Everyday household items elevated as 'threat to humanity'
Overnight, The Lancet launched the Countdown on Health and Plastic scheme to collate independent data to help inform decision-makers on these four topics:
Health impacts
Exposures
Production and emissions
Interventions and engagement
The announcement was made late on Monday (Australian time), advancing the crisis to the same level as climate change. It came as delegates from around the world gather in Switzerland for the fifth session of negotiations on a Global Plastics Treaty.
Related: What happens when you put plastic in your dishwasher?
Funding for the program is principally funded by Australia's Minderoo Foundation, a philanthropic organisation set up by mining billionaire Andrew Forrest and his then-wife Nicola.
The Foundation's head of plastics and human health, Professor Sarah Dunlop, said there is 'overwhelming' evidence highlighting the dangers associated with plastic use. 'Toxic chemicals in everyday plastic items leach into our bodies, and harm human health at every stage of our lives,' she said.
As the treaty negotiations offered an opportunity to increase regulation around its use, she said the launch of the Countdown is something that 'negotiators in Geneva cannot ignore'.
Grim studies point to worrying impacts of plastic use
Until now, collating disparate research and making sure it reached decision-makers has been a challenge for scientists. Studies on the impact of plastic are frequently published, but they are quickly forgotten and don't often result in a direct impact on its manufacture or use.
A French study published in July estimated humans are breathing in 68,000 tiny plastic particles a day. But it's not just in human bodies where plastic is found — the substance litters some of the deepest parts of the ocean and the most remote corners of Antarctica.
There is growing evidence that it's causing harm to wildlife, and it's been linked to a respiratory disease in birds. Emerging research from the Plymouth Marine Laboratory has linked its use to antimicrobial resistance.
As new types of plastic are created, researchers say their impact on humans is unknown as they're rolled out to market. Most contain a cocktail of chemicals, and a study, published in the prestigious journal Nature in July, argued 4,200 should be banned from use.
Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wall Street Journal
an hour ago
- Wall Street Journal
‘Battle of the Big Bang' Review: A Question of Origins
In the 1920s, scientists discovered that the universe was not static in size, as had previously been assumed, but was expanding in all directions. Galaxies were rushing away from one another as the very space between them was stretching. It was tempting, therefore, to imagine running the film backward into the past. The expansion, it seemed, must have started somewhere: at an infinitely hot, infinitely small and infinitely dense point from which everything exploded some 13.8 billion years ago. This origin became known as the big bang, and that infinitely small point at which it all began was called a singularity: a place where all the known laws of physics break down. Time was purportedly created only at the moment of banging, so it made no sense to ask what came before the big bang, just as it makes no sense to ask what is north of the North Pole. Why it happened at all remained an awkward question, but the existence of such an inscrutable singularity at the birth of all things became the mainstream view. It might be surprising, then, to learn that few experts in the field hold this view anymore. The traditional picture of the big bang is actually two separate ideas, explain Niayesh Afshordi and Phil Halper in 'Battle of the Big Bang: The New Tales of Our Cosmic Origins.' Researchers continue to endorse the hot big bang, the idea of a primordial explosion of energy, but most do not think it goes back to 'a state of infinite density where time stands still and the answers to all our origin questions meet their demise.' Mr. Afshordi is a professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Waterloo in Canada; Mr. Halper is a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and the creator of the YouTube series 'Before the Big Bang.' Their excellent book promises to map the 'quiet revolution' of 21st-century cosmology and introduce us to the revolutionaries. In very different ways, these rebels are all addressing questions left unanswered by the old theory. One is the origin-of-structure problem: The big bang ought to have spread energy homogeneously throughout space, but we observe clumps of galaxies with vast spaces between them, and measurements of the cosmic microwave background—the fossil radiation from when the universe was only 380,000 years old—reveal an unpredictable pattern of warm and cold spots. Nor have we ever seen an inflaton, a hypothetical particle that is supposed to have driven a period of enormous growth in the size of the early universe.
