Plastic Pollution and One Health Crisis: A Burning Issue in Environmental Medicine

Awareness of plastic pollution is poor among the general population and medical professionals. It is impossible to understand the detrimental effects of plastics without knowing basic facts about plastics and their additives and sorbents. As the topic of plastics is vast, it is difficult to grasp by a physician. So, I have tried first to concise the basic facts of plastics in this article, followed by detailing its impacts on health and the ecosystem. As plants, animals, and humans are interdependent, the impact of plastic pollution on one group affects the others. So, a healthy balance of all components is essential. For controlling pollution, basic needs are reduction of plastic production, reuse and recycling of plastics, and safe disposal of wastes. Considering the nature of pollution, global intervention is essential. Physicians should spread awareness, take preventive measures, and plan mitigation strategies against health hazards and environmental impacts of plastics.