Scientists have calculated for the first time the toxic chemicals used in the production of plastic

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Researchers have created the first database of chemicals used in the production of plastic. A total of 16,000 of them were counted, and more than 4,000 of them are “very dangerous” for human health and the environment.

In addition, the use of only 980 very dangerous chemicals is regulated. Another 3,600 items are used without supervision, it is said in the PlastChem report, writes CNN.

“There are many other unregulated chemicals, so we have no idea how dangerous they may be to our own health or the environment.” – noted Martin Wagner, associate professor of biology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim.

“This report is important. This is the most comprehensive catalog of chemicals in plastics I have seen to date.” adds pediatrician and biology professor Philip Landrigan, director of the Program on Global Public Health and the Common Good and the Global Observatory for Planetary Health at Boston College.

In its March 2023 report, the Global Consortium of Scientists, Health Professionals and Policy Analysts tasked with monitoring plastic – from creation to final product – determined that the material “is linked to harm to human health at every a separate stage of the life cycle of plastic”.

“This new report highlights that plastic and the chemicals in it pose a real threat to human health and require much tighter regulation than has been the case so far.” – says Landrigan.

The PlastChem Report describes a systematic approach to identifying chemicals of concern.

“The most important criterion we used is toxicity. Many of these chemicals are known to be very harmful to human health or the environment. They are carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to the reproductive system. Some have a specific effect on organs: usually the liver, since that is where many chemicals are absorbed from the circulation.” – said Wagner.

Other chemicals such as phthalates, bisphenols, flame retardants and pesticides interfere with hormones and contribute to obesity, low birth weight, gestational diabetes, some cancers, birth defects and neurodevelopmental disorders, the scientist noted.

In addition to toxicity, the report categorized chemicals of concern based on how long they persisted in the environment or in the human body.

“The chemicals of concern we identified are also persistent because they do not readily degrade in the environment; bioaccumulative, that is, they accumulate in the body over time; and mobile, meaning they are easily spread in drinking water or the aquatic environment.” he added.

It will be recalled that scientists found plastic in all the placenta samples they studied.