Recycling plastic seems like a good thing, right? We toss our bottles and containers into the recycling bin, thinking they’ll be turned into something new and useful, helping to reduce waste and pollution. But a recent study has revealed something pretty alarming—recycled plastics might be carrying a hidden load of toxic chemicals.
A group of scientists from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden studied plastic pellets (the tiny building blocks of new plastic products) that were made from recycled materials. These pellets were collected from 13 different countries across Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. And what they found was shocking.
What’s Inside Recycled Plastic?
The researchers discovered nearly 500 different chemical compounds in the recycled plastic samples. That’s not including another 170 compounds they think might be there too, but couldn’t fully identify yet.
Here’s what stood out:
- 162 of the chemicals were pesticides—which are typically used to kill bugs and pests on crops.
- 89 were pharmaceuticals—the kind you’d usually find in medicine.
- 65 were industrial chemicals, which are used in factories and manufacturing.
- Other substances included things like fragrances, dyes, stimulants, and even corrosion inhibitors (used to stop rust). In short, these plastics were a chemical cocktail.
How Do These Chemicals Get There?
Some of these chemicals are part of the original plastic-making process. Others are added during recycling. And some get in through a process called adsorption—that’s when chemicals in the environment stick to the surface of the plastic, like dust settling on a shelf.
This mix of substances makes recycled plastic potentially dangerous, especially when it’s used in things like food containers, children’s toys, or anything that comes into contact with our bodies.
Why It Matters
The main concern? These chemicals can harm people, animals, and the environment. Recycling workers, consumers, and communities near plastic facilities could all be exposed.
The researchers argue that without proper oversight, using recycled plastic might actually cause more harm than good. Right now, only about 1% of these chemicals are regulated internationally—and there’s no system in place to monitor what chemicals are ending up in recycled plastic products.
What Needs to Change?
The scientists behind the study say we need:
- Stricter rules about what chemicals can be used in plastics
- Clear labeling and tracking of what goes into recycled materials
- Guidelines on where recycled plastics should not be used—like in food packaging or products for kids
As Professor Bethanie Carney Almroth put it, plastic recycling has been seen as a big part of the solution to plastic pollution—but the reality is more complicated. Until we clean up what’s going into recycled plastics, we might just be spreading the problem around.
Source:
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adk9846
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352340923008090?via…
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