The Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics:
Tracking Actions to Reduce Plastics' Harms to Health
The Global Observatory on Planetary Health is a major contributor to a new initiative developing a health-focused global monitoring system on an emerging crisis harming human health: Plastics.
What is the Lancet Countdown
The Lancet, one of the world’s leading weekly medical journals since its founding in 1823, addresses critical issues at the intersection of health and society.
The Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics, launched in August 2025, is an independent global monitoring initiative focused on the health impacts of plastics.
Why is it important?
Plastics production is increasing almost exponentially and is set to double by 2040. Because of increased production, low recycling, and long persistence, plastic pollution is increasing.
Human exposure to plastics is increasing.
Plastics harm human health in many areas:
- Child development, Cancer, Fine Motor Development, Brain Function, Cardiovascular Function.
What is being tracked?
Initially, the Countdown will focus on identifying indicators in four domains relevant to plasticsand human health:
- Emissions: monitoring, and where possible, quantifying, hazardous emissions to theenvironment across all stages of the plastic life cycle.
- Exposures: monitoring environmental and biological concentrations of plastics, plasticchemicals, and micro- and nanoplastics.
- Health Impacts: tracking the direct health effects of plastics (macro, micro and nano),plastic chemicals, and plastic-related pollutants across the plastic life cycle.
- Interventions and Engagement: tracking interventions and engagements across theplastic life cycle that have potential to affect exposures and human health, and theactivities that enable these interventions, as well as monitoring public engagement withthe health impacts of plastic pollution.
How is Boston College involved?
Philip J. Landrigan
Professor
Philip J. Landrigan, M.D., M.Sc., Professor and Director of the Global Observatory on Planetary Health at Boston College, is the lead author of a landmark study on the health impacts of plastics. A world-renowned epidemiologist, Dr. Landrigan applies cutting-edge research methods to investigate how environmental hazards—particularly toxic exposures—affect human health, with a special focus on protecting infants and children, who are most vulnerable.
Thomas Chiles
Professor and Deluca Chair of Biology
Thomas Chiles, Ph.D. is a Professor of Biology and research partner with the Global Observatory for Planetary Health at Boston College. He is a co-author on the research paper.
Ella Whitman
Launch: Announcing The Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics
A new report published in The Lancet offers an up-to-date assessment of the links between health and plastic pollution and announces the launch of the independent, health-focused global monitoring system, The Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics.
VIDEO: Richard Horton, editor in chief of The Lancet, discusses the launch of The Lancet Countdown on Plastics and Health.
The Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics
Published August 4, 2025
- Philip J. Landrigan, MD
- Sarah Dunlop, PhD
- Marina Treskova, PhD
- Hervé Raps, MD
- Christos Symeonides, MB/ChB
- Jane Muncke, PhD
- Margaret Spring, JD
- John Stegeman, PhD
- Bethanie Carney Almroth, PhD
- Thomas C. Chiles, PhD
- Maureen Cropper, PhD
- Megan Deeney, MSc
- Lizzie Fuller, BA/LLB(Hons)
- Roland Geyer, PhD
- Rachel Karasik, MEM
- Tiza Mafira, LL.M
- Alexander Mangwiro, AB
- Denise Margaret Matias, PhD
- Yannick Mulders, PhD
- Yongjoon Park, PhD
- Costas A. Velis, PhD
- Roel Vermeulen, PhD
- Martin Wagner, PhD
- Zhanyung Wang, PhD
- Ella M. Whitman, AB
- Tracey J. Woodruff, PhD
- Joacim Rocklöv, PhD
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Partnerships
