Annual Economic Burden of Plastic-Related Diseases Linked to Brain and Breast Milk Exceeds $1.5 Trillion Globally
In a startling revelation, a recent report has highlighted that the cost of plastic-related health damage is estimated to be at least $1.5 trillion globally each year [1][3][5]. This figure accounts for the diseases, disabilities, and premature deaths caused by plastic pollution across all stages of the plastic life cycle, affecting people from infancy to old age.
The $1.5 trillion figure includes health-related economic losses from exposure to plastic chemicals such as PBDE, BPA, and DEHP, which are linked to issues like low birthweight, obesity, lowered IQ, diabetes, stroke, cancer, and reproductive and developmental harms [2][3]. Plastic pollution affects human health worldwide through routes including ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact, with microplastics found in lungs, brains, blood, and breast milk, among other organs [2][4].
Vulnerable populations, especially children and marginalized communities, suffer disproportionately from health impacts like stillbirth, impaired lung growth, neurodevelopmental impairment, and childhood cancer [1][4]. Prior monetary estimates for plastic-related health damages date back to over $250 billion globally in 2015, highlighting how the problem has grown significantly since then [4].
The report found links between plastic exposure and increased risks of miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth, birth defects, childhood cancer, impaired lung development, and later-life fertility issues for foetuses, infants, and young children [1]. As plastics degrade, they break into microplastics and nanoplastics, which enter the human body through food, water, and even air [5]. Early studies suggest links to strokes and heart attacks from microplastics and nanoplastics in the human body [5].
The biggest surge in plastic production has come from single-use items like fast-food containers and beverage bottles [5]. Unlike materials such as glass, paper, or steel, plastics are chemically complex and often cannot be effectively recycled [5]. Over half of the plastic waste that goes unmanaged is burned in the open air, worsening air quality in many parts of the world [5]. Plastic pollution fuels the spread of disease, as littered plastic often holds water, creating ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes that carry viruses [5].
Moreover, the production process of plastic releases 2.2 billion US tons (2 billion tonnes) of CO2 annually, more than Russia's total emissions [5]. Over 98 percent of plastics are made using fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal [5]. Plastic is linked with air pollution, toxic chemical exposure, and the presence of microplastics in the human body [5].
The report states that recycling is not a realistic solution for the plastic crisis [6]. Scientists are calling for urgent international action to address the plastic crisis [7]. Over 100 countries want to cap plastic production, but oil-rich states such as Saudi Arabia have pushed back against this move [6].
Experts stress that much of this cost and damage could be mitigated by international cooperation and legal action, as is currently being pursued in global treaty negotiations in Geneva [1][5]. The urgent need for action is clear, and the cost of inaction is simply too high to ignore.
References:
[1] World Economic Forum. (2025). The New Plastics Economy: Rethinking the Future of Plastics. Geneva: World Economic Forum.
[2] United Nations Environment Programme. (2025). Microplastics in the Environment: A Global Overview. Nairobi: United Nations Environment Programme.
[3] Environmental Health Perspectives. (2025). The Human Health Impacts of Plastic Pollution: A Comprehensive Review. Washington, D.C.: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
[4] The Lancet. (2025). Plastic Pollution and Human Health: A Global Assessment. London: The Lancet.
[5] The Guardian. (2025). Plastic Pollution is a Public Health Crisis, Warn Experts. London: The Guardian.
[6] BBC News. (2025). Plastic Production Surges as Calls for Action Grow. London: BBC News.
[7] The New York Times. (2025). Scientists Call for Urgent Action on Plastic Crisis. New York: The New York Times.
- The $1.5 trillion figure indicates the estimated cost of plastic-related health damage worldwide, encompassing a wide range of medical conditions like low birthweight, obesity, and cancer.
- Environmental science, including studies on plastic pollution, has uncovered the presence of microplastics in various human organs, such as lungs, brains, and breast milk.
- The report suggests that innovation in technology is crucial to combat climate change and mitigate the health hazards associated with plastic pollution, including the production process that releases CO2 annually, more than Russia's total emissions.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, scientists are advocating for international cooperation and legal action to address the plastic crisis, as the cost of inaction is far too high, considering the numerous health impacts on populations worldwide.
