World Health Organization (WHO): microplastic exposure is real, evidence of harm in humans is still limited
The World Health Organization’s cautious 2022 review says people are exposed to plastic particles but data on health effects remain scarce.
Human health
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Plastics’ carbon footprint doubled in 20 years as production moved to coal power
ETH Zurich researchers found plastics accounted for 4.5% of global emissions in 2015, with coal-based emissions quadrupling since 1995.
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heart-disease deaths a year linked to the plasticiser di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)
DEHP is a chemical added to make plastic soft and flexible. It was linked to 13.5% of all cardiovascular deaths among 55–64-year-olds worldwide in…
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Uncollected waste and open burning, not littering, drive plastic pollution
A Nature study finds 52 million tonnes of plastic entered the environment in 2020, most of it burned or dumped where rubbish collection does…