Plastic use could double global health risks by 2040, mainly due to emissions and pollution, experts warn.

According to a recent study that was published in The Lancet Planetary Health, the production, use, and disposal of plastic could more than double the risks to global health by 2040, increasing the number of healthy years of life lost annually from 2.1 million in 2016 to 4.5 million. According to the study, which examined the entire lifecycle of plastics, greenhouse gas emissions from production are the biggest cause of health problems, followed by air pollution and hazardous chemicals. Reducing needless plastic production is the best course of action; recycling alone has little effect. Due to incomplete accounting for microplastics and chemical leaching from packaging, the results indicate that the actual health cost may be higher. Experts urge national policies to reduce plastic use and safeguard public health despite stalled international efforts.