Understanding what goes into plastics
Modern plastics contain a variety of chemical additives that are added during the manufacturing process to enhance performance or prolong the lifespan of plastic products. However, many of these additives raise health concerns that consumers may not be aware of. This article explores some of the main additives used in plastics and the potential issues associated with them.
Phthalates
One class of additives used widely in plastics is phthalates. These chemicals are added to plastic to increase their flexibility and durability. Phthalates are used in products such as vinyl flooring, plastic toys, medical tubing, blood storage containers and more. Studies have linked certain phthalates to health effects such as reproductive issues, birth defects, respiratory problems, hormonal imbalances and cancer. In toys and childcare items, phthalates are especially concerning given how children interact with products through mouthing. The European Union has banned certain phthalates from toys and childcare items, but they remain legal in many other products in the U.S. and Canada.
Bisphenol A (BPA)
Another familiar plastic additive is bisphenol A or BPA. This chemical is used in hard, clear plastics and in the linings of food and beverage cans. It makes plastics shatter-resistant and durable. The main health concern with BPA is that it mimics the hormone estrogen once inside the body. Numerous studies link BPA exposure to reproductive issues, heart disease, diabetes, neurological problems and more. BPA easily leaches out of plastics and into food and drink. In 2012, the FDA banned BPA from baby bottles and sippy cups in the U.S. due to health risks. However, BPA remains legal in other food packaging.
Flame Retardants
Flame retardant chemicals are added to plastics, textiles, electronics and other materials to meet flammability standards and regulations. One category of flame retardants, called PBDEs, bioaccumulate in human tissues and breastmilk. Studies link them to reproductive and developmental harm as well as damage to thyroid function. Another class of flame retardants called chlorinated Tris was banned by the Consumer Product Safety Commission in 1977 after being linked to cancer. However, the chemical industry continues to produce alternative flame retardants of uncertain safety. Their health effects are difficult to properly assess partly due to industry secrecy around chemical identities and health data.
Metal Compounds
Plastics also frequently include heavy metals that pose health and environmental concerns in some applications. For example, plastic food packaging may contain compounds with antimony, which is a metalloid linked to reproductive toxicity and endocrine disruption. Some plastics like PVC piping contain compounds like lead stabilizers. The heavy metal lead remains a development neurotoxin even at low levels of exposure. While banning heavy metals is preferable, product reformulations often prompt regulators and legislation to merely lower permitted concentrations rather than eliminate them altogether.
Impacts on Vulnerable Groups
Certain populations appear especially vulnerable to harm from plastic additives and their byproducts. Fetuses, infants and children face greater risks due to their developing organ systems and ability to metabolize and excrete toxins. Food contact with plastics poses dangers when plastic chemicals migrate into ingested foods and drinks. One study even detected BPA in the placental tissues of pregnant women. Workers in plastic manufacturing facilities face direct occupational hazards, and epidemiological studies link some plastic worker cancers and other adverse health outcomes to chemical exposures on the job. Overall, a paradigm shift towards inherently safer plastic materials requires major reforms in industry and government policies.
Greenwashing and Lack of Accountability
Consumer skepticism remains high given ongoing controversies and industry patterns of downplaying plastic additive risks. One key tactic criticized is “regrettable substitution,” where banned chemicals are informally replaced with alternative substances of questionable safety. Heavy lobbying also watered down the updated U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act of 2016, weakening health protections. A need exists for transparent product disclosure laws so consumers can distinguish honest “safer plastic” innovations from misleading marketing claims. Independent expert risk assessments of chemicals are likewise vital to ensure accountability that safeguards human and environmental health now and into the future. The lessons of past harmful additives indicate vigilance must continue surrounding substitutes until their long-term track records prove them demonstrably safer.
In summary, the hidden health impacts of plastic additives illustrate important gaps that future policies and safer product innovations ought to address. Full chemical transparency, rigorous independent safety testing before widespread use, and emphasis on non-toxic alternative materials wherever practicable would better protect vulnerable groups at developing stages. Achieving genuinely safer plastics also depends on reforming industry lobbying influence and empowering consumers with right-to-know laws and informed choices. By shedding light on additive components and associated concerns, more accountable approaches to plastic chemical management can help minimize troubling health legacies moving forward.
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