A comprehensive review on exposure to toxins and health risks from plastic waste: Challenges, mitigation measures, and policy interventions

The rapid accumulation of plastic waste in the environment poses a significant global challenge, exacerbating ecosystem pollution and public health risks. Annually, approximately 8 million tons of plastic waste enter the oceans, contributing to ecosystem degradation and human exposure to toxic substances. Toxins such as phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), dioxins, furans, and heavy metal residues released from plastic degradation cause severe health risks, including endocrine disruption, carcinogenesis, and respiratory diseases. This study reviews exposure pathways and bioaccumulation mechanisms of plastic-derived toxins, their health risks, mitigation strategies, and policy interventions. The findings reveal that BPA concentrations in rivers can exceed 12 µg/L, and dioxins in soil surpass 1000 ng Toxic Equivalency Quotient (TEQ)/kg in areas with open burning, exceeding WHO thresholds. In Poland, landfill leachate shows phthalate levels over 303 µg/L, while heavy metals in fish tissue reached over 2.26 ng/g wet weight in Sweden. Vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, face heightened risk exposure, with 39–45 % of urban waste being formally managed. Despite recycling efforts, only 9 % of plastic waste is recycled globally, while open burning and inadequate incineration release hazardous pollutants like dioxins and furans. Advanced solutions, such as chemical recycling, with recovery rates up to 97 % for polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and enzymatic degradation, achieving 90 % plastic breakdown in 10 h, show promise but face scalability challenges. Case studies from Germany, Japan, and Rwanda demonstrate effective strategies, including extended producer responsibility schemes and bans on single-use plastics, achieving recycling rates exceeding 41 % and reducing waste by 90 %. However, challenges persist, particularly in low- and middle-income countries with inadequate waste management infrastructure. This study concludes by recommending stricter regulations, investment in advanced recycling technologies, development of bioplastics, and international collaborations to mitigate health risks and environmental contamination from plastic waste.