A UNICEF report has raised serious concerns about the growing and largely invisible threat that plastic pollution poses to children’s health and development worldwide. Titled ‘Generation Plastic: Unpacking the Impact of Plastic on Children,’ the report warns that children today are surrounded by more plastic than any previous generation, with exposure beginning even before birth and continuing throughout childhood and adolescence.
Plastic production, use and waste have expanded rapidly over the past few decades. In 2020 alone, global plastic production reached an estimated 435 million metric tonnes, and UNICEF projects this figure could rise by nearly 70 per cent between 2020 and 2040 unless urgent action is taken.
The sea at Cuffe Parade just returned tonnes of plastic waste back to Mumbai.
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India generates 3.4M tonnes of plastic waste yearly, and 60% enters our oceans.
Today was nature’s reminder: whatever we dump, comes back to us.#Mumbai #PlasticCrisis #Pollution pic.twitter.com/nq9rhJdfWN
Children are uniquely vulnerable because critical windows of development occur during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood. During these periods, organs, hormonal systems and the brain are forming, making children far more sensitive to chemical interference. UNICEF warns that plastic chemicals, particles and pollution can disrupt this development at multiple levels, potentially leading to lifelong health consequences.
Effects of exposure on children
Exposure to plastic chemicals can affect children at every stage of development, starting in the womb. UNICEF notes that prenatal exposure to certain plastic-related chemicals has been associated with lower birth weight and length, abnormalities in genital development, respiratory conditions such as bronchitis, higher body mass index at birth, and increased risks of miscarriage and preterm birth. These outcomes affect not only infants but also maternal health and pregnancy outcomes more broadly.
Scientific evidence suggests that health effects linked to early exposure may manifest years later. Children exposed to plastic chemicals during gestation or early life may face increased risks of childhood cancers, impaired psychomotor development, obesity, asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis. Neurodevelopmental effects are also a growing concern, with studies pointing to lower IQ scores and higher rates of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), particularly among girls.
Postnatal exposure continues throughout childhood.
UNICEF highlights associations between plastic exposure and early puberty in girls, elevated blood pressure, thyroid dysfunction, insulin resistance, allergic conditions and reduced cognitive performance. While the report acknowledges that research on dose–response relationships is still evolving, it stresses that the cumulative nature of exposure is particularly concerning for children whose bodies cannot metabolise or detoxify harmful substances as efficiently as adults.
The report also highlights the presence of microplastics and plastic-related chemicals in everyday products. These particles are found in diapers, wipes, baby formula packaging, feeding bottles, electronics, menstrual products, cosmetics and medical equipment. Many of these come into direct contact with children’s skin, which is thinner and less mature than that of adults, making chemical absorption more likely.
Five hazards of plastic exposure for children
UNICEF identifies five major ways in which plastic harms children across its life cycle, with risks emerging at every stage from production to disposal. One of the most dangerous points of exposure occurs after plastic is discarded. Once used, plastic is commonly dumped in landfills, incinerated or openly discarded in public spaces, and less than 10 per cent of all plastic ever produced has been recycled. Pollution levels are far higher in poorer and marginalised communities, placing children in these areas at greater risk of daily exposure.
As plastic degrades, toxic chemicals can leach into food and drinking water. Children are especially vulnerable because their developing bodies are less able to metabolise and eliminate harmful substances, increasing the likelihood of permanent organ damage. Exposure is shaped not only by environment but also by livelihood. More than 20 million people globally work as informal waste pickers, and many children are involved in collecting and sorting plastic and electronic waste. These activities increase the risk of physical injury as well as chronic exposure to hazardous chemicals with lifelong health consequences.
The health burden intensifies where plastic waste is openly burned, a common practice used to reduce waste volume or recover energy. Such burning releases toxic fumes into the air, contributing to cancers, severe respiratory illnesses, eye damage and, at high exposure levels, mortality.
Children are also exposed to plastic production itself. Manufacturing processes can release harmful chemicals through spills, leaks and poor waste handling, contaminating air, soil and water in nearby communities. At the same time, plastic production contributes significantly to climate change, further increasing children’s vulnerability to heat stress, food insecurity and infectious diseases.
Beyond direct health impacts, plastic pollution undermines the social and economic conditions children depend on. Polluted waterways and land harm agriculture, fisheries and tourism, weakening household incomes and indirectly affecting children’s nutrition, education and access to healthcare. Plastic waste also blocks drainage systems, increasing the risk of flooding in densely populated areas and informal settlements. Floods expose children to unsafe water, disease outbreaks and displacement.
