Plastic Mass a Growing Danger
Microplastic contaminants including per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances known as “forever chemicals” pose global threat by Vishnu Chundi, MD
PLASTIC PRODUCTS are ubiquitous and have revolutionized our lives. In medicine, they are found in devices, as well as single use products that are part of everyday care, from the routine disposable thermometers to highly sophisticated catheters and packaging.
In 1950, two million metric tons of plastics were produced globally; in 2023 over 400 million metric tons were produced and is projected to triple by 2060. To put this into context, by 1962 plastic production equaled biomass of humans, by 1994 it equaled the biomass of animals on earth, and by 2095 it will equal global bacterial biomass.
Meanwhile, the hydrocarbon industry recognizes the global demand for fossil fuels will decrease and has pivoted towards plastic production. Only about 6-8% of plastics are recycled, and the rest is disposed of in landfills and the ocean. A recent study found that most of the plastic dumped in the ocean has disappeared….
…..“The amount of plastic mass is increasing in an alarming manner and is now ubiquitous in the water we drink, food we eat and air we breathe. It is imperative that medical science immediately make this issue a matter for research. Increased awareness in the medical community and then among the patients and communities we serve is a good first step.”
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