Plastic anxiety: is there a cause for alarm?

Abdul Rahman, Suzanah (2026) Plastic anxiety: is there a cause for alarm? International Journal of Allied Health Sciences, 10 (2). x-xi. E-ISSN 2600-8491

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Abstract

The ordinary citizen is not expected to solve a global crisis through personal choices such as switching to stainless steel water bottles or cloth grocery bags and through constant consumer vigilance. While individual habits matter, personal lifestyle adjustments are only a small piece of the puzzle. They would have to be backed with institutional, top-down changes such as legal caps on raw plastic manufacturing, safer and eco-friendly product redesigns and equitable and inclusive regional waste strategies. This is an ethical calling for all professionals, as well as advocates across public health and governance. Instead of allowing the public to carry the weight of risk reduction, leadership must synthesise early and alarming toxicity data into enforceable public policies and environmental protections to stop the plastic crisis and pollution directly where it begins. Ultimately, this shift from individual burden to systemic accountability will truly allay public anxiety, transforming the climate of fear into a collective, institutional security.

Item Type:	Article (Editorial)
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences > GE196 Sustainable living G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GN Anthropology H Social Sciences > HM Sociology > HM1001 Social psychology H Social Sciences > HM Sociology > HM1176 Social influence. Social pressure Q Science > Q Science (General) R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA1190 Toxicology
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences > Department of Biomedical Science (Effective:1st July 2011)
Depositing User:	Prof. Dr. Suzanah Abdul Rahman
Date Deposited:	03 Aug 2026 10:42
Last Update:	03 Aug 2026 10:44
Queue Number:	2026-08-Q4531
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/130541

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