{"id":12757,"date":"2021-07-09T08:29:27","date_gmt":"2021-07-09T07:29:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=12757"},"modified":"2021-07-09T08:30:00","modified_gmt":"2021-07-09T07:30:00","slug":"investigation-finds-troubling-level-chemicals-plastics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/investigation-finds-troubling-level-chemicals-plastics\/12757\/","title":{"rendered":"Investigation finds troubling level of chemicals in plastics"},"content":{"rendered":"
Researchers have analysed the chemicals in plastics worldwide, discovering surprisingly excessive levels of substances of potential concern deliberately used in everyday plastic products.<\/h2>\n
The team from ETH Zurich found that there are more potentially hazardous chemicals in plastics than there was previously thought; this affects recycling processes, and the lack of transparency restricts the capacity to manage these chemicals.<\/p>\n
Plastic is useful, inexpensive, and ubiquitous; each year, over 350 million tonnes are produced worldwide. These plastics are comprised of a massive selection of chemicals that could be released during their lifecycles, which includes elements that present a considerable threat to both humans and the environment. However, just a small fraction of the chemicals contained in plastic are widely known or have been comprehensively examined.<\/p>\n
Now, in an unprecedented study, a group of researchers led by Stefanie Hellweg, ETH Zurich Professor of Ecological Systems Design, has assembled an extensive database of plastic monomers, additives, and processing aids for use in the manufacture and processing of plastics on the world market, and methodically categorised them on the basis of usage patterns and hazard potential.<\/p>\n