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

A statement by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and partners calling for a global treaty to reduce plastic production and the elimination of hazardous plastics in healthcare and consumer goods to protect human health and the environment.

• Global plastic production is increasing exponentially, with 460 million tonnes of new plastic produced annually. Approximately 98% of single-use plastics are derived from fossil fuel feedstocks, with ExxonMobil identified as a leading producer of single-use plastic.
• Despite their use in healthcare, certain plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) containing di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) pose health risks. These substances can cause adverse effects in the heart, lungs, kidneys, reproductive tract, and liver, with newborn babies, hemophiliacs, and dialysis patients being particularly vulnerable.
• The economic impact of treating plastic-related illnesses and cleaning up environmental waste is estimated at $800 billion CAD globally.
• Plastic manufacturing exposes workers to carcinogens, neurotoxins, and endocrine disrupting chemicals. In Sarnia, Ontario, residents and workers, including those from the Aamjiwnaang First Nation, suffer from exposure to chemical waste, air pollution, and toxic gases.
• The authors advocate for a global treaty on plastic pollution that includes worldwide production reductions, comprehensive single-use plastic bans, and the implementation of large-scale refill and reuse systems.

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} }