Plastic-linked chemicals threaten human health: Scientists call for urgent action

Experts are raising alarms over the growing health and environmental threats posed by plastics and their chemical additives. At a recent panel, scientists and advocates highlighted how substances like phthalates—used to soften plastics—are linked to falling sperm counts, premature births, thyroid disruption, and thousands of heart disease-related deaths each year. Microplastics, now found in arterial plaque, lungs, and even placentas, have been associated with elevated risks of heart attacks, strokes, and cancer.

This widespread pollution has escalated into a public health emergency, with chemicals infiltrating human organs and disrupting hormonal systems. The burden is disproportionately felt by low-income and minority communities, where many plastic manufacturing and waste-burning facilities are located, worsening existing health inequalities.

With federal regulatory power weakened in recent years, grassroots resistance is growing. Activists have successfully blocked new plastic-burning facilities and overturned industrial zoning laws, pushing back against corporate pollution and demanding stronger protections.

07-04-2025

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