Chloe Zhang
Plastic is made from a wide range of chemicals, including polymers, additives, and non-intentionally added substances. These chemicals are added to improve the performance of the plastic, making it more flexible, resistant to heat, or colourful. While many of these chemicals are safe, some are hazardous to human health and the environment. Chemicals of concern in plastics include heavy metals, flame retardants, phthalates, bisphenols, and PFAS. These chemicals can be released from plastic at any stage of its life cycle and have been linked to a range of health issues, including reproductive and developmental disorders, behavioural disorders, thyroid problems, low birth weight, diabetes, obesity, asthma, and certain cancers. With global plastic production continuing to increase, urgent action is needed to address the chemical-related issues of plastic pollution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To change and improve the performance of plastics |
| Examples | Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, chlorine, nitrogen, heavy metals, flame retardants, phthalates, bisphenols, fluorinated compounds |
| Effects | Long-lasting in the environment, toxic, builds up in animals, neurodevelopmental/neurobehavioral-related disorders, reduced fertility, damage to nervous system, cancer |
| Concerns | More than 3,200 substances out of 7,000 associated with plastics have hazardous properties |
| Action | The UNEA adopted a resolution in March 2022 calling for the development of an international legally binding instrument by the end of 2024 |
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What You'll Learn
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen are used to make plastic
Plastics are made from complex mixtures of chemicals, including polymers and additives. The chemical composition of plastics influences their performance, such as their rigidity, flexibility, or heat resistance. While many chemicals added to plastics are useful and safe, some are of high concern due to their potential adverse impacts on human health and the environment. These "chemicals of concern" include heavy metals, flame retardants, phthalates, bisphenols, and fluorinated compounds.
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen are essential elements used in the manufacture of plastics. Carbon, in particular, plays a crucial role in forming different types of plastics. It bonds with other elements like hydrogen, oxygen, or chlorine to create unique structures. Even small changes in the chemicals used in plastic manufacturing can significantly affect the material's properties.
Hydrogen, although often overlooked, is vital for forming the monomers that turn into plastic. It works alongside carbon and sometimes oxygen to create basic chemicals like hydrocarbons, which give the final plastic product its strength and durability. Oxygen, another familiar element, plays a significant role in plastic fabrication. It helps create strong adhesives and impact-resistant coatings.
Nitrogen, while not typically associated with plastics, also serves a critical yet subtle purpose in the plastic fabrication process. As a dry, inert, colorless gas, nitrogen prevents unwanted reactions during molding. By displacing oxygen inside molds, it prevents discoloration, which is crucial for clear plastics. Thus, nitrogen acts as a protective barrier, ensuring the plastic maintains its desired appearance without altering its intrinsic properties.
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Chemicals in plastic can impact human health
Plastic is made from complex mixtures of chemicals, which are added to improve their performance. While many of these chemicals are useful and safe, some are toxic and can negatively impact human health. The toxic chemical additives and pollutants found in plastics threaten human health on a global scale. Humans are exposed to these chemicals through inhalation, ingestion, and direct skin contact at every stage of a plastic product's life cycle.
Some chemicals in plastic, such as bisphenols and phthalates, have been studied for decades, and their health effects are well understood. Bisphenol A (BPA), for example, has been linked to diseases, disabilities, and premature death. In recognition of this, food safety officials in Europe are setting stricter limits on BPA in food. However, this does not address the thousands of other potentially problematic chemicals, including similar but less-regulated bisphenols, which are sometimes used in place of BPA.
Phthalates, used to make plastic durable, have been linked to premature deaths in the US. Another study found microplastic particles in the placenta, which provides nutrients to growing babies. While it is unclear whether these particles were passed from the mother to the baby via the placenta, reports claim that babies have 15 times more microplastics in their bodies than adults. Exposure to plastics at such an early developmental stage may lead to later health issues.
Other chemicals of concern in plastics include heavy metals, flame retardants, PFAS, and fluorinated compounds. These chemicals are released into the environment during the manufacturing, use, or disposal of plastic products. They do not easily break down and can persist in the environment for a long time, building up to high levels in animals and seeping into food supplies.
To protect human health, stronger regulations are needed to address the environmental and health impacts of plastics. This includes setting global limits on plastic production, severely restricting the production of problematic plastic items, and implementing essential principles such as the precautionary principle in cases of scientific uncertainty.
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Chemicals of concern in plastic can be released at any stage
Plastic is made from complex mixtures of chemicals, which are added to change and improve the performance of the plastics. While many of these chemicals are useful and safe, some are "chemicals of concern". These chemicals are concerning because they do not easily break down, lasting a long time in the environment, some are toxic, and some can build up to high levels in animals.
Chemicals of concern in plastics can be released at any stage of the plastic's life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials, production of polymers, and manufacture of plastic products, to their use and disposal as waste. This means that human exposure to these chemicals can occur at multiple points, and their release into the environment is a serious issue.
