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The world is facing a plastic crisis, costing more than a trillion dollars every year
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according to a newly published finding. According to the report published in The Lancet on Monday, more than 475 megatons of plastic
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are produced globally each year. And the study authors say less than 10 percent of it is recycled
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while about 8,000 megatons are polluting the planet. They say plastic pollution is an
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under-recognized danger to human health that's costing the world at least one and a half trillion
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dollars every year. While the health impacts of plastic chemicals affect everyone no matter their
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age, it's worse for infants and children. The report says plastic causes harm at every stage
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of its life cycle, from the use of fossil fuels to create it, to the effects it has on humans when
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they use it, even its disposal. And if the world stays on its current course, global plastic
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consumption is set to triple by 2060. But that doesn't have to be the case. The report's authors
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say humans can combat the growing issue through science-driven interventions, including laws
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policies, monitoring, enforcement, incentives, and innovations. The report was strategically released just a day before final round talks in Geneva, Switzerland, are set to begin. 175
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countries are working to come to the world's first global plastics treaty. We'll keep you
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updated on what happens. Also download the Straight Arrow News app or go to san.com
