UNICEF warns plastic pollution is a silent crisis harming children’s health from birth through adolescence
Children today are surrounded by more plastic than ever before. In its 2024 report, Generation Plastic: Unpacking the Impact of Plastic on Children, UNICEF warns that plastic pollution poses an urgent and underrecognized threat to children’s health and development.
George Laryea-Adjei, Director of Programs at UNICEF and author of the report, says, “Plastic pollution is not just waste—it is a silent health emergency stealing the future from our children. Let Busan be remembered as the moment the world chose courage over complacency.”
While the impact of plastic on children’s lives can often go unnoticed in our ever-evolving global society, children remain uniquely vulnerable to the effects of plastic chemicals. Plastic production, use, and waste have skyrocketed in recent decades. In 2020 alone, the estimated global plastic production reached an astonishing 435 million metric tons, and it is estimated to rise by 70% by 2040. Each stage of plastic’s life cycle negatively affects children from pregnancy through adolescence.
Children’s vulnerability
Critical developmental periods essential for organ development and long-term health occur during childhood. Plastic’s interference in children’s lives, both physically and environmentally, can have detrimental effects on their lifelong development and health.
Children consume more food, water, and air relative to their body weight than adults, which increases exposure to plastic chemicals through ingestion and inhalation. Children are also susceptible because of their environment, as unique child-like activities give children more exposure to plastic chemicals. The use of plastic in children’s toys, diapers, baby bottles, etc., combined with child-like developmental behaviors such as crawling and mouthing objects, increases their exposure.
Effects of exposure on children
Throughout gestation and adolescence, plastic chemical exposure can have detrimental impacts on their physical and mental capabilities as children mature.
Children are often first exposed to these plastic chemicals in the womb. Prenatal exposure has been linked to decreased birth weight and length, issues in genital structure, bronchitis, and increased BMI at birth. It can also cause an increase in miscarriages and preterm births, affecting not just the child but the parent as well.
Additionally, exposure in the womb can increase the chances of serious medical issues developing later in children’s adolescence. Some of the physiological impacts include increased rates of childhood cancer, flawed psychomotor development, obesity or increased BMI, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis. The issues in mental development can include lower IQ rates and increased cases of ADHD in girls.
Children exposed may experience similar outcomes, including obesity, vector-borne diseases, early puberty (in girls), higher systolic blood pressure, allergic rhinitis, issues with thyroid function, insulin resistance, and low IQ.
The five hazards of plastic children face
Plastic can substantially harm children’s health, development, and well-being at any point in its production, use, and waste stages. UNICEF has identified the five most hazardous ways children are exposed to and affected by plastic.
After it’s used, plastic often ends up in landfills, incinerators, or publicly dumped, and unfortunately, less than 10% of all plastic ever produced has been recycled. High-income areas often manage waste more effectively, while low-income regions face higher pollution levels. Children in these communities are on the front lines of exposure.
Pollution from this plastic waste can leach into food and water sources. Children cannot metabolize toxic substances the same way that adults can, causing their still-developing organs to sustain permanent damage.
Children can be exposed to plastic waste differently based on location and livelihood. Over 20 million people of all ages globally work as waste pickers, sorting through waste to find value from discarded materials. Children often work in plastic or E-waste picking and sorting to recycle different materials; however, these roles expose them to physical injury and chemical hazards with lifelong health effects.
Plastic waste is also often burned to lessen the amount of waste or used as an energy source. When done correctly, these methods can work for both master management and the surrounding community, but current practice has not reached these standards. Current waste burning commonly puts toxins in the air, not only contributing to pollution but also causing severe health issues such as cancers, respiratory disorders, eye damage, and even death at high exposures.
Pollution from plastic production
Plastic production also plays a large part in children’s exposure. In manufacturing, errors like spills or improper cleanup can deposit these toxins into communities. This exposes those living there to these chemicals, which can worsen or cause health concerns.
Additionally, plastic usage and consumption are drivers of climate change. Children are increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, making plastic production harmful because of its chemicals and impact on the climate.
Impact of plastic waste on livelihoods and flooding
Plastic waste disrupts local economies by polluting waterways and harming food sources, tourism, and recreation. This directly impacts children as they rely on their family for support, which they may not be able to provide without these sources of income.
Plastic waste can also contribute to flood risks. It blocks necessary drainage systems, allowing water to collect and sit, creating health and environmental issues for children and their families.
Toxic chemicals in everyday plastic production
Unfortunately, children today are surrounded by plastic in every aspect of their lives. It’s inescapable whether it be because of their toys, food, or environment. These chemicals can often get transferred into a child’s system by touching, inhaling, or injecting. The child’s body absorbs plastic particles or chemicals, which can have damaging effects on their developing organs and cause lifelong health issues.
Microplastics and plastic-related chemicals surround children today in many different forms. These can be in diapers, wipes, baby bottles, formula, electronics, make-up, menstrual products, and medical equipment. Each product is made with or in combination with plastic and is readily used for or around children. This is especially concerning for products directly interacting with skin because children’s skin barriers are less mature and therefore more susceptible to chemicals, causing heightened health concerns.
Today, children’s environments are also filled with plastic from schools, playgrounds, and building materials. Touching or inhaling this plastic heightens their exposure, increasing their health risk.
Additionally, E-cigarettes (vapes) are commonly marketed to older adolescents. These products often contain harmful chemicals that these children then breathe in, causing lifelong respiratory and health issues from the chemical inhalation into still-developing organs.
Knowledge gaps on plastic chemicals and particles
UNCIEF claims plastic exposure has become a crisis due to knowledge gaps on plastic chemicals and particles. There are over 16,000 plastic-associated chemicals, of which only 3,600 are of concern, and even fewer are regulated. These chemicals, whether regulated or not, often enter children’s food sources or the environment and unknowingly damage their health.
To solve some of these issues, UNICEF recommends putting a precautionary principle into practice. They believe that more research needs to be done to ensure manufacturers aren’t unknowingly poisoning children. Specifically calling for research that prioritizes children’s exposure to plastic chemicals, particles, products, and waste. This way, all plastic would be thoroughly tested before entering the market to assess its effects on children.
Regulatory landscape
The regulatory landscape surrounding plastics and chemicals is inconsistent and insufficient in protecting children. While over 150 countries have at least one national policy on plastic globally, these policies range dramatically and are often disconnected at local, regional, and international levels. Additionally, companies often don’t share the chemicals within their products with consumers, making it difficult for caregivers to make educated product choices.
Unicef recommendations
To protect children from plastic-related harm, UNICEF recommends three specific actions that countries can take globally to ensure children’s health and rights are protected.
Address the plastic pollution crisis through systems change
To correct the plastic pollution crisis, the plastic lifecycle must be altered so that it does not end in waste. Focusing on reusing, recycling, reorienting, and diversifying plastic usage is the most beneficial way to change plastic pollution, which decision makers must prioritize.
Advance chemical transparency and product safety for children
Product Producers need to be transparent about the chemicals within their products to ensure that consumers can make an educated choice about the products they are using. Regardless, children’s products should be approached with a precautionary principle, meaning that they don’t contain harmful chemicals. Raising awareness is also essential to ensuring people know of the detrimental health impacts that plastic chemicals can cause.
Concerted action for children bearing the greatest burden
The most susceptible children need to be the focus of this issue. The livelihoods of children and their families who are waste pickers and live in vulnerable communities must be protected. The underlying structural issues that rely on such jobs for waste management must be re-evaluated.
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