reviewPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological SciencesJun 15, 2009Closed access

Plastics, the environment and human health: current consensus and future trends

RCRichard C. ThompsonCJCharles J. MooreFSFrederick S. vom SaalSHShanna H. Swan

University of Plymouth · University of Missouri · +1 more institution

PubMed
Indexed incrossrefpubmed

Abstract

Plastics have transformed everyday life; usage is increasing and annual production is likely to exceed 300 million tonnes by 2010. In this concluding paper to the Theme Issue on Plastics, the Environment and Human Health, we synthesize current understanding of the benefits and concerns surrounding the use of plastics and look to future priorities, challenges and opportunities. It is evident that plastics bring many societal benefits and offer future technological and medical advances. However, concerns about usage and disposal are diverse and include accumulation of waste in landfills and in natural habitats, physical problems for wildlife resulting from ingestion or entanglement in plastic, the leaching of…

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Authors

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Topics & keywords

Topics
Keywords
  • Industrial ecology
  • Raw material
  • Environmental science
  • Fossil fuel
  • Production (economics)
  • Microplastics
  • Human health
  • Waste management
UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • Responsible consumption and production
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