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
USAID And PEPFAR Cuts Could Lead To Massive Loss Of Life Overseas
A Lancet paper published in July evaluates data to illustrate the importance of roughly two decades of American humanitarian aid offered through the United States Agency for International Development and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. The piece subsequently projects what the future could look like in light of the steep cuts imposed by President Trump to USAID and PEPFAR. Authors estimate that USAID-funded programs have helped prevent more than 91 million deaths globally in the past 20 years, including 30 million fatalities among children. Projections suggest that ongoing deep funding cuts—combined with the dismantling of the agency—could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030. On inauguration day, President Trump ordered a sweeping 90-day spending freeze on virtually all U.S. foreign aid, including many forms of health and food assistance. An independent agency, USAID, was largely gutted. The USAID undertakes a wide range of activities, which include among other things food aid and distribution (often in conflict zones), clean water provision, maternal and infant health support, mass administration of rehydration salts for children suffering from diarrhea, malaria prevention and treatments and polio vaccinations in countries where the disease is still endemic. The agency was established under President John F. Kennedy in the early 1960s to administer humanitarian aid programs around the world. Congress appropriates funds for USAID's operations. The agency employed roughly 10,000 people, two-thirds of whom worked overseas. In fiscal year 2024, the agency received more than $44 billion in federal funding. Most of that money was spent in Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and Europe (primarily on humanitarian efforts in Ukraine). While a considerable sum, it merely accounts for 0.4% of the entire federal budget. The Trump administration has slashed 86% of USAID funding. Only a small fraction of aid programs remains in place. The employee head count is now under 500. As carried out by successive administrations since Bush, including the first Trump administration, PEPFAR represented the largest commitment in history by any nation to address a single disease, HIV/AIDS. But gradually the second Trump administration is unraveling this initiative, too. KFF reported that while PEPFAR received a limited waiver on Feb. 1, allowing it to continue certain 'life-saving HIV services,' the waiver doesn't include essential pre-exposure prophylaxis for anyone other than pregnant and breastfeeding women. The State Department has sought $2.9 billion in funding to continue HIV-AIDS programs in the next fiscal year—considerably lower than PEPFAR's current budget of $4.1 billion. Moreover, USAID was the main agency working on behalf of PEPFAR. Without USAID and its staff, PEPFAR's implementation capacity has been seriously affected. Going forward, the Trump administration intends to transform PEPFAR from an aid program to one that is aligned with its 'America First' priorities. The plan, as described by the New York Times, outlines the administration's intentions to 'transition' countries off of PEPFAR, in some cases within two years. The program would in essence no longer be involved in aid and saving lives overseas. Rather, it would focus on detecting outbreaks that could threaten the U.S. and at the same time create new markets for American drugs and technologies. On the ground, journalists are painting a grim picture of the implications of the drastic curtailment in U.S. aid. A story in America Magazine, for example, describes in detail the local impact in Eswatini, a country in Southern Africa, of the gutting of USAID and reductions in PEPFAR. Cuts have severely limited access to HIV treatments and testing in clinics. During the height of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the population of Eswatini plummeted, and life expectancy dropped from 61 in 1988 to 44 by 2003. It reverted to 61 in 2023, thanks in large part to USAID and PEPFAR. But now the gains in health outcomes are in jeopardy. The ramifications of a greatly diminished U.S. presence in health aid, international development and disaster assistance could be profound, specifically around the global humanitarian programs which rely on USAID. In terms of international assistance, the U.S. was by far the world's largest donor. The U.S. spent $68 billion on international aid in 2023. And the Trump administration's actions are also affecting what is termed the President's Malaria Initiative, an organization also founded by former President Bush. Through the work of this entity, the U.S. had become the global leader in donating to anti-malaria programs and research. According to the New York Times, one of Trump's executive orders has led to two-thirds of the staff being let go from the Malaria Initiative. And by pulling out of the World Health Organization, Trump further diminishes the critical role the U.S. plays in combating neglected tropical diseases, such as leishmaniasis, river blindness, Dengue fever and trachoma. These preventable and mostly treatable infectious diseases affect millions of people in tropical regions of the world, causing severe health problems, including anemia, blindness, chronic pain, infertility and bodily disfigurement. Historically, despite the large burden imposed by neglected tropical diseases on many people, they've received a relatively small portion of resources for drug development and treatment distribution. U.S. aid agencies had been filling some of the void. Until now.