Daily exposure continues through everyday plastic products. Plastic is embedded in children’s lives through toys, food packaging, school materials and personal care items. Toxic chemicals and microplastics can enter children’s bodies through touch, inhalation or ingestion, with products that come into direct contact with the skin – such as diapers, wipes and feeding bottles – posing particular concern due to children’s less developed skin barriers. Exposure extends to schools, playgrounds and buildings, and UNICEF highlights emerging risks from electronic cigarettes marketed to adolescents, which expose developing lungs to harmful chemical mixtures through inhalation.
A fifth and less visible hazard lies in the major gaps in knowledge about plastic chemicals and particles. UNICEF warns that plastic exposure has reached crisis levels partly because science and regulation have not kept pace with the scale of plastic use. More than 16,000 plastic-associated chemicals are currently in circulation, yet only about 3,600 are identified as chemicals of concern, and far fewer are subject to regulation. Many of these substances can migrate into food, water and air, exposing children unknowingly and potentially causing long-term harm.
To address this, UNICEF calls for the adoption of a precautionary principle in plastic production and use. The organisation stresses the need for rigorous, child-centred research that examines exposure to plastic chemicals, particles, products and waste across all stages of the plastic life cycle. UNICEF argues that plastics and plastic-containing products should be thoroughly tested for their effects on children before entering the market, ensuring that children’s health and development are prioritised over commercial convenience.
Regulatory landscape and recommendations
UNICEF finds that current regulations on plastics and plastic-related chemicals are uneven and largely insufficient to protect children. Although more than 150 countries have at least one national policy on plastic, enforcement and coordination across local, national and global levels remain weak. A persistent lack of chemical transparency further limits consumer choice, as manufacturers often do not disclose the substances used in plastic products.
To address these gaps, UNICEF recommends three key actions. First, governments must pursue systems-level change by redesigning the plastic life cycle so it does not end in waste, prioritising reduction, reuse, recycling and safer alternatives over disposal-based solutions. Second, chemical transparency and product safety should be strengthened, particularly for children’s products. UNICEF calls for mandatory disclosure of chemicals and the application of a precautionary principle to ensure products used by children are free from harmful substances. Finally, policies must focus on children who bear the greatest burden of plastic pollution, including those living in vulnerable communities and informal waste economies. Protecting livelihoods while rethinking waste management systems that expose children to toxic risks is essential to reducing long-term harm.
What it means for India
The implications of plastic pollution for India are particularly severe. According to UNICEF data cited in the report, around 2.7 billion people globally do not have their waste collected, including nearly 2 billion in rural areas and 700 million in urban areas. In India, surveys suggest that more than 67 per cent of rural households routinely burn plastic waste, exposing communities, including children, to toxic fumes.
The report also notes that after China implemented its National Sword policy banning most plastic waste imports, large volumes of plastic waste were diverted to countries such as India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Türkiye and Viet Nam. While some of these countries have introduced restrictions, enforcement remains uneven, and shipments of illegal or low-quality plastic waste continue to pose environmental and health risks.
Recent Indian studies illustrate the scale of exposure.
A 2024 study conducted in Nagpur highlights how bottled water may be a significant source of microplastic exposure in India. The study notes that “microplastics are ubiquitous pollutants” found in air, water, soil, food and beverages, yet research on their presence in bottled drinking water in India remains limited.
Researchers analysed bottled water from national and local brands and found microplastics in all samples tested. Local bottled water showed significantly higher contamination compared to national brands. Most particles were fragments (71 per cent), followed by fibres (23 per cent), with polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) emerging as the dominant polymers.
The study estimated that children are exposed to far higher levels of microplastics from bottled water than adults. On average, a child may ingest over 5,000 microplastic particles each year per kilogram of body weight, while adults ingest around 1,500 particles, highlighting bottled water as a significant source of microplastic exposure.
Another 2025 study focused on airborne microplastics in Delhi provided one of the first detailed assessments of inhalation risks in an urban Indian setting. Researchers reported average concentrations of microplastics across PM₁₀, PM₂.₅ and PM₁ fractions, with higher levels observed during summer months. The study noted that “estimated daily inhalation exposure levels, particularly among sensitive populations such as children and infants, raise legitimate concerns regarding long-term health outcomes,” while emphasising the urgent need to integrate microplastics into air quality and health risk frameworks.
