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.

• 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.

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