Wall Street Journal
2 hours ago
- Wall Street Journal
Affordable Pet Insurance Options: Balancing Cost and Coverage
What do most basic coverage plans include? Most pet insurance companies offer plans that cover treatment for illnesses and accidents, as long as the condition isn't pre-existing and occurs after the waiting period. Some breed-specific and hereditary conditions have special waiting periods, but pet insurers might cover them. While not all of the best pet insurance companies offer the same benefits in their plans, many of those we evaluated include: Access to 24/7 vet telehealth Behavioral and alternative therapies Dental illnesses and emergencies Some end-of-life expenses Vet exam fees for illnesses and accidents What features do most basic coverage plans exclude? Pet insurance plans don't cover pre-existing conditions, which can include illnesses and accidents that happen within the waiting period when you purchase coverage. Additionally, most insurers won't cover routine wellness visits for annual checkups and vaccines. You normally need to purchase a wellness add-on to access benefits like blood and fecal testing, dental cleaning, grooming and preventive medications for flea, tick and heartworm. Some of the best pet insurers include microchipping and prescription food and supplements in their base plans, but most require a wellness add-on for those benefits. Additionally, end-of-life expenses benefits often vary from insurers that only cover euthanasia for specific conditions to those that cover all end-of-life expenses, including cremation or burial. What factors increase the cost of pet insurance? Various factors influence pet insurance costs. Most pet insurance plans have base plans that cover both accidents and illnesses, and offer wellness add-ons for other treatments and preventive care. Some insurers also offer accident-only plans, which are much cheaper than more comprehensive coverage but won't help if your pet needs emergency surgery for an illness. Benefits of the base plan don't increase with premiums. Instead, premiums for pet insurance are usually influenced by the following factors: Coverage, deductible and reimbursement amounts ZIP code Type of pet Pet's age Pet's traits such as breed, gender and health Coverage, deductible and reimbursement choices When choosing your pet insurance plan, your monthly premium is heavily influenced by how much you pay out of pocket. The main considerations include: Annual coverage limits: Most pet insurance plans have annual coverage limits. One of the most common levels is $5,000. Once the pet insurer has paid $5,000 in a year, you're responsible for the remainder. You might be able to choose unlimited annual coverage, but that will cost more. For example, the average monthly difference between Pets Best's $5,000 limit and unlimited coverage for dogs is $40 vs. $49. Spot insurance has a bigger gap, however: $44 vs. $91. Most pet insurance plans have annual coverage limits. One of the most common levels is $5,000. Once the pet insurer has paid $5,000 in a year, you're responsible for the remainder. You might be able to choose unlimited annual coverage, but that will cost more. For example, the average monthly difference between Pets Best's $5,000 limit and unlimited coverage for dogs is $40 vs. $49. Spot insurance has a bigger gap, however: $44 vs. $91. Deductible: This is how much you pay before the insurer begins paying claims. Many insurers offer deductibles between $100 and $500, although you can find some companies that allow you to pay as little as $50 a year or as much as $1,000 before they begin paying claims. The higher your deductible, the more you can save on your monthly premiums. This is how much you pay before the insurer begins paying claims. Many insurers offer deductibles between $100 and $500, although you can find some companies that allow you to pay as little as $50 a year or as much as $1,000 before they begin paying claims. The higher your deductible, the more you can save on your monthly premiums. Reimbursement rate: Even after you meet your deductible, few pet insurance companies reimburse you for 100% of your covered costs. Instead, you typically choose a reimbursement rate of 70%, 80% or 90%. After you meet your deductible, the pet insurer will cover that percentage of the claim. When providing averages for base plans, we reference a $5,000 