Cressida Bowyer and Stephen Fletcher of the University of Portsmouth discuss the unresolved disagreements hindering the progress towards a UN-led treaty to protect human and environmental health from plastic pollution. Negotiations in December 2024 failed to reach an agreement, pushing discussions into 2025. The scale of plastic pollution is recognized as a crisis affecting both the environment and human health. Key issues of human exposure to microplastic pollution and the health risks associated with burning plastic waste are highlighted. The need for decisive international action to tackle plastic pollution is urgent, with a focus on protecting human health in the treaty text. Healthcare professionals are urged to advocate for policies aimed at reducing human exposure to plastic pollution.
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We need a global agreement to safeguard human health from plastic pollution
