Plastics represent "grave" threat to human health

Plastics represent a serious and escalating, yet under recognised, danger to both human and planetary health. That’s the conclusion of a new article published in The Lancet which states: “Plastics are a grave, growing, and under-recognised danger to human and planetary health.” 

The article emphasises widespread health threats are linked to chemical exposure and plastic pollution, asserting that plastics contribute to disease and death from infancy onwards. It calls for greater recognition that exposure to plastic-related chemicals and microplastics are a critical public health issue which needs comprehensive action at multiple levels to mitigate against harm.  

What are the links between health risk and plastic exposure? 

The reports’ authors highlight health risks at every stage of the plastics lifecycle, including production which releases hazardous air pollutants, including fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and a range of chemicals associated with various health effects across all stages of human life. 

We already know that microplastics are pervasive and have been detected in human tissues and body fluids, raising concerns about potential health impacts such as cardiovascular and neurological risks. But there may be a disproportionate impact where vulnerable and marginalised populations, such as children and waste pickers, bear a disproportionate share of plastic-related health burdens. 

Plastic production is set to continually rise increase, projected to nearly triple by 2060. The article calls for urgent, comprehensive action—including improved transparency around chemical ingredients, policy reform, and international cooperation—to address the health harms of plastic pollution. The launch of the “Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics” will systematically track and report on health impacts of plastics to inform policy efforts, with the first report expected in 2026. 

The article underlines that addressing plastic pollution is not only an environmental priority but an urgent public health imperative.

How are we exposed?

There are around 16,000 chemicals found in plastics including bisphenols, parabens, phthalates, and organophosphates. We are exposed to them in our daily lives by contact with consumer products and a wide range of packaging where they can migrate into food and drinks.

Only a small percentage of these chemicals have so far been examined for health safety, although two chemicals used in plastics stand out – BPA and DEHP. They are linked to substantial deaths from cardiovascular causes. BPA was banned in the UK and EU in 2024, but older plastics and microplastic particles in water could still a potential source of exposure. 

How can you reduce your exposure to plastics? 

• Replace older food and drink containers that may have been made using BPA. 
• Avoid heating food in the microwave, especially in older plastic containers. The heating process can speed up the release of microplastic particles. Heat food in glass containers, especially when using a microwave. 
• Avoid water in plastic bottles to reduce your ingestion of microplastic particles that leach from plastic into water. 

If you would like to find out if you’ve been exposed to chemicals used in plastics, our new Everyday Chemicals Test can screen for recent exposure to 27 different chemicals including BPA, DEHP, and phthalates. Your test results includes easy-to-follow guidance on how to reduce your exposure to chemicals in your daily life.

Read the full article here. 

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