Open AccessPublic health impact of plastics: An overview
Author(s) -
Neeti Rustagi,
S K Pradhan,
Ritesh Singh
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the indian journal of occupational and environmental medicine/the indian journal of occupational and environmental medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.375
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 1998-3670
pISSN - 0973-2284
DOI - 10.4103/0019-5278.93198
Subject(s) - plastic waste , business , public health , environmental health , health care , hazard , health hazard , medicine , waste management , economic growth , engineering , nursing , economics , chemistry , organic chemistry
Plastic, one of the most preferred materials in today's industrial world is posing serious threat to environment and consumer's health in many direct and indirect ways. Exposure to harmful chemicals during manufacturing, leaching in the stored food items while using plastic packages or chewing of plastic teethers and toys by children are linked with severe adverse health outcomes such as cancers, birth defects, impaired immunity, endocrine disruption, developmental and reproductive effects etc. Promotion of plastics substitutes and safe disposal of plastic waste requires urgent and definitive action to take care of this potential health hazard in future.