The recycling of old plastics into new ones is another process that can expose consumers to hazardous chemicals in plastics. This is because the old plastic may contain chemicals that are already restricted or banned. This issue is particularly relevant when discussing food contact materials, such as pipes in food factories or packaging, as well as plastic toys and black plastics made using recycled electronics.
There are over 13,000 chemicals associated with plastics and plastic production, and ten groups of chemicals are identified as being of major concern due to their high toxicity and potential to migrate or be released from plastics. These include specific flame retardants, certain UV stabilizers, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), phthalates, bisphenols, alkylphenols and alkylphenol ethoxylates, biocides, certain metals and metalloids, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
To address the issue of chemicals of concern in plastics, stronger regulations are needed, encompassing the entire lifecycle of plastics, to contribute to the transition to a non-toxic circular economy.
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Plastic additives can be hazardous
Plastic additives are substances used to enhance the properties of plastics, such as flexibility, heat resistance, and colour. While many of these additives are useful and safe, some are chemicals of concern due to their potential environmental and health hazards. These hazardous additives include heavy metals, flame retardants, phthalates, bisphenols, and fluorinated compounds.
One of the primary concerns with plastic additives is their persistence in the environment. Some additives do not easily break down and can last for long periods, leading to soil, air, and water contamination. They can be released from plastics during manufacturing, use, or waste disposal processes, and even during recycling. This release can be accelerated by degradation and weathering, such as UV radiation and oxidation, leading to the fragmentation of plastics into smaller particles that are more easily taken up by organisms in the ecosystem.
The potential health impacts of exposure to plastic additives are also a cause for concern. Endocrine disruptors, for example, have been linked to reproductive disorders, developmental dysfunction, behavioural issues, thyroid problems, low birth weight, diabetes, obesity, asthma, and cancers. Other additives, such as PFAS or "forever chemicals", have been associated with a range of health issues, including neurotoxicity, inflammation, and alteration of lipid metabolism.
The complex mixtures of chemicals and additives in plastics present challenges for regulation and hazard assessment. Many studies have focused on the hazards of pristine plastics, with limited attention given to the risks posed by their additives. The transformation and degradation of additives in the environment can also lead to metabolites with varying mechanisms of toxicity that are not yet fully understood. To protect human health and the environment, stronger and more comprehensive regulations are needed, focusing on the entire lifecycle of plastics and the potential hazards of their additives.
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Plastic pollution is a global issue
Plastic pollution is a pressing global issue. Plastics are made of complex mixtures of chemicals, often with additives to improve performance, such as flexibility, heat resistance, and colour. While many of these chemicals are safe, some are of high concern. These "forever chemicals" do not easily break down and persist in the environment for hundreds of years, accumulating in animals and potentially impacting human health.
The production and use of plastics have revolutionized various industries, from medicine to space travel, and have yielded numerous life-saving innovations. However, the convenience of plastics has also fostered a throw-away culture, with single-use plastics accounting for 40% of the plastic produced annually. This has resulted in a staggering amount of plastic waste, with an estimated 19-23 million tonnes leaking into aquatic ecosystems each year.
Plastic waste enters the ocean primarily through rivers, with over 1000 rivers contributing to 80% of global riverine plastic emissions. Once in the ocean, plastic pollution can spread worldwide, carried by ocean currents. Sunlight, wind, and waves break down the plastics into microplastics, which have been found everywhere, from Mount Everest to the Mariana Trench, and even in municipal drinking water systems. These microplastics have been detected in human blood, lungs, and faeces, with potential health impacts under urgent investigation.
The environmental, social, and economic consequences of plastic pollution are significant. It alters habitats and natural processes, reducing ecosystems' ability to adapt to climate change and affecting the livelihoods, food production, and social well-being of millions. To address this global crisis, stronger regulations and more efficient waste management practices are necessary, focusing on safe substitution and transparency in the supply chain to reduce the presence of hazardous chemicals in plastics.
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Frequently asked questions
Chemicals are an integral part of plastics. Plastics are made of complex mixtures of chemicals, including polymers, additives to make products stronger, softer, colourful or fire resistant, and non-intentionally added substances. Chemicals are added to change and improve the performance of the plastics.
Some common chemicals found in plastics include carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, chlorine, nitrogen, heavy metals, flame retardants, PFAS, bisphenols, phthalates, and many others.
No, many chemicals used in plastics are of low concern and are useful and safe. However, some chemicals in plastics are of high concern and can have adverse effects on human health and the environment.
Chemicals of concern in plastics, such as endocrine disruptors, have been associated with a range of health issues, including reproductive disorders, developmental dysfunction, behavioural disorders, thyroid problems, low birth weight, diabetes, asthma, and cancers.
The best way to find out is by requesting information from the product manufacturer or retailer, as ingredients lists on product labels typically only include information about the contents of the product, not the packaging.
