Plastics Contain Thousands More Chemicals Than Previously Thought, Report Finds

According to a new report by European scientists, plastics — from food packaging to furniture, clothing and medical equipment — contain thousands more chemicals than environmental agencies had previously estimated, raising concerns about consumer safety and pollution, reported Reuters.

More than 13,000 plastic chemicals had been identified by the United Nations Environment Programme, but the new report by PlastChem revealed more than 16,000 — more than 4,200 of which are “of concern” because they have been found to be hazardous to the environment and human health. According to the report, less than one percent may be categorized as “non-hazardous.”

“Chemicals are a central aspect of the plastics issue. Although there is a wealth of scientific information on plastic chemicals and polymers to inform policymakers, implementing this evidence is challenging because information is scattered and not easily accessible,” PlastChem said.

The report comes as governments work on the world’s first global plastics pollution treaty to tackle the 440.9 million tons of plastic waste produced annually, Reuters reported.

“To robustly solve plastic pollution, you actually have to look at the full life cycle of plastics and you have to address the chemicals issue,” said co-author of the report Jane Muncke, who is managing director of Switzerland’s Food Packaging Forum, as reported by Reuters.

One of the biggest concerns with the many toxic chemicals found in plastics is that they can leach into food and water, potentially causing health problems like heart disease and fertility issues.

“It is now well established that many phthalates are endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Some phthalates have been banned in Europe and other regions. Further, UV-328, due to its persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic properties has been added to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants in 2023,” the report said. “At the dawn of the plastic age, scientists were unaware of the toxicological and environmental impacts of using additives in plastics. Their work to make plastic durable is essentially what made plastics highly useful, but also persistent and toxic.”

The report’s authors pointed out that attempting to tackle plastic waste through reuse and recycling isn’t enough — there needs to be more transparency when it comes to chemicals like processing aids, additives and impurities, Reuters reported.

Contributing to the issue is that the fundamental chemical identity of a quarter of plastics is unknown, the report said.

“At the core of the problem is the chemical complexity of plastics,” Wagner said, as reported by Reuters. “Often producers don’t really know which kind of chemicals they have in their products and that comes from very complex value chains.”

International regulations are in place for just six percent of plastics chemicals, something that could be addressed in a plastics treaty. Next month, negotiations will resume in Ottawa, Canada, with the goal of having a finalized treaty in December.

“Addressing plastic chemicals and polymers of concern comprehensively is expected to result in substantial benefits for the environment and human health, promote innovation into safer plastic chemicals, material, and products as well as support a transition to a non-toxic, circular economy,” the report said. “Since no country has the capacity to address the transboundary issue of plastic chemicals and polymers individually, the state of the science implies that a collective global response is most appropriate to mitigate environmental and health impacts. Adopting evidence-based policies that prioritize chemical safety and sustainability will provide a pathway towards a safe and sustainable future.”