As the world gears up for the historic signing of the UN Global Plastics Treaty, a groundbreaking initiative, The Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics, has been launched to monitor the health impacts of plastics. Coinciding with a Health Policy published in The Lancet journal, the project highlights the dangers of plastics, including microplastics and plastic chemicals, on human health.
The treaty, a legally binding agreement to regulate plastics from production to disposal, will see final negotiations at the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee’s session (INC 5.2) in Geneva, Switzerland, from August 5-14, 2025. This follows discussions in Busan, South Korea, in late 2024.
Dr. Philip Landrigan, lead author and director of Boston College’s global observatory on planetary health, emphasized the severe health and environmental toll of plastics, particularly on vulnerable groups like infants. “To those in Geneva: seize this opportunity for global cooperation to tackle this crisis,” he urged.
Also Read: Monsoon Session: Lok Sabha Adjourned Amid Opposition Protests
The Health Policy document warns that plastic production could triple by 2060 if unchecked. It details how plastics harm health at every stage—production releases PM2.5, sulfur dioxide, and hazardous chemicals, exposing workers to toxic air. Microplastics, found in human brains and reproductive organs, are linked to higher cardiovascular and neurological risks. The lack of transparency about plastic toxicity exacerbates these dangers.
Unmanaged plastic waste, often burned in low- and middle-income countries, contributes to 60% of air pollution and fosters mosquito breeding grounds, spreading vector-borne diseases and antimicrobial resistance. This resistance prolongs hospital stays and strains healthcare systems.
The Lancet Countdown will track these impacts, with its first report due in mid-2026. Co-author Margaret Spring stressed its role in providing data to shape effective policies. “The Countdown will offer robust, independent data to guide the treaty’s development,” she said.
As the world awaits the treaty’s finalization, this initiative underscores the urgent need to address plastics’ pervasive health risks.
Also Read: India's Tea Output Crashes 9% in June