Human health evidence in the global treaty to end plastic pollution: a survey of policy perspectives

International audience

anglais. Science shows mounting global health risks associated with plastics life cycle pollution. Leveragingevidence and streamlining research to inform policy is critical to safeguarding people and planet. Weconducted an electronic survey questionnaire, between 16th April and 16th August 2024, amongstUnited Nations government delegates developing the Global Plastics Treaty. We explored(1) perceptions and prioritisation of human health evidence, (2) preferred plastic pollution mitigationstrategies, and (3) priorities for health research. Responses were collected in Qualtrics and analysedusing summary statistics, the Fisher’s Exact Test, and thematically mapped to the Policy CycleFramework. We received 27 survey responses, balanced by gender and career stage, including23 countries and all World Bank country income classifications and regions, but greater represen-tation from high-income and European countries. Human health was the highest-ranking concernrelated to plastics risks (Sum of rank scores (SRS) = 54). Most delegates expressed strong conviction inevidence of risks associated with plastics chemicals, polymers, products, microplastics and broaderlife cycle emissions. Reducing plastics production (SRS = 53) and eliminating chemicals, polymersand products of concern (SRS = 53) were prioritised, even amongst those affiliated with wastemanagement departments or less convinced of health risks. We found the least regard for recycling asa strategy to protect health (SRS = 4–5) and eliminating open burning was the most prioritiseddownstream measure (SRS = 15). Generating quantitative, causal data on risks across plastics lifecycles, identifying emerging health hazards, defining criteria, safe lists and substitutes for chemicals,polymers and products were government delegate priorities for research, alongside tools to trackpolicy impacts on health and greater bilateral communication between scientists and delegations.Health risks of all forms of plastic pollution were a concern for most delegates responding to oursurvey. We identified key priorities for policy-driven research to strengthen the science-policyinterface and support evidence-based plastics policy that protects human health.