiple use of the material. Only those plastic products that have no alternative should be used, and all hazardous chemicals should be excluded.
Ideally, this goal should be enshrined in a binding international agreement that covers the entire production cycle of plastics and the chemicals they contain. A similar agreement was planned, but in 2025 it failed as major oil-producing countries blocked it.
Author: Jeanette Zwink