‘No Plastic Chemical Can Be Classified as Safe’

EcoWatch - A new study led by scientists from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden has found that recycled plastics contain hundreds of toxic chemical compounds, including pharmaceutical drugs, pesticides and industrial compounds. The scientists say this means plastics are not fit for most purposes and interfere with efforts to build a circular economy, a press release from the University of Gothenburg said.

“Plastics are produced with a staggering array of chemical compounds, with many being known to possess hazardous properties, and others lacking comprehensive hazard data,” the scientists wrote in the study. “Furthermore, non-intentionally added substances can contaminate plastics at various stages of their lifecycle, resulting in recycled materials containing an unknown number of chemical compounds at unknown concentrations. While some national and regional regulations exist for permissible concentrations of hazardous chemicals in specific plastic products, less than 1% of plastics chemicals are subject to international regulation.”