Plastic chemicals review reveals thousands of compounds have little safety data

A review of plastic chemicals has painted a concerning picture of thousands of compounds that have little safety data and recommended steps to protect human health from them. More than 4200 plastic chemicals are of particular concern because they are persistent, bioaccumulative, mobile and/or toxic. All the plastics in widespread use were recorded as containing hazardous chemicals.

The report identified more than 16,000 chemicals potentially used in the production of plastics, as well as impurities and degradation products. Biologist Martin Wagner at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NUST) explained during an online presentation that the goal was to synthesise existing scientific knowledge to enable decision makers to identify chemicals of concern.