Ahead of the final negotiations for the UN Global Plastics Treaty, The Lancet has launched a project called ‘The Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics’ to monitor the health impacts of plastics throughout their life cycle.
Published alongside a new Health Policy paper, experts including UN committee members warn of rising plastic production, projected to triple by 2060, and highlight risks from microplastics and toxic chemicals found in human tissues.
The paper notes links between plastic exposure and cardiovascular, neurological, and respiratory issues, as well as growing antimicrobial resistance from plastic waste environments. Open burning of plastic especially in low- and middle-income countries is also a major pollution concern.
The initiative aims to track key health indicators related to plastics, with its first report due in mid-2026.
