Plastic chemical safety concerns raised by toxicologists

Toxicologist Laura Monclús, representing the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, has raised concerns regarding the safety of plastic recycling due to chemical additives. Speaking at an event organized by the Agència de Residus de Catalunya, Monclús highlighted findings from a comprehensive study published in the journal Nature.

The research indicates that plastic products contain up to 16,000 associated chemical substances. Of these, at least 26% are known to be harmful to human health, while another 66% lack sufficient data to determine their impact. Monclús noted that substances such as bisphenol A, a known endocrine disruptor, are prevalent in food packaging.

Monclús, a member of the Scientific Coalition advising the United Nations on the Global Plastics Treaty, argued that increasing recycling rates will not resolve the plastic crisis unless the essentiality of plastic products is re-evaluated. She emphasized that while some plastics are essential, many consumed products are not, and safety must be guaranteed for those that are.