Distinguished scientists, activists and members of Parliament yesterday called on the British government to fund urgent research on the health effects of plastic waste.
Today, more than 80 experts and groups called on the government to allocate 15 million pounds to the National Plastics Health Impact Research Fund in an open letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The research fund is the brainchild of the social enterprise Common Seas, supported by major charities, Greenpeace, World Wide Fund for Nature, Friends of the Earth, and the National Federation of Women’s Institutes.
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Jo Royle, Founder and CEO of Common Seas, said: “We inhale, drink and eat plastic pellets every day.
“As the production of plastics has soared, our exposure has also soared. Scientists are worried that plastics may damage our immune system and increase chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. What have you done.
“Whitehall recently announced its commitment to making the UK a world leader in health and life science research and development.
“We ask government leaders to investigate what might become one of the most serious public health challenges in generations.”
In recent years, more and more evidence has shown that plastics pose a threat to human health.
Signatory
Although scientists have found plastics in our air, food, and water, few studies have completely determined what this means for our health.
As much as US$2.3 trillion will be invested in plastic production in the next two decades, doubling production volume and significantly increasing our exposure to plastics. Experts say it is vital for the government to take action now.
The National Plastics Health Impact Research Fund only needs to invest 0.1% of the UK’s total R&D expenditure.
Professor Susan Jobling, Professor Tamara Galloway, and Dr. Stephanie Wright, along with other leading experts, called on the government to address this long-term underfunded research area.
Members of Congress Henry Smith, Mick Whitley and Rosie Cooper also joined the list of signatories supporting the National Plastics Health Impact Research Fund.
This author
Brendan Montague is EcologistThis article is based on a press release from Common Seas.
