Reacción a "The health impacts related to plastic emissions could double by 2040"

The article provides a solid and well-founded analysis of the climate and health impacts associated with the life cycle of single-use plastics, which represent a very significant part of global production. The approach is ambitious and of good quality, integrating different future scenarios and translating them into impacts on human health. At the same time, the study acknowledges important limitations, such as the lack of detailed information on the chemical composition of plastics and the exclusion of still-emerging dimensions, such as the health effects of nanoplastics, which remain the subject of research. Precisely in the current context, where some scientific results are questioned or used to generate doubt, it is worth remembering that science advances precisely through debate and the continuous improvement of methods.

The most powerful aspect of the study is that it shows that reducing the production of primary plastics is the most effective measure for reducing emissions and alleviating the impact on human health. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of considering the entire life cycle of a material in order to assess its impacts and shows how aspects such as considering the entire life cycle of a material, reducing the production of primary polymers and using safe chemicals are crucial for our future and well-being, issues that continue to be the subject of debate and resistance in the process of building a common international regulatory framework.

Overall, the study reinforces the need for the long-delayed global treaty on plastics to be based on principles of prevention and precaution, with the protection of human rights at its core, including the right to health and to a safe, clean, sustainable and healthy environment.