Plastics and Human’s Health

Plastics have transformed everyday human life and health. Their usage is increasing and annual production is exceeding about million tonnes every year. In this chapter, we discuss in detail about adverse effects of plastics on human health and environment. We explore plastic and its lifecycle and the numerous exposure routes through which human health is impacted at each stage by ingestion, inhalation, contact and toxic chemicals, additives and by-products. Plastics are linked with severe adverse health outcomes such as cancers, birth defects, impaired immunity, endocrine disruption, developmental and reproductive effects, lung disease and gastrointestinal disorders. Plastic production has increased 20-fold since 1964. Globally, approximately 311 million tonnes of plastics were produced in 2014, expected to double in about 20years time period and possibly quadruple by 2050. Yearly approximately 500 billion plastic bags are used out of which an estimated 13 million tonnes end up in the ocean, killing approximately 1,00,000 marine lives. It is evident that there is an urgent need to adapt an approach, implement a global legal framework, and develop alternatives to plastic products to protect human health from the severe plastic pollution crisis.