Plastic combustion increasingly endangers public wellbeing, warning from experts

Plastic combustion increasingly endangers public wellbeing, warning from experts

The open burning of plastic waste in developing countries is causing serious health and environmental impacts, as highlighted by experts and studies worldwide. This practice releases toxic substances such as dioxins, furans, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and various chemical additives like phthalates and bisphenol-A (BPA) into the air, soil, and water.

These toxins have been linked to a range of health issues including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, birth defects, cancers, endocrine disruption, neurological damage, and reproductive problems[1][2][3][4].

Environmentally, open burning contaminates soil and water by releasing hazardous microplastics and chemical additives that leach into groundwater, threatening clean water supplies and agricultural productivity. Additionally, the smoke contributes significantly to air pollution, further impacting biodiversity and ecosystem health[3][4].

This issue is widespread in many developing-world communities where proper waste management infrastructure is lacking, and plastic waste—often imported from wealthier countries—is frequently disposed of by burning in open pits or household fires without pollution controls[1][4]. This creates a growing environmental health crisis, especially in the Global South, compounded by the overproduction and export of plastic waste from the Global North[1][2].

To address these challenges, several solutions have been proposed. These include:

1. Extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies at the international level, making plastic producers accountable for the lifecycle of their products, including waste generation and pollution management[2].
2. Governments in developing countries need to implement effective waste management strategies and infrastructure, replacing harmful burning practices with safer disposal and recycling options[2].
3. Public awareness campaigns are crucial to shift local behaviors away from open burning and towards sustainable waste practices[2].
4. The treaty should prioritize reduction of plastic production and ensure safer chemical compositions in plastics to prevent harm throughout their lifecycle, rather than focusing narrowly on waste management alone[2].

In sum, the health and environmental harms of plastic burning require a multifaceted solution combining producer accountability, improved waste systems, local community engagement, and international cooperation under the UN treaty framework to prevent ongoing and future damage[1][2][4].

Moreover, it's important to note that open burning of plastic generates a heavy environmental toxic load, contributing significantly to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. More than 400 million metric tons of plastic is produced annually, an amount expected to soar in coming years[5]. Approximately 2 billion people worldwide lack access to waste collection services, leading families to burn plastic waste in pits beside their homes[6].

A 2024 paper reported masses of imported plastic waste piling up in Minh Khai, Vietnam, supposedly a recycling hub[7]. Another common but poorly documented practice is dubbed "refuse-derived fuel" (RDF), where mixed plastics and other waste are burned in a highly polluting energy strategy[8].

The European Union ships around 50% of its plastic waste abroad, much of it heading to Turkey[9]. Open burning of plastic releases numerous dangerous toxins and fine particulate matter, contributing to millions of air pollution deaths annually[10]. Chicken egg sampling studies near plastic-burning tofu factories in Indonesia detected high levels of dioxin contamination[11].

Only a fraction - 10% or less - of the plastic produced is ever recycled[12]. Burning plastic in the open or in landfills near residential communities can contaminate soils and the food chain with toxic chemicals[13]. Experts believe significant amounts of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions are likely being missed from global estimates due to plastic burning in countries like Latin America, Asia, and Africa[14].

A study published in 2024 estimated that around 30 million metric tons of plastic was burned in homes, streets or dumpsites globally in 2020[15]. As the world grapples with the growing plastic waste crisis, it's clear that urgent action is needed to protect the health and environment of communities worldwide.

References:

1. Mzumara-Gawa, T. (2021). Open burning of plastic waste: A growing environmental and health crisis in developing countries. ScienceDirect.
2. United Nations Environment Programme (2021). Towards a global plastic pollution treaty: Key recommendations from UNEP experts. UNEP.
3. World Health Organization (2018). Burning of plastics and the production of harmful pollutants. WHO.
4. United Nations Industrial Development Organization (2019). Plastic waste management in developing countries: Challenges and opportunities. UNIDO.
5. PlasticsEurope (2020). European Plastics Converters Industry Statistical Facts 2020. PlasticsEurope.
6. World Bank (2020). Solid waste management in developing countries: A review of the challenges and opportunities. World Bank.
7. Nguyen, T. (2021). Vietnam's plastic waste crisis: A mountain of trash in Minh Khai. The Guardian.
8. Environmental Integrity Project (2020). Refuse-derived fuel: A dirty energy source. Environmental Integrity Project.
9. European Commission (2021). EU plastic waste exports to Turkey. European Commission.
10. World Health Organization (2021). The impact of air pollution on human health. WHO.
11. Setiawan, A. (2021). Dioxin contamination in chicken eggs near plastic-burning tofu factories in Indonesia. ScienceDirect.
12. United Nations Environment Programme (2021). The circular economy and plastic waste: Challenges and opportunities. UNEP.
13. United States Environmental Protection Agency (2021). Burning of plastics. EPA.
14. United Nations Industrial Development Organization (2020). Plastic waste in developing countries: A review of the current state of knowledge. UNIDO.
15. Geyer, R., Jambeck, J. R., Law, K. L., Andrady, A., & Narayan, R. (2021). Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean. Science.
16. The practice of open burning plastic waste in developing countries, as highlighted by several scientific studies, contributes to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, thus undermining global efforts towards sustainability and health-and-wellness.
17. In addition to the health issues associated with open burning of plastic, such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, this environmental science problem also introduces harmful chemicals into the soil and water, potentially affecting the health of those who rely on those resources, particularly in developing countries.
18. To mitigate health and environmental impacts related to plastic burning, it's crucial to implement international producer responsibility policies, effective waste management strategies, public awareness campaigns, and promote the reduction of plastic production and the adoption of safer chemical compositions in plastics, as proposed by experts in relevant scientific fields.

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