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Over 16,000 Hazardous Chemicals Identified in Plastics, Report Finds

A comprehensive database exposes the vast number of unregulated chemicals in plastics, highlighting the urgent need for research and tighter regulations.

Of the 16,000 plastic chemicals, 10,000 have no safety or hazard data, the report found.
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Common household plastic items balanced in a stack on a plain gray surface with a beige wall backdrop

Overview

  • A new comprehensive database reveals over 16,000 chemicals used in plastics, with more than 4,200 identified as hazardous to health and the environment.
  • Only 980 of the highly hazardous chemicals have been regulated worldwide, leaving a significant number unregulated.
  • The PlastChem Report emphasizes the need for more research on the 10,000 chemicals with insufficient data to assess their risks.
  • Experts call for tighter regulation of plastic chemicals and suggest grouping similar chemicals for more effective management.
  • The report will guide policymakers in upcoming international negotiations for a treaty aimed at curbing plastic pollution.