Prof. Dr Sanjeev Bagai, Padma Shri awardee and Senior Consultant Paediatrician & Nephrologist, highlighted the alarming rise of plastic and micro-nanoplastic pollution globally. He explained that “in 1950, global plastic waste was just 2 megatons. By 2022, it had reached 475 megatons, and it is expected to cross 600 megatons this year, potentially reaching 1,200 megatons by 2060.”
Dr Bagai emphasised that micro-nanoplastics—particles smaller than 5 microns and ultrafine particles under 1 micron—affect all age groups, including unborn children. “These particles can cause cellular damage, endocrine and metabolic disorders, obesity, diabetes, reproductive health issues, including infertility, precocious puberty, and cancers in organs such as the stomach, pancreas, prostate, urinary bladder, brain, and lungs,” he said.
He also noted long-term immune and cardiovascular effects: “Both B cells and T cells can be permanently damaged, affecting bone marrow, increasing the risk of anaemia, and leading to arrhythmias, heart failure, hypertension, and acute myocardial infarctions.” Respiratory and neurological consequences were highlighted as well. “Children and adults can develop bronchitis, pneumonia, COPD, lung cancers, ADHD, autism, cognitive deficits, memory loss, anxiety, depression, and even early-onset dementia or Alzheimer’s,” Dr Bagai warned.
Structural and developmental abnormalities in fetuses were another concern, including congenital heart and kidney diseases, an absent urinary bladder, and chromosomal disorders. “At the cellular level, the endpoint is oxidative stress and metabolic disturbances,” he added.
Drawing attention to the persistence of plastic in the environment, he said, “Only 9 per cent of the world’s plastic is recycled. The remaining 91 per cent remains in the ecosystem for over 500 years.” Studies from 2016–2020 show that plastic content in the human body has increased by 20%, with microplastics detected in the brain, liver, placenta, kidneys, coronary arteries, hair, skin, intestines, urinary bladder, reproductive organs, and eyes. “One human inhales up to 120,000 microplastic fibres per year,” he noted, citing studies on plastic containers and hot beverages.
Dr Bagai also explained that the level of micro-nanoplastic exposure is directly linked to genetic damage. “For an exposure of 24 micrograms per ml, a total of 770 genes are damaged in the body. If the exposure rises to 96 micrograms per ml, 1,951 genes are damaged, and at 128 micrograms per ml, 4,820 genes are affected,” he said. He emphasised the implications, adding, “More exposure means more gene damage, which increases the risk of cancers.” Highlighting children’s exposure, he stated, “Children inhale, on average, about 73,000 to 76,000 micro-nanoplastic particles per year.”
‘One Nation One Mission: End plastic pollution’
According to a 2025 Lok Sabha reply, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change celebrated World Environment Day 2025 with the slogan “One Nation, One Mission: End Plastic Pollution.” As part of a pre-campaign, around 69,000 events were organised nationwide, engaging 21 lakh people, including members of industry, civil society, students, and government officers.
The National Plastic Pollution Reduction Campaign (NPPRC) was launched from June 5 to October 31, 2025. Activities focus on reducing plastic pollution in urban and rural areas, including minimising avoidable single-use plastics in government offices and promoting youth engagement through competitions and creative campaigns on ending plastic pollution.
As per the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2024, “every urban local body and Panchayat at District Level shall prepare and submit an annual report in the prescribed form online by the 30th June every year.” The National Plastic Waste Reporting Portal was launched on June 5, 2025, to facilitate reporting.
Earlier, the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, prohibited identified single-use plastic (SUP) items with low utility and high littering potential, effective from 1st July 2022. Regular enforcement drives resulted in “a total of 8,61,740 inspections have been conducted and 1985 tonnes of banned single-use plastic items have been seized and a total of Rs. 19.82 crores of fine has been levied.”
The ban has promoted eco-alternatives, and a “Compendium of Manufacturers / Sellers of Eco-alternatives to Banned Single Use Plastic Items” was launched on World Environment Day, 2025, listing nearly 1,000 units across the country. The Centralised EPR portal currently registers 51,838 producers, importers, and brand owners, along with 2,948 plastic waste processors. Since the notification of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Guidelines on 16th February 2022, nearly 157 lakh tonnes of plastic packaging waste have been recycled.
The Plastic Waste Management Rules also allow for the imposition of Environmental Compensation based on the polluter-pays principle, with authorities enforcing penalties and seizure of banned plastics.
This story is done in collaboration with First Check, which is the health journalism vertical of DataLEADS.
