As we acknowledge World Environment Day today, it's timely?to?explore the relationship between our environment and its impact on the health of everyday Queenslanders.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day and the focus is on beating plastic pollution, a pressing issue that threatens not only our planet but also our own health and wellbeing, both of which are strongly interconnected.
First, let’s take a look at some facts:
- A staggering amount of plastic waste: Every year, more than 430 million tonnes of plastic are produced worldwide, half of which is designed to be used only once (United Nations Environment Programme, 2023).
- Plastic’s persistence: Plastic takes hundreds of years to decompose, if at all, leading to long-lasting pollution and yet, only 9% of plastic waste is recycled worldwide (13% in Australia) with the rest being mismanaged, ending up in landfill or being incinerated (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 2022).
- Choking our oceans: There is currently an estimated 139 million tonnes of plastic waste in lakes rivers and seas. If no action is taken, there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish by weight by 2050 (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 2022).
- Microplastic Invasion: Microplastics – tiny plastic particles up to 5 mm in diameter – find their way into food, water and air and it is estimated that each person on the planet consumes more than 50,000 plastic particles per year (United Nations Environment Programme, 2021).
Plastic, with its numerous applications and convenience, has become an integral part of our daily lives. However, the staggering amount of plastic waste produced and mismanaged has led to severe consequences for human health including chemical exposure, microplastics in food and water and air pollution, but also, health inequity.
- Chemical exposure: Plastic contains harmful chemicals, such as bisphenol A (more commonly known as BPA) and phthalates. These can leach into the environment and contaminate our food and water sources. Studies have shown that these chemicals may contribute to the progression and/severity of several diseases, including those of high incidence worldwide such as obesity and diabetes, among others (Martinez-Ibarra et al. 2021).
- Microplastics and the Human Body: A recent study has detected microplastics in human blood for the first time and shows that the tiny particles can travel around the body and lodge themselves in our organs (Leslie et al. 2022). The effect of microplastics on the human body is not yet fully known but more and more studies are showing that microplastics can accumulate in our bodies and potentially cause inflammation (Rawle, 2022), organ damage, and immune system disorders (Hirt and Body-Malapel, 2020).
- Air Pollution: Burning plastic waste releases toxic pollutants into the air, contributing to air pollution. Inhaling these pollutants can lead to respiratory problems, aggravate existing conditions like asthma, and increase the risk of heart diseases (Verma et al., 2016), whilst its contribution to climate change adds another layer to the impact it has on our mental health due to the rise of ‘eco-anxiety’.
- Planetary Health Inequity: Plastic has provided huge economic benefits to communities and stakeholders but the flip side of these benefits is a disproportionately negative impact on the health of people from low-wealth and already marginalised populations (Karasik et al. 2023).
Health and Wellbeing Queensland's vision is Generation Queensland, an ambitious but committed focus on the health and wellbeing of future generations. That's why we'll continue to support the work needed to drive planetary health so we can all enjoy better health within a healthy and sustainable eco-system.
So, as we mark World Environment Day, ask yourself?"what can I do to support both my health and the planet’s health today?"
Wonderful article!! ??