Plastics and Toxic Chemical Mixtures: Understanding NIAS and the Emerging Health Concerns
Introduction Plastics are not just polymers but far more complex, they are a sophisticated blend of additives, byproducts, and impurities. These include non-intentionally added substances (NIAS), a term describing impurities, degradation products, and reaction byproducts unintentionally present in plastic materials. Increasingly, science reveals that the chemicals in plastics such as bisphenols and phthalates pose significant health concerns for both humans and the environment. In fact, in the United States, bisphenol and phthalate compounds have been detected in over 90% of people tested .[ LINK ] This report explains why understanding the composition and toxicity of plastics is crucial, especially those used in food contact materials, and how advanced analytical approaches like PLS regression support this effort. Why It Matters 1. Ubiquity of Harmful Chemicals in Plastics Plastics are a main source of exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (ED...