As world leaders come together to negotiate a global plastics treaty, Pete Myers, the chief scientist of Environmental Health Sciences, is urging for immediate action to address the devastating impact of plastic pollution on our health and the environment. In a recent article for Reuters, Myers emphasizes the pervasive nature of plastic contamination and its far-reaching economic costs, estimated at $250 billion annually in the U.S.
The discussions around an international treaty on plastics focus on phasing out hazardous and unnecessary plastics as a crucial step towards addressing the crisis. Myers stresses the importance of identifying and eliminating any plastic products that are wasteful, unsafe, and untested, in order to mitigate the harmful effects of plastic pollution on both people and the planet.
Plastics have infiltrated every aspect of our lives, releasing toxic chemicals that pose serious health risks, including cancer, diabetes, and reproductive issues. As plastics break down into microplastics, they contaminate water sources and ecosystems, impacting wildlife and disrupting the environmental balance. A global plastics treaty has the potential to establish enforceable standards for reducing the use of hazardous plastics, promoting alternatives, and reducing the toxic burden on our health and the environment.
Myers is a founding member of the Plastic Health Council and is also currently serving as chief scientist at Environmental Health Sciences. Together with Environmental Health News
