Toxic threats from plastic waste: human health impacts, challenges, and policy solutions

Abstract

Plastic pollution has escalated into a global crisis, undermining both environmental sustainability and public health. Each year, nearly eight billion tons of plastic enter aquatic ecosystems, disrupting marine biodiversity and increasing risks of human exposure to toxic byproducts. As plastics degrade, they release hazardous compounds such as bisphenol A (BPA), dioxins, phthalates, furans, and heavy metals—substances linked to respiratory illnesses, endocrine disruption, and cancer. These pollutants find pathways into the environment through soil leaching, air transport, and bioaccumulation across the food chain. Alarming data points highlight the gravity of the issue: BPA concentrations in freshwater bodies have exceeded 12 μg L⁻¹, and dioxin levels near open waste combustion sites have reached over 1000 ng TEQ per kg both surpassing WHO's safety thresholds. In Poland, phthalate levels in leachate from landfills have been recorded at more than 303 μg L⁻¹, while fish specimens from Swedish waters have shown heavy metal concentrations more than 2.26 ng g⁻¹ moist weight, raising potential food safety hazards and chronic exposure risks. Ineffective trash disposal infrastructure disproportionately affects vulnerable communities in countries with low to middle-incomes (LMICs), especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, where only 39–45% of solid waste is adequately treated due to infrastructural and financial limitations. The problem is most severe in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the most vulnerable people are at the greatest risk of exposure. On a global scale, effective recycling remains minimal, with less than 10% of plastic waste being repurposed. Most of it is incinerated or dumped, releasing hazardous emissions such as dioxins and furans into the environment. Emerging technologies offer promising but underutilized solutions. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) can be recovered up to 97% using chemical recycling processes and enzymatic procedures have demonstrated plastic breakdown efficiencies as high as 90% within hours. However, challenges remain in scaling these technologies due to high costs, limited infrastructure, and uneven access in LMICs. Policy interventions have shown strong results in some nations. By enforcing restrictions on single-use plastics and applying expanded producer responsibility (EPR) frameworks, countries such as Germany, Japan, and Rwanda have achieved recycling rates above 41% and reduced plastic waste generation by up to 90%. These cases demonstrate the role of governance, regulatory enforcement, and accountability in driving systemic change. Addressing plastic pollution globally requires coordinated action, including strict regulations, investment in scalable recycling systems, promotion of eco-friendly alternatives, and stronger international cooperation. Only through such combined and multi-dimensional approaches can the growing environmental and public health risks of plastic waste be effectively reduced.