Chemicals, Health and Plastics

Over 16,000 chemicals in plastics have been identified, and more than 4,200 of these chemicals are known to be harmful (most other plastic chemicals have little or no safety data). Toxic chemicals in plastics have been linked to cancers, damage to the immune and reproductive systems, impaired intellectual functions, developmental delays, and other serious health conditions.

Evidence suggests that we are already seeing serious health problems from chemical exposures throughout the plastics lifecycle. A 2022 study suggested that we have already exceeded the “planetary boundaries” for plastics and chemical production, meaning that production and emissions may be threatening the stability of the entire global ecosystem. Learn more in IPEN’s guide, “An Introduction to Plastics and Toxic Chemicals.”