annual coverage limit, with an 80% reimbursement rate and $500 deductible. With these coverage options, if your pet had a procedure that cost $2,000, you would first meet your $500 deductible. Then, the pet insurance company would cover 80% of the remaining $1,500 bill, or $1,200. In this scenario, you pay $800. However, if your pet has an illness later in the year, resulting in another $1,000 invoice, you've already met the deductible, so you only pay $200 and your pet insurer covers the remaining 80%. Now, though, the pet insurer has paid a total of $2,000 ($1,200 + $800), and it will only pay up to $3,000 for the rest of the year. ZIP code Where you live affects the price of pet insurance. It might also influence the benefits covered by your base plan or your wellness add-on. For example, you have a 2-year-old, medium-sized, mixed breed dog that you want to insure through Pets Best, our cheapest pet insurer. If you live in California and choose $5,000 annual coverage with an 80% reimbursement rate and $500 deductible, your average monthly cost might be $35. In Texas, though, that coverage for the same pet costs an average of $23 per month. Someone in Texas might save more than $130 a year due to their ZIP code. Type of pet Whether you have a cat or a dog affects the cost of your pet insurance. Our top-rated insurer, Spot, charges an average of $44 per month to cover a dog, while the average monthly cost to cover a cat is $17. Some pet insurers also cover other pets, like hamsters, birds and horses. All of these types of pets have their own rates, depending on how much veterinary care they need on average and how much that care typically costs. Age As your pet ages, the cost of insuring it increases. Pets Best offers the lowest average cost to insure an 8-year-old dog, at $61 per month. Compare that to the average cost of insuring a 4-month-old dog at $30. Some pet insurers stop insuring pets over a certain age, or may only offer your senior pet a less comprehensive accident-only plan. Breed, gender and health Your pet's characteristics also play a role in pet insurance premiums. Some breeds cost more to insure, like Persian cats which are at a higher risk of polycystic kidney disease. Dachshunds and other dog breeds with short legs are more likely to be diagnosed with intervertebral disc disease. When providing a pet insurance quote, the pet insurer will consider gender and health, as well as the likelihood that breed-specific conditions might manifest later. Tips for reducing pet insurance premiums You're likely to save more money on pet insurance premiums if you take the following steps: Increase your deductible: What you're willing to pay out of pocket before your insurance pays claims can reduce your monthly cost. If you can choose a $750 or $1,000 deductible instead of a $250 or $500 deductible, your monthly premium will be lower. What you're willing to pay out of pocket before your insurance pays claims can reduce your monthly cost. If you can choose a $750 or $1,000 deductible instead of a $250 or $500 deductible, your monthly premium will be lower. Reduce your reimbursement rate: While an 80% reimbursement rate is standard for many pet parents, you can save money by choosing a lower rate. Some insurers allow you to choose a reimbursement rate as low as 50%, although you're more likely to find the lowest level at 70%. While an 80% reimbursement rate is standard for many pet parents, you can save money by choosing a lower rate. Some insurers allow you to choose a reimbursement rate as low as 50%, although you're more likely to find the lowest level at 70%. Choose a lower annual coverage limit: Instead of selecting unlimited coverage, stick with the $5,000 annual coverage limit to save on your pet insurance premium. Some companies, like MetLife and Embrace, allow you to choose an annual coverage limit as low as $2,000. You pay more out of pocket during an expensive emergency, but your monthly cost is lower. Instead of selecting unlimited coverage, stick with the $5,000 annual coverage limit to save on your pet insurance premium. Some companies, like MetLife and Embrace, allow you to choose an annual coverage limit as low as $2,000. You pay more out of pocket during an expensive emergency, but your monthly cost is lower. Get an accident-only plan: If the pet insurer offers an accident-only plan, you can save a significant amount