Read more at The Guardian

Here’s a summary:

• A “Grave, Growing Danger”: A new expert review warns that plastic is a “grave, growing and under-recognised danger” to human and planetary health, causing disease and death at all stages of life.
• Rapid Production and Soaring Pollution: Global plastic production has increased over 200 times since 1950 and is set to nearly triple again by 2060, with the fastest growth in single-use plastics. As a result, 8 billion tons of plastic now pollute the entire planet.
• The Problem is Everywhere: The danger from plastics exists at every stage of its lifecycle, from the extraction of fossil fuels to production, use, and disposal. This leads to air pollution, exposure to thousands of toxic chemicals, and the infiltration of the human body with microplastics.
• Vulnerable Populations are Hit Hardest: The health impacts are most severe for vulnerable populations, especially infants and children. Exposure to plastics is linked to increased risks of miscarriage, birth defects, childhood cancer, and fertility problems later in life.
• Recycling is Not the Solution: The review states that the world “cannot recycle its way out of the plastic pollution crisis,” as plastics are chemically complex and difficult to recycle, unlike materials like paper and glass.
• Economic and Climate Costs: The health damages from just three common plastic chemicals are estimated to cost at least $1.5 trillion a year. Furthermore, plastic production is energy-intensive and drives the climate crisis by releasing a massive amount of CO2, more than Russia’s total emissions.
• Microplastics Infiltrate the Body: Plastic waste breaks down into micro- and nano-plastics that have been found in human blood, brains, placentas, and other tissues. While their full impact is still being studied, they have been linked to an increased risk of strokes and heart attacks.
• Negotiations for a Global Treaty: The report was released ahead of the final round of negotiations for a global plastics treaty. There is a deep disagreement between countries that want to cap plastic production and those, often backed by the plastics industry, that oppose the idea and favor focusing on recycling.