Hazards Found in Recycled Plastics

Although the commonly held view is that recycling plastic is beneficial, only about 5-6% of plastic actually gets recycled in the US. What’s more, a new study published by Cambridge University Press has found that reusing and recycling plastics can also lead to unintended negative impacts because hazardous chemicals can be released during reuse and accumulate during recycling. These chemicals can include endocrine disrupters and carcinogens such as styrene, benzene, bisphenol, heavy metals, formaldehyde, and phthalates.

The study focused on chemicals in reusable and/or recyclable plastic food containers, such as packaging and other plastic items that come into contact with food, like kitchen utensils, plates, cups, containers. baby bottles, water dispensers, and tubing of milking machines. These items are often used in repeated contact with food and are a source of chemicals that migrate into foodstuffs. Common plastic polymers used to make these items are polyamide, polypropylene, polycarbonate, melamine resin and polyvinylchloride. A special focus is given to recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics, which are typically used in single-use packaging.

The study authors write that “there is concern about the adverse health impacts of chemical migration when almost the entire population is ingesting plastic-associated chemicals that are often not studied adequately for their health risks.”

Data was obtained from the Database on Migrating and Extractable Food Contact Chemicals, which is based on over 800 scientific publications on plastic food contact materials.

The researchers state that it is of utmost importance that care is taken to avoid hazardous chemicals in plastic food contact materials and to ensure that plastic packaging that is reused or made with recycled content is safe for human health and the environment.