of money on premiums. You enjoy peace of mind knowing that an unexpected injury or accident is covered and you won't have a large out-of-pocket cost. However, your benefits won't include illness coverage for chronic conditions like diabetes or cancer treatments. If the pet insurer offers an accident-only plan, you can save a significant amount of money on premiums. You enjoy peace of mind knowing that an unexpected injury or accident is covered and you won't have a large out-of-pocket cost. However, your benefits won't include illness coverage for chronic conditions like diabetes or cancer treatments. Plan to cover wellness and preventive care on your own: Instead of adding a wellness plan to your pet insurance policy, which comes with an extra monthly cost, plan to pay for preventive and routine care on your own. This includes dental cleanings, vaccinations, special food, routine checkups and heartworm medications. When taking steps to reduce your monthly pet insurance premiums, consider creating a special emergency fund or sinking fund for pet care to handle the potentially higher out-of-pocket costs when your pet experiences an emergency or expensive illness. Cheapest dog insurance The cheapest average dog insurance is Pets Best at $40 per month and that's based on a $5,000 annual cover, with a $500 deductible and 80% reimbursement rate. However, Pets Best doesn't offer a lower minimum annual coverage. If you were willing to lower your reimbursement rate to 70% and pay a $1,000 annual deductible, you might find a lower dog insurance premium with Embrace, which offers a $2,000 annual coverage. Cheapest cat insurance The least expensive cat insurance is Spot, at an average of $17 per month. Pumpkin and Figo offer plans for around $18 per month, as does MetLife. MetLife doesn't offer unlimited coverage, maxing out at $10,000 a year. If you get the maximum coverage, MetLife costs $26 a month, while the plan with a $5,000 limit costs $18 per month. Spot, on the other hand, costs an average of $35 a month for unlimited annual coverage, compared to Pumpkin and Figo, which cost $34 and $27 a month, respectively. The cheapest unlimited coverage option is from Pets Best, at an average cost of $24 a month. FAQ Does a lower premium mean less coverage? A lower premium with one pet insurer doesn't necessarily mean a significant difference in benefits from another insurer, but it can mean lower annual coverage limits or a lower reimbursement rate. It's a good idea to compare several pet insurance quotes and the coverage similar plans provide before making a decision. What kind of discounts are available that could help save money? Many pet insurance companies offer multi-pet discounts, and some offer military service discounts. There are also discounts for veterinarian employees and store memberships, depending on the pet insurer. You can typically see the discounts available when requesting a quote from the company. How does the deductible affect my premium? The more you're willing to pay upfront before the insurance company starts paying claims, the lower your monthly premium. If you have a higher deductible, you normally pay a lower pet insurance premium. Can I switch pet insurance providers if I find a cheaper option? Yes, if you find a cheaper pet insurance plan, you can switch providers. Compare benefits and find out if the new insurer covers the same conditions. Also, be aware that if your pet is being treated for certain conditions now, the new insurer might not cover them since they can be considered pre-existing. Methodology We evaluated 15 pet insurance policies, focusing on key coverage areas, such as cost, access to vet telehealth, microchipping, direct vet payments and therapies that pet owners might prefer to be included in coverage. Advertisers and partners don't influence our ratings, as our research and editorial team maintains independence in using data-driven methodologies. For the cheapest pet insurance companies, we featured the insurers that receive at least 4 out of 5 stars in our ranking system and ordered them from cheapest to most expensive. We based our rating on the average monthly price to insure a medium-sized mixed breed dog. Our methodology is based on the following weighted factors, including rates based on medium, mixed breed dogs. We only selected companies with annual coverage limits of at least $5,000.
