News Excerpt:

A team of European scientists has discovered over 16,000 chemicals in plastics which is a significant increase from the approximately 13,000 previously identified by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Key highlights of the study:

• Over 3,000 additional chemicals have been identified in plastics, exceeding previous estimates by environmental agencies.
• These chemicals are present in various plastic items from food packaging and toys to medical devices.
• Out of the total 16000 chemicals found by the scientists in plastic, approximately one-quarter are believed to pose risks to both human health and the environment.
• Plastic chemicals can leach into water and food.
• Currently, hundreds of plastic chemicals have been detected in humans and some of them have been linked  with negative health effects.
• Such impacts include fertility issues and cardiovascular disease.
• Approximately 400 million tonnes of plastic waste are generated annually, highlighting the urgency to address this environmental crisis.

Way forward:

• While the plastics industry has said any global treaty should promote recycling and re-use of plastic, only addressing plastic waste doesn't go far enough to protect people.
• Greater transparency is necessary regarding the chemicals, such as additives, processing aids, and impurities, that are incorporated into plastics, including those used in recycled products.
• A significant portion (a quarter) of the identified chemicals lacks essential information regarding their basic chemical identity.
• Only 6% of the chemicals discovered in plastics are subject to international regulation, indicating a lack of incentive for disclosure without regulatory pressure.
• These issues can be tackled by a plastics treaty. 
• Negotiations on a plastics treaty are ongoing, with the next round scheduled for next month in Ottawa, Canada, aiming to finalize the treaty by December in the South Korean city of Busan.