Health Risk Assessment of Plastic Waste in the Frame of the Circular Economy

In this study we have developed an innovative tool for integrated health risk assessment of plastic waste. The INTEGRA LCA software couples the integrated external and internal exposure assessment capabilities of the INTEGRA computational platform with life cycle impact assessment. The integrated software platform allowed us to perform a first-of-its-kind analysis of adverse health outcomes attributable to chronic exposure to persistent organic pollutants associated with plastic material use and disposal.Our analysis focused on plastic waste generated in the two main metropolitan centers in Greece, Athens and Thessaloniki.

The coupled integrated exposure and life cycle assessment methodology developed in this study and translated into the INTEGRA LCA platform is a significant step towards the direction of comprehensive, precise and transparent estimation potential health risks associated with use, management and disposal of plastics in urban settings. Our first results in the two major Greek metropolitan centers indicate the need to optimize the management of plastic waste in the country and to enhance the awareness of consumers with regard to the long-term adverse health effects of chronic exposure to plastic components. The incorporation of life cycle analysis produces different conclusions than a simple environmental impact assessment based only on estimated or measured emissions. Taking into account the overall life cycle of both the waste streams and of the technological systems and facilities envisaged under the plausible scenarios analyzed herein, alters the relative attractiveness of the solutions considered and enhances the robustness of the health impact assessment.