Alarming Discovery: Countless Unregulated Toxic Plastic Chemicals Revealed

Plastics and the chemicals used to make them have been connected to various health and environmental issues, despite the catchy song lyrics about how great life in plastic is. With new plastic chemicals constantly being introduced, it has been a challenge for regulators and policymakers to fully understand the extent of the problem.

For the first time, researchers have compiled scientific and regulatory information to create a database containing all known chemicals utilized in plastic manufacturing.

Female hand taking bottle of mineral water from supermarket shelf

Female hand taking bottle of mineral water from supermarket shelf

mediaphotos/iStockphoto/Getty Images

Related article

A recent study has found that nanoplastics are associated with heart attacks, strokes, and premature death. The authors of the study revealed that there are a total of 16,000 plastic chemicals, with 4,200 of them classified as "highly hazardous" to both human health and the environment.

"According to Martin Wagner, the first author and project lead of the PlastChem Report, only 980 highly hazardous chemicals have been regulated by agencies worldwide. This leaves a staggering 3,600 chemicals unregulated, and these are just the ones we know about."

Wagner, who is also an associate professor of biology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, expressed concern about the potential dangers posed by the unknown unregulated chemicals. He emphasized that there could be many more chemicals out there that we are unaware of, and their impact on our health and the environment remains uncertain.

The report is considered significant by Dr. Philip Landrigan, a pediatrician and biology professor at Boston College. He is also the director of the Program for Global Public Health and the Common Good, as well as the Global Observatory on Planetary Health.

Dr. Landrigan mentioned that it is the most detailed list of chemicals found in plastics that he has come across so far. He clarified that he was not part of the team that created the report.

Landrigan led a major project by the Minderoo – Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health, which involved scientists, healthcare workers, and policy analysts worldwide. Their goal was to track plastics from production to disposal.

In March 2023, the consortium released a report stating that "plastics pose risks to human health at every step of their lifecycle," according to Landrigan.

"This new report emphasizes the serious risk that plastics pose to human health," he mentioned. "It is clear that the plastics and the chemicals they contain need stricter regulation than what has been in place so far."

miljko/E+/Getty Images

Related article

Plastic materials that cover our food might be linked to an increase in premature births, according to a study.

Matt Seaholm, who is the president and CEO of the Plastics Industry Association, mentioned in an email to CNN that plastic provides safety, protection, and efficiency. He also highlighted the importance of developing policies that consider all chemicals, rather than just focusing on those found in plastics. This approach helps avoid redundancy and narrow thinking in policy-making.

Kimberly Wise White, the vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs at the American Chemistry Council, explained in an email to CNN that the current report is focused on highlighting potential hazards without taking into account actual exposure levels in the real world. This approach provides an incomplete view for both regulators and the public, unlike risk assessments that form the basis of effective chemical management laws.

Of the 16,000 plastic chemicals, 10,000 have no safety or hazard data, the report found.

Of the 16,000 plastic chemicals, 10,000 have no safety or hazard data, the report found.

Monticelllo/iStockphoto/Getty Images

Toxicity is an important factor to consider when assessing chemicals.

The PlastChem Report presents a methodical way to recognize and rank harmful chemicals. This method can be adopted by various organizations and government bodies globally, including those participating in the upcoming April conference of the International Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution. This committee operates under the United Nations Environment Programme and aims to establish a Global Plastics Treaty involving 175 countries by the conclusion of 2024.

Toxicity is the main criterion we considered, according to Wagner. Many of the chemicals we studied are harmful to human health or the environment. They can cause cancer, mutations, or harm reproductive systems. Some chemicals are specifically toxic to organs like the liver, where they are often absorbed.

In addition to toxicity, other chemicals like phthalates, bisphenols, flame retardants, and pesticides can disrupt the body's hormones. This interference can lead to issues such as obesity, low birth weight, gestational diabetes, certain cancers, birth defects, and neurodevelopmental disorders, as stated by Wagner.

Related article

Nearly half of tap water in the United States contains 'forever chemicals,' according to a recent government study. In addition to being toxic, these chemicals are also concerning because they can persist in the environment and the human body for a long time, as stated in the report.

