There are plastic recycling plants around the world, but the recycled plastic that is produced contains hundreds of chemicals that are dangerous to people and the environment, according to a new study
When scientists examined recycled plastic pellets collected in 13 countries, they found hundreds of toxic chemicals, including pesticides and pharmaceuticals. The results are published in a study led by scientists at the University of Gothenburg. For this reason, scientists believe that recycled plastics are not suitable for most uses and represent a hindrance to efforts to create a circular economy.
Delegates, scientists, and health and environmental activists from around the world are traveling to Nairobi, Kenya, to attend the third meeting of the Intergovernmental Plastics Treaty Negotiating Committee (INC-3) next week. There, scientists will urge delegates to pay attention to the latest scientific data showing that there are no plastics that can be considered safe or circular, as all plastics use toxic chemicals and plastics absorb other chemicals during use.
“Plastic recycling has been promoted as a solution to the plastic pollution crisis, but the toxic chemicals in plastics make them difficult to reuse and dispose of, making recycling difficult,” says Professor Bethanie Carney Almroth from the University of Gothenburg.
More than 600 chemical compounds identified
A recent study led by Carney Almroth published in Data in Brief via ScienceDirect found that plastic pellets from plastic recycling plants in 13 different countries in Africa, South America, Asia and Eastern Europe contain hundreds of chemicals, including numerous highly toxic pesticides.
A total of 491 organic compounds were detected and quantified in the granules, to which were added a further 170 provisionally recorded compounds. These compounds span several classes, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, and plastic additives.
There are few regulations on chemicals in plastics, and international trade in plastic waste complicates matters.
In a correspondence published this month in the prestigious journal Science, researchers from the University of Gothenburg, IPEN, Aarhus University and Exeter University point out: “Hazardous chemicals pose risks to recyclers and consumers, as well as to us.” Society and the environment in general. “Before recycling can help address the plastic pollution crisis, the plastics industry must limit the use of hazardous chemicals.” More than 13,000 chemicals are used in plastics, 25% of which are classified as hazardous. Scientists claim that “no plastic chemicals can be considered safe.”
Professor Bethanie Carney Almroth brings a clear message to next week’s meeting in Nairobi: “Numerous studies show that dangerous chemicals can accumulate even in relatively closed plastic recycling systems. “We need to quickly remove chemicals from plastic that can harm human health and the environment.”
REFERENCE
A dataset of organic pollutants identified and quantified in recycled polyethylene pellets
Photo Tony Webster