The Plastic Crisis: A Health and Environmental Emergency
Reality Roundtable #15
Many of us are familiar with the problem of plastics as a distant issue in the ocean, primarily affecting fish and sea turtles. While these environmental effects are critical, the full scope of plastic’s repercussions on human health and well-being is largely unknown by most people, even as the research shows alarming – and growing – adverse effects. What do we need to know about this pervasive material and how it affects the human body?
Today, I’m joined by environmental health researchers Leo Trasande and Linda Birnbaum, as well as environmental policy advocate Christina Dixon, to discuss the harmful effects of plastic on human health and the ongoing global policy efforts to regulate the plastic and petrochemical industries. Our conversation dives into the risks of frequent plastic exposure, paths toward a world with reduced plastics use, and what it might mean for the economy if we made – or did not make – significant changes to the ways we use plastic.
How can we balance the requirement for essential plastics with the urgent need to reduce our production and consumption of these toxic materials? What further unknown health effects are still in need of research - especially in the case of thousands of untested chemicals used on the market? Lastly, what is the current state of regulation on plastic production and consumption, and how can everyday citizens play a role in shaping the future of the plastic industry?
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Great discussion once more. Christina is dynamite, she connects the dots so clearly! We do need systems change, as she notes. Problem: The people's lever on change is democracy, but that, so far, is proving unable to offset rapacious extractive capitalism (or authoritarianism, for that matter). Over-production of plastics, like the over production of all the other crap, is driven by the need for ever-increasing consumption, growth and profits. If you belong to the 1%, you're thrilled. Party on. For the rest of us humans, ff we are resigned to this economic "reality" - we're doomed. If the people could just figure out how to get their hands on the means of production, though... Nate, please DM Mr. Marx for a future episode?
You highlight these things in this pathological way that allows us not to act. It's using the truth as a form of denialism.
Oh, is that the boarding call for your flight?