Representational file photo.
London: A recent study has warned that plastic pollution is a growing health threat, costing the world at least $1.5 trillion annually.
The study, published in The Lancet medical journal, revealed that plastic causes illness and death throughout the human lifespan, from infancy to old age, and causes health-related economic losses exceeding $1.5 trillion annually.
It noted that the most vulnerable, especially children, are the most affected by plastic pollution.
The researchers and study authors called for policies to mitigate the impact of this pollution, considering the global plastic crisis to be linked to the climate crisis, given that plastic is made from fossil fuels.
They also warned of the very tiny plastic particles known as microplastics, which are ubiquitous in nature and even within human bodies.
The study noted that the amount of plastic produced globally increased from two million tons in 1950 to 475 million tons in 2022, predicting that global plastic consumption will triple by 2060 if urgent action is not taken.
