We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Scientists' Coalition declaration on the One Health impacts of plastics
AI summary Read the abstract
A coalition of scientists presented a declaration at the 2026 One Health Summit asserting that plastic pollution is a cross-species health crisis — with microplastics now ubiquitous in food, water, and air — and calling for a binding global treaty to reduce plastic production and consumption as the most effective intervention.
About this Declaration The Scientists' Coalition delivered a declaration during the One Health Summit held on April 5-7, 2026 in Lyon, France focused on the on the One Health impacts of plastics. The full declaration is published here and available to read in English, French, and Spanish. Summary Over the last decades, scientific research has shown that plastic pollution occurs across the full life cycle of plastics and plays a central role in the global health burden with harmful effects on human, animal, and ecosystem health. Microplastics are now present in the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. Documented human health impacts of global plastic pollution include an increased risk of cancer, neuropsychiatric disorders, cardiovascular, respiratory and digestive diseases as well as metabolism disruption. Very similar effects can be observed in animals. Plastics therefore pose multiple, interlinked, and cascading threats to human, animal, and ecosystem health at the heart of the One Health concept. To protect human, animal, and environmental health, there is an urgent need to adopt an efficient Global Plastics Treaty to end plastic pollution across the full life cycle of plastics, as mandated by UNEA Resolution 5/14. Reducing production and consumption is the only effective mean—and the most economically viable lever—to reverse current unsustainable consumption and production levels. This is particularly critical given that the world is already struggling to manage waste at current levels, and that plastic production is expected to triple by 2060. If production trends are not curbed, the sheer volume of plastic entering the system will continue to overwhelm global waste infrastructure, exacerbate pollution, and deepen the economic burden of cleanup and health costs. Robust science-based measures are urgently needed to effectively phase out the most hazardous, unsustainable, non-essential plastics from the global economy, thereby, significantly reducing global plastic production and plastic pollution and the impacts it incurs. Ultimately, scientific evidence indicates that a global reduction of plastic production and consumption is the most effective lever to protect human, animal, and environmental health. This reduction will drive systematic transformation across sectors and secure a healthier, more sustainable and equitable future. Want to get in touch with the Scientists' Coalition? Have a scientific question? Contact us via email: secretariat@scientistscoalition.org Contact us via Signal: +64 20 452 4556 Explore all of our resources: https://linktr.ee/scientistscoalition
More Papers Like This
Scientists' Coalition declaration on the One Health impacts of plastics
AI summary Read the abstract
A coalition of scientists issued a formal declaration at the 2026 One Health Summit asserting that plastic pollution across its full lifecycle poses interlinked threats to human, animal, and ecosystem health, and calling for a binding Global Plastics Treaty focused on reducing production rather than managing waste.
Plastic Not-So-Fantastic: A One Health Approach to a Growing Crisis
AI summary Read the abstract
This One Health perspective reviews how microplastics affect environmental, animal, and human health, synthesizing evidence that these particles disrupt ecosystems and accumulate in tissues across species, underscoring the need for an integrated response.
Tackling the microplastics pandemic: the CLEAN framework as an integrated one health approach for global environmental and public health
AI summary Read the abstract
This paper introduces the CLEAN framework as an integrated One Health approach for addressing microplastic pollution across environmental, animal, and human health domains. Researchers argue that current responses to microplastic contamination are fragmented and propose a systematic risk assessment and prevention strategy analogous to occupational health management. The framework aims to bridge gaps between environmental science, public health policy, and community-level action on microplastic exposure.
Plastic pollution: how can the global health community fight the growing problem?
AI summary Read the abstract
Plastic waste isn't just an environmental problem, growing evidence suggests it may harm human health through toxic chemicals, disease spread, and disruptions to our food supply, yet major health organizations have been largely silent on the issue. This paper argues that doctors and public health experts need to start treating plastic pollution as a health priority: researching its real impact on our bodies, pushing for better waste policies, and cutting down on plastic use in hospitals and clinics.
A growing crisis for One Health: Impacts of plastic pollution across layers of biological function
AI summary Read the abstract
This review takes a One Health perspective to examine how plastic pollution affects biological systems at every level, from molecular and cellular processes to entire ecosystems. Researchers found that plastic particles ranging from nanometers to meters in size are present throughout all environments on Earth and can cause harm through both their physical properties and the chemicals they carry. The study identifies critical knowledge gaps in understanding how plastic effects at one biological scale interact with and amplify effects at other scales.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.