In a recent commentary published in The Lancet, Dr. Leonardo Trasande of NYU’s Grossman School of Medicine emphasizes the need to address the well-established health harms from exposure to chemical additives used in plastics.
In short:
- Exposure to chemicals in plastics have been linked to harmful health impacts across the entire human life-span, with findings corroborated by major scientific institutions including the World Health Organization, United Nations Environment Programme, American Academy of Pediatrics and more.
- Dr. Trasande emphasizes the importance of incorporating the hazards of plastic-related chemicals into all levels of medical education so that doctors can better address their role in chronic disease.
Key Quote:
“Only through a serious and concerted effort to turn off the plastic tap will we apply the lessons learned from plastic use… and avoid the invisible chemicals used in plastic materials from becoming visible in the form of a larger global pandemic of chronic disease.”
Why this matters:
Negotiations of the UN global plastics treaty are approaching a critical juncture as delegates prepare to attend the fifth negotiating conference this month. Scientists have emphasized how the treaty could be a meaningful tool for reducing plastic pollution and protecting human health, as long as it includes solutions that address the full lifecycle of plastics. Clinicians and medical professionals can play a role in the solution if they are educated in helping patients address toxic exposures.
Related EHN coverage:
- Op-ed: Arming doctors with knowledge about PFAS pollution
- How do we address 57 million tons of plastic pollution? Turn off the tap
More resources:
- PFAS Exchange: Resources for Clinicians
- UCSF Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment (PRHE): Clinical practice resources
Trasande, Leo for The Lancet vol. 109, 105422. Nov. 2024