The chemicals we are concerned about are persistent, meaning they do not easily break down in the environment; bio-accumulative, which indicates they can build up in the body over time; and mobile, meaning they can spread easily in drinking water or the aquatic environment.

Scientific studies often face criticism from the plastic industry for not being specific enough or for only showing an association, not a cause and effect relationship. This is due to ethical concerns about conducting experiments on humans. To address this, researchers looked at data from regulatory agencies worldwide that had already identified a chemical as potentially hazardous.

Wagner explained that their report takes into account both scientific evidence from the literature and warnings from regulatory agencies about the potential cancer-causing or toxic effects of certain chemicals. This cautious method helps identify problematic plastics.

Landrigan emphasized the importance of incorporating data from regulatory agencies alongside scientific research. He noted that this approach enhances the credibility of the report.

Grouping chemicals of concern

In the United States, regulations mandate the need for evidence of harm caused by a specific chemical before any action is taken. Critics argue that this process gives the industry the opportunity to make minor changes to the chemical structure, forcing scientists to conduct further research to demonstrate the harmful effects of the modified chemical.

Healthcare Concept. Unrecognizable African Girl Drinking Glass of Mineral Water At Home, Cropped Image, Panorama With Copy Space

Healthcare Concept. Unrecognizable African Girl Drinking Glass of Mineral Water At Home, Cropped Image, Panorama With Copy Space

Prostock-studio/Adobe Stock

Related article

Experts suggest ways to reduce PFAS in your drinking water. According to Landrigan, the chemical industry is adept at using bait and switch tactics. He mentions that all chemicals in this group have a comparable biological effect on the body.

The PlastChem Report, along with other advocates, suggests grouping similar chemicals into classes for regulation. There are 15 priority groups identified, including bisphenols, phthalates, PFAS, and parabens.

According to Wagner, grouping would regulate about 1,000 toxic chemicals in plastics, but there are still approximately 2,600 chemicals that need regulation.

Lack of hazard data

The report reveals that out of the 16,000 chemicals examined, detailed hazard information is absent for over 10,000 of them. Advocates point out that without this crucial data, regulators and the public are unable to assess whether these chemicals pose a threat to human health, wildlife, and the environment.

A firefighter is shown dousing flames during the Creek fire in California's Madera County. The fire, which started due to a firework at a gender reveal party, has destroyed 7,000 acres and forced residents to evacuate. More than 500 firefighters and four helicopters are currently battling the El Dorado blaze east of San Bernardino, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).

TOPSHOT - A firefighter douses flames as they push towards homes during the Creek fire in the Cascadel Woods area of unincorporated Madera County, California on September 7, 2020. A firework at a gender reveal party triggered a wildfire in southern California that has destroyed 7,000 acres (2,800 hectares) and forced many residents to flee their homes, the fire department said Sunday. More than 500 firefighters and four helicopters were battling the El Dorado blaze east of San Bernardino, which started Saturday morning, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images/File

Related article

New research has discovered that wildfires can release cancer-causing chemicals from the soil. Tasha Stoiber, a senior scientist at the Environmental Working Group, expressed that this report is long overdue. She emphasized that people are regularly exposed to these chemicals without undergoing proper hazard or safety assessments.

Stoiber had no part in the development of the PlastChem report.

Jane Houlihan, research director for Healthy Babies, Bright Futures, expressed concern about the impact of chronic exposures to toxic chemicals in plastics on our health. She emphasized the need for alarm due to the high number of such chemicals used. It is worth noting that she was not involved in the creation of the new report.

Editor's P/S:

The article highlights the alarming prevalence of plastic chemicals, with over 16,000 identified, of which 4,200 are deemed highly hazardous. Despite this, only 980 have been regulated, leaving a staggering 3,600 unregulated. This lack of oversight poses significant risks to human health and the environment, as these chemicals can cause cancer, mutations, and reproductive harm. The report emphasizes the need for stricter regulation, particularly for chemicals that are persistent, bio-accumulative, and mobile.

Furthermore, the article raises concerns about the lack of hazard data for over 10,000 plastic chemicals. Without this information, it is impossible to assess the risks they pose. This highlights the need for comprehensive hazard assessments and the importance of grouping similar chemicals into classes for regulation. By addressing these issues, we can take steps towards mitigating the potential health and environmental impacts of plastic chemicals.