Impacts of Plastic Pollution on Human Health
Insights from the SMEP Programme
This study used empirical evidence from projects in Ghana, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and Kenya which are part of the SMEP programme plastic portfolio, to analyse the role of their plastic recycling and upcycling systems and estimate reductions in human health impacts.
A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) modelling was used to estimate health impacts from avoided plastic material leakage into the environment, a causal factor of environmental pollution with direct and indirect detrimental effects on human health. This was done by combining the LCA analysis with the Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY) metric based on the ReCiPe methodology using regional and demographic factors where the projects are deployed.
While results are context-dependent, the analysis provides a concrete way to estimate the effects of recycling initiatives on human health. This provides a novel way to understand the linkages between plastic recycling and human health measured as DALYs.