World Environment Day: It’s time to beat plastic pollution

The authors highlight the systemic health and environmental risks of plastic, from fossil fuel extraction to waste, specifically noting the dangers of PVC and DEHP in healthcare and the disproportionate impact of plastic manufacturing on marginalized communities and workers. They call for an ambitious global treaty to reduce production and for the Canadian government to phase out hazardous chemicals and single-use plastics.

• Plastic production is increasing exponentially, with 460 million tonnes produced annually worldwide. The vast majority of single-use plastics, approximately 98%, are derived from fossil fuel feedstocks.
• Despite their use in medical settings, certain plastics like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) containing di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) pose health risks. Vulnerable groups, such as newborn babies, hemophiliacs, and dialysis patients, face exposures that can cause adverse effects in the heart, lungs, kidneys, reproductive tract, and liver.
• The economic burden of cleaning up environmental plastic waste and treating related illnesses is estimated at 800 billion CAD globally.
• Plastic manufacturing exposes workers to neurotoxins, carcinogens, and endocrine disrupting chemicals. In Sarnia, Ontario, residents and workers, including those from the Aamjiwnaang First Nation, suffer from air pollution and chemical waste due to a high concentration of manufacturing facilities.

APA

Stahl, H., Wirsig, K., & McArthur, J. (2023). World Environment Day: It’s time to beat plastic pollution. Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. https://cape.ca/world-environment-day-its-time-to-beat-plastic-pollution/

Chicago

Stahl, Honour, Karen Wirsig, and Jane McArthur. World Environment Day: It’s time to beat plastic pollution. Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, 2023. https://cape.ca/world-environment-day-its-time-to-beat-plastic-pollution/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Stahl |first1=Honour |last2=Wirsig |first2=Karen |last3=McArthur |first3=Jane |title=World Environment Day: It’s time to beat plastic pollution |publisher=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |date=5 June 2023 |url=https://cape.ca/world-environment-day-its-time-to-beat-plastic-pollution/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{stahl2023world, author = {Stahl, Honour and Wirsig, Karen and McArthur, Jane}, title = {{World Environment Day: It’s time to beat plastic pollution}}, publisher = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, year = {2023}, month = jun, url = {https://cape.ca/world-environment-day-its-time-to-beat-plastic-pollution/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }