We as health professionals, especially pediatricians, MUST speak up about this crisis (and yes, I understand we are facing MANY crises now…). But right now behind our backs this planning is taking place, and soon it will be too late.
The health effects from the chemicals in plastic and the toxic waste they burden us with are real and becoming better and better understood by the day. Especially the effects on the neurological development of infants before birth and in those first few very sensitive years. Not to mention effects on reproductive health (and that means men and women).
How can we support you in your efforts to SAY NO to plastics being forced upon you by industry?
Maybe we can share resources that review the health and environmental effects of plastic/plastic waste, and discuss steps that health professionals can take at the local, provincial and national level, hearing from our colleagues in Africa. This could be a challenging but rewarding topic for medical students wanting to learn about and practice advocacy. Nothing like the energy of youth!
Worried but wanting to help,
Donna
CHIFA Profile: Donna M Staton is a General Pediatrician in California, USA. For over twenty years she has been involved in a variety of global health programs, and she is past Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on International Child Health (SOICH). She is past Program Director of, and remains active with the AAP's International Community Access to Child Health (ICATCH) Grant Program. Much of her work has been in West Africa. Her latest efforts focus on environmental child health and involve community education and political advocacy regarding harms of plastics and chemical exposures in everyday life.
