1) Over 10,500 chemicals were found to be used in the production and processing of plastics. Over 25 percent of these chemicals are highly stable, can accumulate in our bodies, or are toxic.
2) Over half of these chemicals are not regulated in the US, the EU or Japan. In fact, over 900 of these chemicals are considered hazardous but are approved for use in food contact plastics in the US, the EU or Japan.
3) Moreover, there is a lack of data and transparency for these chemicals, with large data gaps for many chemicals. This lack of transparency makes it hard for consumer to choose safe plastic products.
These findings are from a study done by researchers from Switzerland and published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
Journal Source: Environmental Science & Technology
Deep Dive into Plastic Monomers, Additives, and Processing Aids
June 21, 2021