Reacción a "Plastic pollution is an underrecognized threat to health, according to The Lancet."

The article (Health Policy) published in The Lancet aims to present the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change project, which offers a monitoring system to assess exposure to plastics and their potential associated harms, both to human health and the environment. In line with the latest scientific trends, the proposed actions are intended to be global in geographical scope and span all stages of the plastic life cycle.

At the same time, the article reviews current evidence on how plastics, including their associated chemicals, can affect health and the environment. It highlights important issues such as the lack of transparency regarding the chemicals present in plastics as additives, many of which lack toxicological or ecotoxicological data. It also addresses other concerning aspects, such as the fact that a large proportion of plastic waste is not properly managed—especially in countries with poor infrastructure—as well as the high mobility and colonization potential of plastics, which may contribute to the spread of pathogenic microorganisms or invasive species. These facts are well known and widely documented in the scientific literature.

However, the article makes some claims that are unfounded or excessively alarmist. First, it has not been conclusively demonstrated that plastics generally cause "disease and death from infancy to old age," nor that they are directly responsible for the economic losses mentioned. The projected figure of 1,200 Mt by 2060 also appears to be inflated. A more realistic estimate, based on growth trends observed over the past 5 to 10 years—and which anyone can calculate using openly available data—would place that figure at around 850 Mt under a business-as-usual scenario. Similarly, the effects on human health are questionable, as they often rely on debatable or even implausible results, stemming from the use of inappropriate techniques, calculation errors, or sample contamination.

Ultimately, the problem of plastic waste pollution is real and deeply concerning. However, exaggerating its negative effects does not contribute to an effective solution. It is important to remember that plastic is not used as part of a conspiracy to harm humanity, but because it is an extraordinarily useful material for society. Its use allows, among other benefits, food preservation, reduced packaging weight and consequently lower fuel consumption during transport, as well as numerous medical and industrial applications for which there are few or no viable alternatives. Of course, this does not exempt manufacturers or regulators from the responsibility of ensuring safe materials and establishing appropriate systems for their end-of-life management.