Health Industry Concerns Regarding Plastic Pollution - US hospitals generate 14,000 tons of waste, with 20% being plastic, highlighting the healthcare sector's contribution to plastic pollution [3] - Medical students receive limited environmental health training (1-4 hours), potentially hindering awareness of plastic pollution issues [3] - The industry acknowledges that knowledge about the effects of plastics on human health is evolving rapidly [5][7] Health Risks Associated with Chemicals in Plastics - Chemicals in plastics, such as flame retardants, phthalates, bisphenols, and PFAS, can disrupt hormone signaling, affecting basic biological functions [7][8][9] - Exposure to these chemicals can lead to adverse health outcomes from infancy to adulthood, including metabolic disorders, cognitive deficits, and hormone-sensitive cancers [10][11][13] - Phthalates alone contribute to early heart disease deaths in 50,000 Americans aged 55-64 [12] Economic Impact of Plastic-Related Diseases - Diseases caused by chemicals in plastics cost $249 billion annually in the US, representing 12% of the gross domestic product [13][14] - Globally, these diseases result in 350,000 deaths, with social costs ranging from $510 billion to $374 trillion [15] - The global revenue of the plastics industry is around $500-700 billion annually, indicating that the health costs associated with plastic chemicals outweigh the industry's revenue [15] Call to Action for the Healthcare Industry - The healthcare industry needs to actively reduce non-essential plastic use and incorporate environmental hazard awareness into medical training and practice [20][21] - Routine testing for PFAS in approximately 150 million Americans with contaminated water is recommended, along with medical monitoring and clinical follow-up [17] - The industry has a history of leading in preventing environmental hazards, such as mercury and lead exposure, and can drive change in reducing plastic pollution [21][22]